“Not really, but technically. They wanted me out of my apartment, and they had a place… beside their house, they weren’t using. So they gave it to me.” I hold my hands up to clarify. “Let me stay in it. I pay them rent. Plus, it’s closer to Lizzy and in a better part of town, and Rich doesn’t know where I am.”
“Is he still a problem?”
“I don’t think so. We had a talk when he showed up at my place after Easter. I told him I forgave him for cheating on me and being a complete douche, and told him we would never be a thing. I think he finally got the message.”
“Does he know about your poly… I forgot what you call it.”
“No. He doesn’t. Although it would probably help.” I laugh.
We walk an unknown distance before she speaks again. “So… why didn’t you think you could tell me?” Her voice cracks, like the pain of me not being able to tell her weighs on her more than my news.
When I turn to look at her, she doesn’t look back. Worry is etched into the lines of her face.
“I didn’t want you and dad to disown me or hate me or…”
“Everlee. We would never do any of those things. We may not understand your choices, but we will always love you. You obviously know the struggles we had initially with Beckett when he first came out to us. We had to talk to Pastor John for a while, not because we didn’t love Beckett or wanted to change him, but because we were scared of where his choices may lead him. We know that’s not the case anymore, which has put our heart at ease and when we go to talk to him about you, we will come out the same.”
“Pastor John has his hands full with us.”
“He always has.” She smiles and rubs my cheek. “It’s probably time for dinner, so we should start heading home. Plus, it’s getting dark.”
“Are you mad?”
“Mad? No, Everlee. Not mad. I know you see your father and I as closed off to the changes of the world, but we’re trying to be educated. You know… we went to a pride event with Beckett last month. That was so much fun. Now seeing everyone kissing everywhere that was a lot, but not because they were gay. I’ve just always found public kissing and grabbing and other things they were doing, not my cup of tea.”
“Yea…”
“Would you go to those? Are you part of the LGBTQIA+ now? Where does poly… you know… fit?”
“It’s hard to say… some say yes, others say no.”
“I will not pretend like this will be an easy adjustment for your father and I, but we will try. We will love you and will support you no matter what.”
Relief pours through me as I empty my lungs of all the air I had, blowing out and relaxing my shoulders.
“I’d love to meet your boyfriends? Is that what I call them?”
“I guess. I’ve never really thought about it, but I guess that fits, even though they feel like so much more.”
“What do Lizzy and Beckett call them?”
“My harem.”
Her head falls back in laughter. “I’m not there yet, so I’ll stick with boyfriends.”
“Sounds good.”
She grabs my hand and pulls me into a hug. “I love you Everlee. There’s not a lot you can do to make your father and I turn our backs on you, and having four very attractive men who worship you is not one of them. I want you to be able to come to us with anything.”
All the worry and stress from the entire day unleashes and I breakdown in her arms and start crying.
“Oh Ev, it’s ok baby,” she says, rubbing the back of my hair. “I think you’re just tired. You’ve had a very long and eventful day… and night.”
She looks at me when I push off her shoulders to look at her.
“Really? Right across the hall. You could have tried a little harder to be quiet.”
“Oh my God.”
