My pants drop slower than strictly necessary. Just to see what happens.
James swallows so hard I can see his Adam’s apple bob from here.
Interesting. I want to lick that…
"Fancy," Gavin's laugh shakes us both out of the moment. "Any celebrities? I heard your dad plays golf with the governor."
Pulling on my shirt, I turn from the mirror to see James shake his head, and Gavin smirk at the two of us. "Probably the usual suspects. Local news anchors, a few minor sports figures, maybe a state representative or two."
"Cool, cool." Gavin sits up. "So you do this a lot, huh? The whole political scene thing?"
Something in his casual tone makes me pause. James is watching me as I slowly pull up my pants.
"Only when I can't get out of it." Sitting on the edge of the bed to put on my shoes. "Which is more often than I'd like."
"Not a fan of the spotlight?" James asks quietly.
My laugh has no humour in it. "I'm a fan of not being paraded around like my father's pet project. 'Look, everyone, I have a gay son and I love him anyway. See how progressive I am?'
The words are bitter. Gavin and James exchange a glance.
"Shit, man," Gavin says. "That's fucked up."
Shrugging, I try to play it off. "It's politics. Everything's calculated."
"Is that why you asked me to come?" James asks. "As a buffer?"
My eyes meet his properly this time.Honesty, then."Partly. These events are always easier with someone else to talk to. Butalso..." The words stick in my throat; opening up is difficult for me. "I didn't want to go alone this time."
"Because of what happened at the last one? With Christopher?" James's voice is careful.
"Yeah." I turn away and fiddle with my cufflinks. "And because it's exhausting pretending to be the perfect, supportive son when all I want to do is tell everyone what my father truly thinks about 'the gay agenda' when the cameras aren't rolling."
"Which is?" Gavin prompts.
"That it's fine for his son to be gay as long as I'm not 'flamboyant' about it and still plan on giving him grandchildren somehow. The hypocrisy is what gets me. Standing with his arm around me for the photo op, then telling me later that I shouldn't mention my 'lifestyle choices' to his more conservative donors."
"Fuuuuuck," James mutters.
"It's whatever." The transformation happens automatically now, my spine straightens, and my jaw unclenches. A practiced half-smile slides into place. The one that saysI'm fine, everything's fine, my father is a wonderful man.
"The food is good,the bar is open, and now I'll have you to talk to instead of bored trophy wives and ancient party loyalists."
"Well, now you have two someones," Gavin announces, springing off the bed. "I'm coming too."
"What?" James and I say simultaneously.
"You heard me. I'm coming to this shindig. I've got a suit." Gavin grins. "I can be your emotional support, like a golden retriever."
"Haha, just because your initials are GR doesn't mean you are a… Wait, in your case, it does. But this isn't a kegger, Gavin," James nods in agreement. "It's a political fundraiser."
"Even better!" Gavin doesn't let up. "I've been wanting to expand my social circle beyond sports and frat guys. This is perfect."
"You don't have a ticket."
"Don't you get a plus one? Plus two? Whatever?"
The truth is, I do have flexibility with guests. My father always tells me to bring friends, especially the ones who are "normal-looking."
