Chapter Nine
Brody
As I rode around the curve, Momma’s car came into view. Theo’s wasn’t in the driveway, and relief flooded me. Although seeing how he treated her with respect and kept working at his company had shown me he cared for her, that it wasn’t about the money, I was still reserved at best. But Momma was happy, so I’d learned to shut up and let her live her life.
“Momma?” I called out when I entered.
“In the kitchen.”
Sniffing with appreciation, I followed my nose. “Mmm. Whatcha cookin’?”
“Bakin’,” she corrected. “Cinnamon buns and peach cobbler. I made extra for you to take home, for you and Dev.”
“Thanks. Can we…can you sit for a sec?” That swoop of fear hit my stomach, and it must’ve shown on my face, as Momma took one look at me and took off her apron.
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
I pulled out a chair and waited until she sat before taking a seat next to her. “No. nothing’s wrong. I’m fine. Everything’s great.”
She put a hand to her heart. “Thank God. And Devlin? He’s okay?”
“Yeah, no problems. I just left the opening of the new shelter and rec center. I…I need to talk to you and tell you something.”
She folded her hands in front of her. “All right. I’m listening.”
Now that the time was here, I was a nervous wreck. On the field I could face the biggest, fiercest tackles, but here, sitting in this sweet-scented kitchen, I was a quivering mess.
“I, uh, I’m gay, Momma. I’ve known since I was eleven. I’m also…I’m in love with Dev. And he loves me back.” I thought my heart would jump out of my chest while I spoke, but now that I’d told her, it all clicked into place, and finally, after years of being stuck underwater, I broke the surface to breathe.
“Oh, my sweet boy.” She smiled. “Don’t you think I know?”
My jaw dropped. “What…how…I don’t understand. You knew? Since when?”
“I guess it was high school when I’d go to the games and see all the cheerleaders and girls all over you and you never paid them no mind. Same in college. You never talked about girls or goin’ out and meetin’ people. It was always the game and your friends. And then, when you told us you were movin’ to New York, where Devlin is, I was hopin’ you’d find the right time to share with me.”
Shaking my head, I rubbed my face. “I can’t believe you knew all along. I was so scared. Maybe not scared, but worried you might change your mind about me.”
“Nevereverthink that.” Her fist made contact with the tabletop. “You are my life, my son. I would die for you. And I want you to be happy.” She wiped her eyes. “And Devlin? You’ve been together since college, I’m assumin’?”
“We only acknowledged it senior year, the night we won the championship.” I didn’t even realize the heaviness weighing me down until now. I was light as air. “Since then we’ve tried all sorts of ways to be together without raising suspicion. But we’ve been together for years, and it’s only gotten better.”
“Four years is a long time,” she mused, “but you’re still young. You both have a whole lotta livin’ to do. Are you sure you’re really ready?”
“I love him, Momma. And he loves me back. We wanna be together, and me signin’ with the Kings is gonna make it possible.” Tears burned, and I wiped the heel of my hand against my eyes. “We’re tired of bein’ apart for half the year.”
Her hand rested on mine. “I know. I can’t imagine how hard it must be. Just don’t lose yourself up there. Remember how you were raised and know you don’t have to change.”
“I won’t. I just want to be happy.”
“And being with Dev makes you happy.”
I nodded and whispered, “Yeah.”
She sniffled and met my gaze. “Then you go to New York and give them everything you got. And I’ll come to cheer you in the Super Bowl.”
Finally, I could laugh. “You’re getting a little ahead of yourself, Momma.”
“I don’t think so,” she said, her eyes soft and filled with so much tenderness, my chest hurt, knowing moments like these were fleeting. “I think if you’re content and loved, there’s nothin’ you can’t do.”
