Small Town Boy

Chapter 27

"Do you want me to be there when you do it?" I whispered. There was a pause.

"Yeah," Wyatt answered quietly. "That would be nice. I mean, I don't think they'll care, but either way, I'd like you to be there." 

"Then I'll be there," I promised. I heard Wyatt exhale on the other end of the phone, his breath wavering slightly as it left his mouth. Despite it being his parents, I was nervous, mostly for him, but there was a piece of me that was worried about myself. Like Wyatt, I was sure that his parents wouldn't blink if they hadn't worked it out already, but the chance of them reacting negatively loomed large. 

Besides, if it didn't go well, what would we do? It wasn't like he could just stay with me for a bit, as everyone was home over Christmas, and there would be questions that we wouldn't have the right answers for. Whatever happened, we were doing this together. 

"Thanks." He mumbled. "Are you free tomorrow?" 

"I am in the evening," I answered. I'd already planned to go to the gym with Parker in the morning, and Mom had organized for a photographer to take family photos in the afternoon. It was something that made complete sense, and absolutely no sense at the same time. Even I could admit that they were good photos, but they felt completely manufactured. There was no love usually, it all got lost in the layers of props and careful editing, and even less this year after the last few turbulent months. Even if she didn't know everything, she knew her idyllic family image was an image only, not that it stopped her and Dad from trying to convince everyone that they had achieved it. 

"I'll ask Mom in the morning, then if you can come over." He responded. 

"And I'll see if Parker can drop me over." I agreed. 

"Do you think..." He paused. "Do you think he would mind waiting in his car for a few minutes while I get it over with, and then if it goes poorly, you have somewhere to go?" 

"What about you?" I countered. 

"I'll just have to keep my head down." He sighed.

"I don't think I'd be able to leave you alone if they take it badly," I admitted. 

"Either way, could you ask him?" He asked. 

"Yeah, I will," I answered.

"I think it's best to be cautious." He sighed. 

"Of course, and if you decide not to do it, I won't question it," I assured him. 

"I appreciate that." He mumbled. 

"Although I can't wait to act properly like boyfriends." I chuckled. 

"Yeah." He agreed. "Me too. Although I think my parents might find that more jarring than finding out that I'm gay. You know how they are, the typical overprotective parents of a single child."

"They'll get used to it." I yawned. "Or at least they better." 

"Yeah." Wyatt agreed. 

"Anyway." I yawned again. "I'm getting tired." 

"Yeah, me too." Wyatt concurred. "I'll see you tomorrow then." 

"I can't wait." I smiled. "Good night, sweet dreams." 

"Thanks, I'll dream of you." He whispered. 

"Aww." I chuckled. The line went quiet for a few seconds as neither of us wanted to end the conversation before I bit the bullet and hung up. I stared at the roof, the outline of which I could just about make out in the darkness. The same roof I'd slept under for years. A feeling of loss suddenly struck me. Only seconds ago, my face was hardly big enough to contain my smile, but now, the only source of happiness that remained was the memory of the conversation I'd just had, and the promise that I'd get to see my boyfriend tomorrow. That was something at least. More than something, perhaps.