“Apparently, he wasn’t sure that he was gay until he married me,” Bella snorted.
Admittedly, Dean being gay had been a major blow to her ego.
“Oh, Bella, I’m so sorry. I had no idea,” Taylor consoled softly.
“Nobody knows,” Bella admitted.
“Damn, Bell. Are you sure? I mean you guys were married for likethree years.”
“Am I sure? Of course, I’m sure. He told me. Apparently, he’d been privately fighting this battle with his sexuality for years. He thought that he could make himselfnormal,” Bella told her, using air quotes on normal for emphasis.
Taylor placed her hand over Bella’s. “I am so sorry. That’s fucked up.”
“Yeah, but, I’m okay with it now. After the way his parents treated him, I can understand why he tried so hard to be straight.”
“What happened?”
Bella shook her head in disgust, thinking about Dean’s parents and the way they abandoned their only son. “Girl, they disowned him. His dad told Dean that he was dead to him and they no longer had a son.”
Taylor sighed. Like Bella, she had come from a loving family. She probably couldn’t imagine a parent that would turn their back on their child. Bella, herself, couldn’t believe how Dean’s parents had mistreated someone as sweet and loving as their only son. Before they found out he was gay, both would often be caught describing him as the perfect son. Once upon a time, she’d loved Dean’s mom and dad, but as of late, Bella couldn’t stand the sight of them.
“That is sooo messed up. His parents are going to hell. How is Dean taking it?”
“He’s hurt, of course. But he’s okay. He’s living his truth.”
“Good. Dean is a sweetheart, and it seemed like you guys were made for each other. I always wondered why you guys divorced.”
“We do belong together,” Bella sighed. “He’s my best friend, Tay.”
Taylor smiled and pulled Bella into a hug. Bella, not really used to a lot of physical contact from someone other than her family, waited for the awkward feeling that she got whenever people touched her. When it didn’t come, she wrapped her arms around Taylor and hugged her tight.
