“Isaac,” she says warmly. “Good. You’re alive.”
“Was that in question?”
She makes a small huffing sound I read as amusement. “Well, your father called me this morning, concerned because you didn’t show up last night to a dinner date. And he hasn’t been able to reach you since.”
I try to hide my gag. “Can we not call it that? Apart from the obviousew, the worddateimplies consent on both sides. I never agreed to attend that dinner.”
My mom sighs, a patient sound. “He’s worried.”
“He’s not,” I say, sure of it. “He’s just upset I made him look bad in front of his client.”
I cringe the moment I speak it aloud, guilt trickling in.
“Isaac.”
“I know,” I respond immediately. “I should have been more clear that I wouldn’t be going. I just… I’m not some prop for him to pull out whenever it suits him. You know I hate those dinners.”
“I know,” she says calmly.
“And he never listens,” I go on, my frustration evident in my voice. “Whenever I tell him no, he just ignores it, thinking he gets the final say. I’m not a kid anymore. I’m my own person, one he refuses to even acknowledge, let alone accept.”
My mom sighs again, heavier this time. “I won’t tell you when to see your father, Isaac. That’s your choice.”
“But?” I ask, sensing a big fuckingbut.
“But,” she says slowly, “being an adult also means tackling your problems head-on, not avoiding them.” Before I can express my admittedly flimsy outrage, she goes on. “Call him back at the very least so he knows you’re alive. He does love you, you know. And…maybe next time he asks you to join him for a company event, show up as the Isaac you are. Not the one he expects you to be.”
I let her words sink in. “He’ll be pissed if I do that. He’s made it clear I should leave the gay in the closet.”
She hums. “Then maybe, the next time, he’ll think twice about asking his son to perform like a puppet.”
“That’s kind of devious, Mom. I heartily approve.”
She chuckles. “I’d divorce your father a second time if I could. You know I don’t share his views.”
“I know,” I say easily, stretching as I toss my comforter aside. “It’s one of the many reasons I love you more.”
“Isaac.” Her tone is chiding, but there’s a smile in it. “Call your dad, okay? And let me know when you have some free time. You and your friends can come over for lasagna.”
The simple fact that she automatically included Todd and Lumi in our plans has my chest warming. Not that I’d ever admit as much. “Sounds good. Talk to you soon.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
My mom ends the call, and I drop my phone onto the mattress. The next second, my door flies open. I squawk, quickly checking to make sure I’m fully clothed and breathing a sigh of relief to find I am.
Lumi strides right over to my closet and pulls a shirt free that she tosses onto my face. “Get dressed. It’s time for waffles.”
“Waffles!” comes a voice from down the hall. One that sounds suspiciously like Todd’s.
“You couldn’t text first?” I groan.
Lumi raises an eyebrow pointedly. “I did text, babe. Many, many times. It’s now…” She checks her nonexistent watch, tapping her wrist. “Waffles o’clock. Which means you need to get your cute butt out of bed pronto. I’m starved.”
Todd arrives in the doorway, disheveled but fully dressed. “Yeah, man. Let’s go already.”
“You were fast asleep less than five minutes ago!” I gripe, at least ninety-five percent certain of it. “Just…give me a damn minute.”
