There is silence on the other end, and Nash looks terrified and broken.
Finally, I hear rustling on the other end of the line. Then, a FaceTime call comes in. Nash looks to Talia and me beforeaccepting it. The screen now shows his parents, and he looks a lot like his dad. Both have strained smiles.
I move so I’m on-screen with Nash. He needs my support more than ever.
“Nash, why didn’t you tell us sooner?” his dad asks. He has salt-and-pepper hair and the same smile as Nash. It’s gentle.
Nash pauses. “I guess I didn’t know what to say. If I came out, it could have impacted my career.”
“But we are your parents. We would have supported you anyway,” his mom adds. She’s crying, but it’s not from sadness. Maybe acceptance?
“I know. I love you both, but this isn’t easy,” Nash admits.
“Is that Leo?” Nash’s dad finally asks. “I’m a huge fan.”
I chuckle. “Yes, I’m Leo. And, Nash’s boyfriend.”
Nash looks at me and smiles. There’s a tenderness in his expression that tells me everything is going to be ok.
“Wow, I can’t believe my son is dating Leo O’Connor,” his dad whistles.
I laugh loudly at that.
“So you don’t care that I’m gay, but dad is fangirling over Leo?” Nash jokes, easing the tension.
“All we want is for you to be happy. I’ll be honest, we didn’t expect you to ever come out as gay. You’ve done a great job hiding that side of yourself, but I wish you hadn’t. You can be yourself with us. You need to be yourself with us. We are your parents,” His mom says.
The love I feel from these two people whom I just met is astonishing. Nash has no idea how lucky he is.
“I’m just glad you found someone with such a strong record,” his dad chuckles.
“I’m glad I have your approval. Maybe we could talk about that record sometime,” I offer.
Nash leans in and takes my hand. He mouths' thank you' to me.
“Yes, we really want to meet you soon. And tell Talia, who we know is hiding somewhere with you all, that we expect her to come too,” his mom says.
We all laugh, and Talia leans into the screen. “Just to be clear, I told Nash he should have told you all he was gay a long time ago. But, you all know he hardly listens to me,” she says, giggling.
Nash rolls his eyes as we all laugh. We talk for a few more minutes, making plans to meet up with his parents in Chicagonext time we get a break. When we end the call, I hug Nash, holding him tightly against me.
“You did it,” I tell him.
“We did it,” he says, hugging me back.
“I’m so proud of both of you. Now, I’m going to leave and allow you two to celebrate this win,” Talia notes, standing to leave.
She leaves us, and we spend the evening in one another's arms, happy to finally be free of one burden.
Chapter 31
Nash
I sit on the edge of Leo's couch, the dim light casting shadows that feel almost too intimate. The warmth of his apartment contrasts sharply with the chill coiling in my gut, a visceral reminder of the secrets we’re about to share. My mind races with what-ifs, the words swirling in my throat, but a flicker of hope ignites as I think of Marcus and Talia’s unwavering support. Today could be the turning point we desperately need.
Leo leans back against the couch, running a hand through his hair, his brows knit in concentration. "What if they don’t understand?” His voice is laced with tension, and I can see the anxiety simmering beneath his confident exterior.
“They will,” I reply, trying to inject certainty into my words, even as a flutter of doubt gnaws at me. "Marcus and Talia have been there; they know what we're facing. We just need to trust them. Plus, telling my parents was difficult, and they understood.”
