With a bit of negotiation and juggling, Flynn and I have the same days off each week. I was able to take Wednesday off, but not Saturday, since it’s the busiest day at the gym. Flynn talked to Tony about moving his second day off to Sunday. I don’t think Tony cares which days off Flynn has, so it wasn’t a lengthy conversation.
It’s Wednesday, and we’re spending the day looking at flats.
“I got all the info through for my graduation,” I say, as I drive us from a flat that we took one look at and walked out of, to the next one on our schedule. “I can only invite two people to the ceremony.”
I got my results last Friday. A 2:2, which I’m happy with. Not that I can see myself doing much with it. I’m enjoying my job at the gym, which I figure is more important than chasing a higher salary doing something less fun. The gym members make it enjoyable.Everyone is different, with their own reasons for hiring a personal trainer. I also do induction sessions for new members, tours of the gym for prospective members, and a twice-weekly step class.
“That’s standard,” Flynn says.
“I didn’t realise.”
“You should invite your parents.”
“I think they’d kill me if I didn’t.”
Flynn chuckles. “Yes.”
I glance at him. “But that means you can’t come.”
He puts his hand on my thigh. “That’s okay.”
“Really?”
He smiles. “Yes. Do you want to know a secret?”
“What?”
“Graduation ceremonies are kind of boring.”
“Oh, so you wouldn’t have wanted to come?” I tease.
He shrugs. “I’d have suffered through it for you.”
I laugh. “It’s a good thing I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We’ve said those words so much since that first time. They trip off my tongue and warm my heart whenever Flynn says it in return.
“They’ll want to take me out for a meal afterwards.” I tap the steering wheel. “I was thinking it would be a good time to introduce them to my boyfriend.”
Flynn stays silent.
“Bad idea?”
“We have to tell them sooner or later,” he says.
“Too soon?”
“No.” He sounds hesitant.
“They already love you, Flynn.”
“Maybe, in the past. But a lot’s happened. And you and I hooking up won't have been on their bingo card.”
“They’ll accept us being together.” I sound confident—don’t I?—but I'm not.
The truth is, I have no idea how my parents will react. What did Billy tell our parents about why he and Flynn broke up? I would have known if I hadn't become distant from him, and to a certain extent, them. The trouble is, Billy can be manipulative. What if our parents don't realise that? He’s their golden boy. Always has been.
