AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Breaking out the mask I used to wear when I lived underhisroof, I shrug and crack a toothy grin. “Makes me feel cool.”
Stasi flashes me a grin and we sit down–me furthest from my father, who refuses to acknowledge the contributions I make to small talk. My aunt asks about the tour, and I gladly fill her in on the places we’ve visited. My mom oooh’s and ahhh’s and throws in little comments like I’ve told her any of this information, but she only gets clips of my life through Stasi and the messages I’ve sent her that go unanswered.
I can’t help but think about Z and how his mother has treated him, and it steels me against anything my parents could ever do to me. Sometimes the ones that should love us most are the ones that cut us the deepest. But there’s no written rule that says you have to keep letting them dig that knife in.
I miss Z. He made me promise not to call or text him for a while. He wanted space to focus on sorting out his trauma with Liam’s therapist.
I can’t help but wonder how things are going. If he’s making any progress. If the media’s still hung up on pestering him when he’s trying his best to heal for good this time.
An idea strikes me. If they’re going to hang on the topic, we might as well shift the focus from his past onto the present and give them something positive to talk about.
I pull out my phone under the dining table and leak through social media that I’ll be doing raw online performances of songs Zander Graves and I wrote this evening. I give them the truths about our relationship. The unfathomable depth of my love for that guy. I ask them to respectfully share their reactions and love for him as he battles mental illness.
It’s the most raw and transparent I’ve been with our fans, and I pray my message is well-received. I hope they can find it in their hearts to shower Z with the support he deserves.
“Lizbeth just moved back to town,” my father comments loudly, breaking my focus from my phone. “Broke it off with that last boyfriend she had. Her father said she got a job here as a marketing director.”
I fight against a sour expression at the casual way he’s brought up my ex. I know the direction we’re headed. If I haven’t disappointed him with my lack of education and career choice, then I’ve let him down by not marrying his colleague’s daughter. You know, the one that cheated on me with her boss.
Not like my father’s colleague would even allow me within ten feet of his daughter with all the ink on my body now.
“Oh, she’s such a lovely girl! Single, too,” my mother adds. "Maybe she could help clear up all that recent bad press surrounding you."
“Arrived at this topic in record time,” I mutter, reaching for my drink to fix the dryness in my throat. Stasi shifts in her seat and drops her gaze to her food.
“She’s a good match for you, Mykhail. It’s time you consider what your future looks like,” my dad continues.
No need to bring up the fact that I make enough income to retire in my thirties. That’s the thing, my parents don’t know that. They don’t know anything about me or my journey with music. It is so far outside of their scope, and they’re not comfortable even meeting me halfway if it means leaving their invisible, perfect little box.
“My future is in music, Artem,” I reply firmly, throwing out my father's name like I'm actually in charge.
“Eventually, that will dry up, and you’ll be some washed up loser on the side of the street begging for money and probably strung out on drugs,” my dad snaps back. His sharp gray eyes cut to me. “You’re not on drugs already, are you?”
I tilt my head back and let out a tired laugh. “Alright, you know what? I’m fucking done.”
“Mykhail! Language!” my mother scolds.
I scoot my chair back and lean down to give Stasi a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you later, yeah?”
She nods, tight-lipped. “Sorry, Hail.”
“It’s not your fault.” I let my gaze sweep over the table. “Just so you stop pushing the matter. I’m bi-sexual. I’m in love with a guy. And get ready for it cause this is really the cherry on top. He’s in the music industry, too. Go ahead and pass that message along to Max so he can join in the crucifixion."
Silverware drops onto my father’s plate. “For fuck’s sake.”
I don’t even let him get in another dig. Striding out the front door, I don’t look back. There's a tug of concern for my sister, but she actively chooses to still partake in this family. Though it feels like betrayal, I'm not going to force her to pick sides.
Liam’s already waiting for me, his Pantera pulled up against the curb like he never left. He rolls his window down.
“Record time, huh?” His smile belongs to the devil.
I can’t fight back my own impish grin as I hop in his car. He hands me his pair of Armani sunglasses and retrieves another pair from a new case.
“What is this about?” I ask, the sunglasses pinched between my frozen fingers as I peek over at him.
He keeps his gaze forward as he shifts into gear. “Bought another pair. Keep them this time.“
I crack a grin and slide them on, feeling like a million bucks as Liam burns out, leaving skid marks on the street in front of my parent’s driveway.
