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This isn’t a story I share, and with the exception of one man, no one actually knows it. Not even Noah. But the reassuring hand he rests on my thigh keeps my heartbeat calm as I recount the events that led to me becoming Tripp.
“The last time I saw my parents, before tonight, was ten years ago when they kicked me out with nothing but the clothes on my back. Fortunately, I had my wallet and car keys on me, so I had a little money and a place to sleep. And when I snuck back the next day, Rose gave me what she could gather of my clothes and other belongings.” Noah gives my leg a squeeze when he hears her name. “I spent the first month in my car, grabbing a meal from a shelter when I could, out of a dumpster when I couldn’t. Eventually this guy who owned a tattoo shop got curious about this nice car that was perpetually parked on the street—it wasn’t a bad area, but a brand new BMW was out-of-place—and he confronted me.”
“This is the guy who gave you the tattoos you designed?” Noah asks softly.
I give him a slow nod and continue. “I’d been trying to work up the courage to ask for a job—that’s why I was always parked there—but I kept talking myself out of it because I wasn’t sure what would happen if anyone found out I was a homeless teen.”
“When he finally cornered me, he first thought I stole the car, but I had the title in the glove box. I was supposed to put it in a safety deposit box, but I was a lazy kid who got a kick out of doing the opposite of what my parents told me to do and never got around to it. That ended up being sort of a life saver since it backed up the story I gave Jim. He owned the tattoo shop.”
Noah gives my leg another reassuring squeeze.
“Anyhow, Rose had smuggled out my sketchbooks, and after he looked at them, he said he could hire me as an office assistant, but he paid me for any designs I gave him too. He even paid me under the table and helped me find a little studio apartment so I could stay off the authorities’ radar as long as I promised to get my GED. Once I was eighteen a trust fund my grandfather left me kicked in. Fortunately, my parents couldn’t touch it, and I bought my condo. I didn’t need a guardian to get certified copies of my birth certificate and social security card, so I was finally able to get all the documents to go through the name change process and officially disappear.”
“Your parents never even tried to look for you in those first few years?” Justus seems truly baffled that such a thing is possible. He must have a close-knit family.
“They didn’t care where I went, and they didn’t want to be found. They put the house on the market the day after they kicked me out and were gone within a month—Jim looked them up even though I told him it was pointless. I’m actually surprised my dad didn’t move his office too, but I guess he figured security was tight enough I wouldn’t get past them. Not that I tried.”
“Why’d they even kick you out, if you don’t mind me asking?” Luca broaches the subject I’m sure they’re all dying to know but are too polite to bring up. I actually respect the fuck out of the fact that he asked. I would’ve.
“They caught me kissing a boy.” The expressions around me range from disbelief to anger, but not surprise. I guess they all had an inkling where my parents drew the line. “There were years of disappointments before then—I didn’t like the sports they approved of, I liked art instead of business or math, I resented that they tried to mold me into their image—you name it we didn’t see eye-to-eye. But being gay is what really sealed the deal. My dad hauled me up by my shirt, tossed me out the front door and locked it in my face.”
Xander curses as Noah takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips for a soft kiss. I flash a weak smile to let everyone know I’m okay.
“To this day I’m not sure if I kissed that kid because I wanted to get caught or because I actually liked him. I’d known I was gay for years, and I’d also known my parents wouldn’t approve of it. I remember being tired of hiding, and when this cute new kid moved to town, I saw an opportunity to explore the thing I’d been hiding for years. I could’ve done that anywhere but my house, and I didn’t, even though I knew it was reckless. The only thing I remember clearly is watching that door slam and promising myself I’d never be ashamed of liking men, no matter the consequences. Sorry I never told you this,” I tell Xander, who is the closest thing I have to a real friend, probably shouldn’t be hearing this for the first time.
“You don’t have to apologize,” he says. “I wasn’t exactly forthcoming with all my issues until recently. And if being gay has taught me anything, it’s that no one has the right to judge how other people deal with the scars from their past. I understand why you wouldn’t want to talk about that period of your life.”
“Thanks. Although I should clarify, I talk about that period all the time. Not my evil parents but the time period once I left their house. It was the start of my sexual awakening, which is absolutely worth sharing.” Not to make light of his words, but we’ve had enough heavy stuff for one night.
“You can apologize for that if you want to. It won’t erase the images in my head,” Xander snorts, “but it’s a start.”
“Please,” I huff. “That was good material, and you know it. I bet you’ve even re-enacted some of it with the hot piece of ass sitting next to you.”
“We don’t need to re-enact anything.” Niko slings his arm around Xander’s shoulder. “Our sex life is awesome.”
“How about we leave sex out of the conversation tonight.” Xander gives him a wry look.
“Fine.” Niko kisses Xander’s temple. “So, what do you think will happen to your folks after this?” He asks me.
“No idea. Don’t really care.” I sip the whiskey in front of me. My boyfriend’s springing for the good stuff.
“Can he get kicked out of… What kind of politician is he again?” Justus asks.
“A senator,” Noah replies for me when I don’t answer. “He can’t get kicked out but he’s up for re-election next year so he could get voted out.”
“You had to learn that for a citizenship test, didn’t you?” I nudge his shoulder, and he smiles bashfully.
“I’m still not clear on something,” Luca says. “This charity thing was for underprivileged kids, which you basically were for a while.” He points a finger at me. “And aren’t a lot of those kids gay or bi or whatever? Why support a charity if you don’t like the people impacted by it?”
“Denver skews Democratic and he’s a Republican. I assume it makes him more appealing to Independents or moderate Democrats if he seems supportive of the LGBTQ+ community,” Noah says.
I nudge him again. “I’m the bad boy dating the teacher’s pet, aren’t I? That’s kinda hot.” Noah’s hand finds mine under the table and he threads our fingers together.
“What a douche.” Luca wrinkles his nose in disgust.
“He could be facing some legal trouble if what Rose said about holding her green card is true,” Noah muses aloud.
I’d forgotten about that until he mentioned it, and as much as I’d enjoy seeing the man squirm, my guess is it would turn into a big headache for her. “I’m guessing Judge Calahan will get that worked out without involving the authorities. Hopefully, with some sort of big payout for her so she doesn’t have to work again.”
