Don't Make Me Love You

Chapter 29

Brandon didn't tell me where we were going until we were almost there and I could just about guess for myself. "Why are we here?" I asked as he parked his truck in front of his house. Aside from it being almost dark out, the home looked the same as it had the first time I had seen it, but Brandon's determined expression told me this visit would go very different.

"I've spent so much of my life living in fear of myself," Brandon said, not really looking at me. "I don't want to live like that anymore. I'm ready to be myself... with you."

I looked from his face to the house and back again. "You're going to tell them?" I said. It wasn't really a question of his decision but more of his readiness. If he was ready, I would be behind him the whole way.

"Yes," he said. Then he faltered and finally brought his eyes to mine. I could see the hesitance in them. "But I'm not as brave as you, so..." He trailed off, "can you come with me?"

I put my hand over his on the steering wheel and squeezed it. "Of course I will," I said. I knew he wouldn't believe me if I said it, but I thought he was far braver than me. I had come out to loving, understanding parents; he was doing so to ones who had already stated their hatred. Brandon's bravery far outweighed my own.

With a few more deeps breaths for courage, Brandon got out of the car and I followed. As we approached the front door, Brandon's hand found my own as if to stable himself. His hand shook some in my own, but he didn't stop, and we entered the house.

"Mom?" Brandon called, looking around the dim front corridor anxiously. "Dad?"

A light flicked on and we saw Brandon's mother standing in the doorway to the living room, robe wrapped around her tightly. "There you are," she said, her brow furrowing. "You're father and I both tried calling you hours ago. Where have you been?"

Just then, Brandon's father appeared beside his wife. With narrowed eyes, he crossed his arms at us disapprovingly. I saw his eyes drop to our clasped hands and his jaw clenched. "It's a little late to have a friend over on a school night," he said.

There was a minute hesitation in Brandon before he spoke. "I'm sorry I'm home late," he apologized politely before getting to the point. "Can we talk for a minute?"

"If it's important, then you should probably say goodbye to your friend for the night," Brandon's mother said. I didn't miss the way she grabbed onto her husband's shoulder when she spoke, hiding behind his intimidating form for support.

"It is important," Brandon said, but he didn't let go of my hand. Instead, he laced our fingers. "But Max is part of it and he has the right to be here."

Neither of his parents looked thrilled to hear this, and they glanced at each other. However, they reluctantly allowed us into the living room where we were invited to sit. We did, but only to appease the request. Once all four of us were settled, an uncomfortable silence washed over the room. Finally, Brandon's mother addressed us. "So, what is it you want to discuss that's so important?" she asked.

I felt more than saw the shift of tension go from Brandon's hands to his shoulders. Suddenly put under pressure, Brandon blurted out the worst sentence he possibly could have led with. "Max and I are dating."

I had decided a few moments prior to keep my eyes down, but when he said that, I instantly shot him a look that told him that was definitely not the right thing to say. However, my pointed glance was proven a useless warning when Brandon's father nearly shouted at his son. "We've had this discussion before," he said. "You know that's not true, and you're doing this for some sick attention fit. But we're not going to fight about this again, I've had enough of this kind of attitude."