CHAPTER FIFTY Mike
“Mike,” Coop’s mother whispered while curling her finger to gesture for me to get closer. Mom, Coop, and his dad were in my kitchen.
“What’s going on, Charla?”
“Can I just get a word real quick?” she asked when she adjusted my bow tie before smoothing my tux’s lapel.
“Sure thing.”
“Well, son. I just hate getting involved in things that perhaps a mother should keep her nose out of.”
“Okay,” I interrupted. “What can I do to make you feel better, Charla?”
She gazed at me for an extra moment before continuing, “Gosh, Mike. You do seem so grown up lately, honey. Cooper was right.”
“He told you I was acting more like an adult?”
She nodded, studying me closely.
“I’ll admit I’ve been trying. You know, since Dad died and everything.”
“Well, truthfully, Mike.” She paused, searching for her words.
“You’re worried,” I interrupted. “About Coop, right?”
“Well, I guess I am,” she admitted. “I know I’m sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong, but you know us mothers.”
“I love him, Charla.”
“You do,” she verified but needed more evidence. “And you love him like he loves you?”
“I do. I get it, trust me,” I said. “This may seem out of the blue and all so I understand what your concerns are, but I am in love with Coop.”
“Oh, honey. I just worry so much about you boys,” she said. “And you know my son. Cooper is sensitive and I worry about that.”
“Please listen to me,” I began, hoping I could help her feel better about our relationship.
“I love you and Roger like my own folks and I promise you, Charla, that my heart is in the right place. I know I’m young, but I realized that I have always loved Coop.
I guess it just took me longer to figure out. ”
Her eyes welled up after I finished and she reached for my hands.
“Roger said the exact same thing,” she said.
“He said it probably took you longer than Cooper, and he told me to trust you because you’re a wonderful boy who we’ve known for your whole life, Mike. I’m sorry I stuck my foot in my mouth.”
“I’ll do my very best. I promise,” I said. “I appreciate you speaking with me and hope you’re there for both of us if we need you in the future.”
“See? Right there,” she remarked, stepping back and appearing mystified. “Cooper was right. You seem so . . . so . . . grown up. Kathleen must be so proud of you, honey.”
“I’m trying.” I leaned in and hugged her then held at arm’s length when I stepped back. “I love him. I always have.”
“I believe you.”
“Shall we go see what they’re up to?” I asked, gesturing toward the kitchen.
“Don’t say anything to Cooper, okay?”
I mimicked zipping my lips closed. “Not a chance.”
We walked into the kitchen and found Mom and Roger fawning over Coop while fumbling over his tie, so I motioned them out of the way. I unraveled their messy attempt and then made a perfect bow tie.
My mother looked perplexed. “How’d you do that?” she asked. “You’ve never worn a bow tie, Michael.”
“I’ve worn one several times,” I countered.
“When?” she insisted.
Oh fuck.
I tried to play it cool and adjusted mine to sell my made-up story. “In my dreams when I was thinking about this day,” I quipped, feeling pretty smooth.
Mom’s eyes narrowed when she stared at me. I smiled and she averted her eyes for a moment before looking at me a second time. Something in her expression said she wasn’t convinced by my explanation.
“Pictures,” Roger said. “Lots and lots of pictures.”
“Daaaaaad,” Coop whined, looking at me and mouthing the word sorry.
“I agree,” I hollered over the racket our date had caused with our folks. “Let’s get a ton of ‘em.”
* * *
“We’re just gonna walk straight in and act normal?” Coop asked. “Like nothing’s going on?”
“Exactly,” I answered, feeling the butterflies. “We’re just another couple going to our high school prom.”
“Except you’re a four-year starting quarterback who’s cheerleader girlfriend is in there,” he argued.
“Ex-girlfriend,” I corrected.
“Even worse.”
We arrived thirty minutes past the prom start time and stood quietly in the full parking lot looking around at all the cars.
The gymnasium lights were low for a romantic ambience, and the sound of dance music vibrated through the brick walls.
I noticed Jennifer’s car parked in the front row closest to the front entrance. Where else would she have parked?
“Let’s do this,” I said, grabbing Coop’s hand and heading for the door. “We’ll go in, people will be shocked, and then we’ll just go about our business.”
“You don’t have to do this for me, Mikey,” Coop said, slowing down the closer we got to the main entrance. Two classmates were at a table outside the door collecting tickets. They were the first to notice us holding hands. One of the girls covered her mouth and leaned toward the other.
“Hey, Tina,” I said, waving as I pulled Coop behind me. “Just two guys holding hands here.”
“Yeah, only the two hottest guys in school,” the other senior classmate, Sara, quipped before running to the door.
“You hear that, Coop? The two hottest guys in school. Hastings isn’t gonna like that news,” I joked, squeezing his hand.
Coop stopped before we went inside. “I can’t do this?”
“You can,” I encouraged. “I’ve got you.”
“They’re gonna hate us,” he said. “It’ll ruin you, Mikey.”
I pulled him away from the door and behind a huge column supporting the gym’s overhang above the sidewalk. The entrance door opened and four students peered out, I assumed to see what the hell Sara was talking about.
“I’ll leave if you want, Coop,” I began. “But this won’t be the only time folks will stare at us or make nasty comments. You get that, right?”
“I know,” he spoke softly. “But your reputation at school.”
“If my rep is as great as you say, then they’ll be open to us. We live in Idaho Falls, Coop. Being gay and a couple is never gonna be easy.”
“How come you’re so cool with this?” he asked. “I should be the one waving flags, not you.”
“You’re not the parade type and you know it,” I teased. “It’s just a bunch of kids.”
He paused and looked at me in a strange way which made me think he was questioning my word choice or delivery. “Yeah . . . just like us,” he stated.
“That’s what I meant,” I corrected. “Just two kids going to the prom that happen to be gay. Hell, I bet we aren’t even the only gay couple here.”
“Shelly and Kim don’t count,” he said. “They’ve been together and out as lesbians since eighth grade.”
I kissed his nose. “And we’ll be two more of the out kids in exactly two minutes if you go in there with me.”
Coop chewed on his lower lip, looking from me to the door that was now wide open and filled with prom attendees. “Everyone’s coming outside,” he whispered, motioning to the forming crowd.
“See? We’re already out.”
Coop tilted his head toward our classmates. “Well, okay then. You lead the way. I’ll watch our backsides,” he joked.
I leaned closer to him so I could whisper in his ear. “And remember, in a few months, none of these people will matter. This is just high school.”
“You’re acting weird again,” he accused.
“But you love me, right?”
“Shut up and lead the way.”
We both inhaled deeply and turned to face the music, literally.