It was all just as well, I supposed. If they did slow down long enough to talk, most of them would only end up guilting me for being gone so long. Or if by some miracle they didn’t, they’d want to know about every second of my day and the names of everyone I’d spent time with. That’s how it was with my family. There was very little middle ground with them. They either wanted every detail or nothing at all. And right now, I just didn’t have any details to give them. So I guess it was easier this way. Safer.
But… if I was honest with myself, I knew there was another reason I rarely hit answer when their names lit up my screen. I knew once theyfinally realized the truth, all hell would break loose. Mia would probably fly out, Ma and Pa would demand I come home, and the incessant phone calls would become even more of a disturbance.
I hoped I would have a little more time. I needed to figure shit out on my own so when the bomb did go off, I’d have something to tell my family to calm them down. Maybe if I looked like I had some sort of plan, I wouldn’t be the cause of the latest Reyes family drama.
I just had no fucking idea what I was supposed to do next.
Loneliness settled over me like a dark cloud, and without thinking, I picked my phone back up to call Max. When we were kids, Desmond and I had spent all our time with our cousin, Maximiliano. Everyone called usLos Tres Mosqueterosbecause we were joined at the hip for years. That was why Des’s sudden change of heart had hurt so much after I came out. He’d not only turned his back on me but on Max, as well. Max and I struggled for a couple years after our trio had broken up, trying to find a new balance without the missing link, but thankfully, we came through even stronger. He was my absolute closest friend now.
The problem was, Max was a travel photographer. He spent all his time on the road, exploring endless destinations, and was never in one location for very long. So catching up with him was difficult. Right now, he was in China, and I knew it was likely three in the morning. When I hit dial, I wasn’t surprised it went straight to voicemail. I left him a message that I hoped sounded happier than I felt.
“Hey, Maximus. Just… hoping to catch up, I guess. Talk to ya soon.”
I sighed, and without evening realizing it, pulled up Jake’s number on my phone. Would he think I was insane for calling him so soon after our last hot night together? Sure, he’d given me his number and told me he wanted to invite me dancing, but was that all it was? Or did he feel the start of a friendship too? I knew if I called, Jake would make me laugh, which was exactly what I needed right now.
So I hit dial.
