“You know, Alex could help,” Dad tells me.
“Really?” I pull out of Mom’s arms and look over at him.
“Of course. He can’t make the decision for you, but he struggled with it before he came out.”
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. It goes to show just how in my head I’ve really been. But I also don’t know if I would have talked to him without talking to my parents first.
“Okay, yeah. I’ll talk to Uncle Alex. Maybe that will help.”
I don’t knowif I’ve ever been so nervous in my life. Not even before my first NHL game. This is a whole different kind of nervous that I’m feeling.
Until the front door swings open.
“Are you going to stand out here all day, or are you going to ring the doorbell?”
Uncle Carter is standing in the open doorway with a smile on his face. Thin glasses rest on his nose, gray peppering his blond hair. He’s in a Black Diamonds sweatshirt as he pulls the door open even farther, welcoming me.
“Sorry. I was just trying to work up the courage to knock.”
“C’mon in, Graham.”
“Thanks. I was hoping Uncle Alex might be here?”
“He is. Let me get him for you.”
I follow him in and take a seat in the living room. I’ve been here more times than I can count growing up. Our families were always close, even after all of them stopped playing.
I sink into the oversized couch as Carter heads to where I know the office in the house is. It gives my nerves time to multiply. Maybe I’m not as ready for this as I thought.
But the thought of bolting is pushed from my head when they come back in the room.
“Graham. How are you?” Uncle Alex walks into the room with a smile on his face. He’s in a sweatshirt almost identical to Carter’s, and it brings a smile to my face at how similar these two are. “Enjoying the All-Star break?”
I stand, accepting the hug he gives me. “Definitely a nice break.”
“Glad to hear it. So, what brings you here?”
“I’ll let you two talk,” Carter tells us, dropping a kiss on Alex’s cheek.
“Actually, I could talk to you both.”
They exchange a look before they both take a seat on the couch. I sit down opposite them, trying to quell my nerves.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.”
You can do this, Graham.I have to keep telling myself that so I don’t chicken out.
“I, umm, I think I’m bi,” I start. “Well, no. I am.”
“Okay.” Alex takes hold of Carter’s hand, resting their joined hands on his lap.
He doesn’t push, just giving me the space to get out what I need to tell them.
“This is a new thing. The last few months, really. And now that I’ve found this person, I’m trying to come to terms with my sexuality and how to be out so I can be with him. Because he’s out and I’m, well, not.”
Uncle Carter leans forward, glancing at Alex before turning to face me. “Is this person pressuring you to come out? Because you shouldn’t come out for anyone but yourself.”
I shake my head. “He’s not, no. But I realize I love him and want to be with him.”
