“Li, that’s great! I’m so glad!” Looking over at Damon, he speaks directly to my fiancé for the first time. “I’m sure you had something to do with that, so…thank you.”
It’s hard for my dad to look at Damon, and he drops his gaze several times throughout the short sentence. I once told Damon that although he and Taylor are identical, they’re still different, but my dad’s heart is clearly broken, and I’m sure every little thing still reminds him of Tay. So, standing in the presence of his identical twin is bound to open old wounds, regardless of the different haircut or style of clothes.
Damon stays quiet, but his grip on my hip tightens ever so slightly.
Okay, so it’s going to take a little work to repair all the damage, but no one’s drawing blood right now, so that’s a bonus.
My dad turns his attention back to me. “That’s really exciting, Li. I’ll, uh, put fresh sheets on your bed and?—”
I cut him off again. “Oh, Dad, wait.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m moving in with Damon.”
His face falls slightly. “Oh, right. Right. Of course, that makes sense. Well, I’m just glad you’re coming home, son.”
“There’s more,” I tell him, now playing with my fingers. It’s my turn in the hot seat, and I’m nervous as fuck about how this is going to go. My dad stays silent, but is giving me his full attention, waiting patiently for what comes next. “So, um, apparently, you aren’t the only one who maybe likes guys sometimes.”
Okay, it wasn’t eloquent.
Nor definitive for that matter, but coming out to your parents is kind of fucking awkward. Even if I’m not bothered in the slightest by any of the things Damon and I have done, I’ve never had to go to my parents and be like, ‘Well, guys, I like pussy, and this is my girlfriend.’ So, the fact that I have to tell my dad I like Damon—and his dick—just to tell him I’m engaged, is wild.
Oh, fuck.
I have to tell my dad I’m engaged.
In my head, the gay thing was the hard part, but in reality, I think it’ll be the engagement announcement that sends him over the edge.
“Come again? What are you saying, Liam?”
I reach behind me, pulling Damon’s other arm across my chest, as I look at him just to make sure he’s ready for this. My fiancé stares back at me, solid as a rock, relaxed with his shoulder against the wall to my left, and nods.
“Dad, I’m in love with Damon. I think I have been for a while, and when he kissed me on this trip, it felt like everything fell into place.”
My dad goes still and quiet, but the familiar look of pain is unmistakable on his features.
Surely, he can’t be that upset with me. I mean, not that it’s a contest, but holy shit, he basically fucked the same dude who was half his age, broke up with him, then stalked him until he almost got him killed. My ending up with Damon is way…
Ohmygod.
He basically fucked the same dude.
I’m going to marry a version of the man my own father wants.
My stomach lurches, threatening to spill its contents, but when I look back at my father, he’s trying to smile through the pain.
“Sounds like congratulations are in order. I can’t wait to hear about the trip and how this came about.” Oddly, I think he’s being sincere.
“Dad, if you don’t want?—”
Now, it’s his turn to cutmeoff.
“It’s going to take me a minute to process this, Li, but all I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy, and I’d have to be blind to miss how happy Damon makes you. It’s always been that way. Hold on to him tightly, son, because you’ll never find love like that outside of a Landry.”
He doesn’t add, ‘Trust me, I know,’ but he doesn’t have to. We all hear the words as if he’d spoken them aloud.
That went better than I’d expected, although the sadness in my dad’s voice sucks. It’s crazy to think he really did fall in love with Taylor.
