I shrugged because what could he say? It wouldn’t change anything. “You don’t have to reply at all.”
“I’m sorry. Because that’s the way it is…and because I never even thought about it, which I guess is the point. I don’t have to. It’s not my reality. I will from now on. I promise.”
And that was…maybe the most perfect thing he could have said. My boyfriend was awesome. “Thank you.” But it was also the perfect opening for me to ask him something that had been on my mind. “Will your family care? If I meet them? I’m a guy, and I’m Black, so I wasn’t sure…” God, he was right. The world was a shitty place sometimes. Why should this be something I had to ask?
“I wouldn’t put you in a situation like that. Technically, they know I’m bi, but this will be the first time I bring a guy home. It will be the first time I bring anyone home, though. They won’t say anything to you. My brothers might give me shit about taking it up the ass or something, when you’re not there.”
God, that sucked. I couldn’t imagine having to hear that at home. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “It is what it is, remember?”
“And the Black thing?” I held my breath, waited.
“No. My brother Nolan, his longtime girlfriend is Black—that’s not like one of those I-have-a-Black-friend comments, right?”
I smiled, got all melty inside. “Nope. It’s relevant in this situation.”
“Okay.” He leaned over and kissed me. “I’m sorry we had to have this conversation.”
Yeah, I was too. Still, I said, “Tough conversations are important. That’s how things change. But how about we don’t have any more of them this weekend? Well, at least until we tell my dad we’ve been sneaking around behind his back. Oh God. Should we just stay home and call them to tell them?”
“No, Professor. We’re doing this. Now let’s go.”
“Fine.” I sighed playfully.
It was about a five-hour drive to the ferry and then a quick ride to Anastasia Island, where my family had a house on a private stretch of beach. Will and I talked almost the whole time. We discussed his job, something we had always avoided, and there was this light in his eyes. He liked what he did, he wanted a real future in it, and I realized how much I wanted that for him too—even if it was with my dad’s company, and even though I wanted as far away from the entertainment industry as I could get. God, I hoped this would work, but most of all, I wanted Will happy. I had to make sure my dad understood that.
He asked more about school, and I told him how I’d also be a TA in the fall. We talked about the lunch I’d had earlier that week with Elijah, and every time he laughed or smiled, it filled empty spaces inside me.
Before we knew it, I was pulling up in front of the house, both Cherise’s and my parents’ cars already there.
It was a white, five-bedroom house, with multiple balconies. There was a pool out back, a small fence, and the sand on the other side of it led to the ocean.
I turned the car off, but neither of us moved. The urge to lean over and take his mouth hit me. It always helped me forget everything else.
Will said, “I wanna kiss you right now, but what if they’re looking?”
“Right? I was seriously just thinking the same thing.”
“Great minds,” Will countered, then, “We got this.”
“We got this.”
We grabbed our bags and went inside. Prince was playing. Mom loved Prince. She’d seen him in concert more times than I could count. It had broken her heart when he passed away.
“They’re out back. We can set our bags by the stairs.” We were already wearing swimming trunks.
I led Will toward the back of the house, trying to keep my breathing steady as I went. I didn’t know what I expected. That they would take one look at us and know?
I opened the door. Mom and Cherise were in bikinis, lounging in chairs by the pool. “Hey. Leon, the boys are here!”
“Hi, Mama.” I gave her a kiss. Dad came over from the other side of the house. I had no idea what he was doing over there.
“Hey, guys. How was the drive up?” he asked.
“Not bad,” I replied.
“The house is beautiful,” Will said. “Thank you again for inviting me.” Was it me, or was there some insecurity in his voice?
“You’re always welcome, son.” Dad smiled at Will, and my eyes darted away so he couldn’t read I love him, Dad, don’t be mad at him when we tell you in them.
Prince ended, and Marvin Gaye came on. “You guys want lunch?” Mom asked. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
Will looked at me and grinned. I chuckled. “This one can always eat.” The second I spoke, I realized what I said. I wasn’t supposed to know that much about him. Think, think, think. My mind went blank, and I just sort of stood there, before Will jumped in and saved me.