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If you hadn’t been trying so hard to ignore us.
“I remember,” Mrs. Albrecht replied, glancing at Mom. “She seems very sweet. I didn’t realize you and your husband had another—”
“Ex-husband,” Mom replied. “We’re divorced now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
When awkward silence descended, Henry blurted, “Star’s the best. She loves to color and play games. She even beat me in checkers.”
I snickered. “Um, I’m pretty sure you let her beat you.”
He winked. “Told you she likes me better.”
Mr. Albrecht cleared his throat, and the room grew quiet. Oh shit.
“The truth is…” Henry looked at me, and I nodded, following his lead. “Sometimes I hang out with Lark and Star on the weekends. With his best friend, Pete, too.”
I saw Spencer shift in my side view, so he must’ve been putting all the pieces together for himself. The stuff that Henry left unsaid about where he’d disappear to some nights.
“How far away from campus do you live?” Mr. Albrecht asked.
“About twenty minutes.” I squared my shoulders. “We live in the Lakeview Trailer Park.”
“It’s a nice community,” Henry said, no doubt feeling like he had to make it sound appetizing enough for his well-to-do parents, but having to explain at all left a bad taste in my mouth. Henry continued, “The residents are awesome, and they have a bird’s-eye view of the lake.”
Mr. Albrecht folded his arms. “All well and good, but that’s not the point.”
Henry scoffed. “Then what is?”
“It sounds like you’re taking time away from your teammates and studying in order to—”
“Come on, Dad, that’s just an excuse.” He sighed and sank against his pillow. “And I’m so tired of pretending.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Pretending?”
“Pretending that I didn’t have cancer and that I’m not terrified that I have it again.”
Mrs. Albrecht sniffled and briefly shut her eyes. The air hung heavy in the room.
“It’s probably not likely—”
“Pretending that Lark and I aren’t close,” Henry spoke over his dad, who fell silent. “I don’t want to waste any more time. I want to be true to myself for as much time as I have on this earth. Even if you disown me or stop speaking to me.”
“Why in the world would we do that?” Mrs. Albrecht asked through what sounded like a sniffly nose. When I heard the door behind me, I glanced back in time to see Coach and Spencer shuffle out of the room, maybe to give them privacy.
Just as I looked back at Mom with the same idea, Henry’s voice rang out.
“I’m done hiding how amazing these past few months have been since Lark came back into my life.” My eyes sprang to his, and I could see the fire in his irises. “Lark is important to me, and I…well…I love him.”
Holy shit, was this really happening? In front of our parents? How fucking brave was Henry being right now? Just throwing it all out there, consequences be damned.
“I…” My breath caught as my emotions swirled from the sheer effort of holding them in. It felt like my heart might burst open from pure joy and affection. “I love you too.”
Henry’s eyes softened, and mine stung as I blinked away tears.
“Love?” Mr. Albrecht said. “What are you—”
“Haven’t you ever wondered why I never date girls?” Henry’s tone was timid, quiet. “I tried, believe me. But I’m gay, no matter how much I’ve pretended I wasn’t. When I saw Lark after all this time, I realized I must’ve had feelings for him even way back then. Feelings I tried to deny all this time.”
