Chapter 31
Oliver
I’m still a mess when I make it home, brushing away tears, only for more to fall.
Cazaly is there to greet me. When I squat down to pat him, he licks my face and nuzzles his wet nose against my neck.
“I’ll be okay, boy. I just need to fix this.
I fucked up and I hurt Hux.” Cazaly whines as if he understands.
I honestly thought I was doing the right thing in Williams’s office.
But now I understand clear as fucking day.
Huxley needed his boyfriend beside him, with him, not some work colleague acting as an ally.
Huxley needs me to be out at school, to be a role model that shows kids like Jake and Troy that queer stereotypes are damaging and narrow-minded.
I want nothing more than to go to him, but I also want to respect his wishes and give him time to process. Hopefully, he’s gone to Maddie and Lara for support.
I make a cup of coffee and sit down in the living room, my eyes heavy with exhaustion.
The realisation hits that gossip has likely spread around the entire school staff by now, and I rub my aching forehead.
This is so fucking bad, I can’t see any way through this.
Needing to know what the fallout is, I grab my phone.
Jennifer picks up on the fourth ring. “Hey Oli, what’s up?”
“Hey Jen. Sorry to bother you. I just…have you heard any gossip today?”
“No, why? What’s happened?”
I should probably hang up if she hasn’t heard anything, but I need someone to talk to and Koa will be asleep right now. “Jesus, Jen, you won’t believe it. But please, don’t spread this around, okay?”
“Of course not. You have my word.”
I take a deep steadying breath and begin. “When Huxley arrived at his classroom after lunch today, someone had written on the white board, Mr Sinclair is a fucking faggot. Like, in huge fucking letters.”
“What? You cannot be serious? What the fuck?”
“I bloody well wish I wasn’t serious. Afterwards, we went to see Williams and told him it must be Jake and Troy, and he needs to investigate.
Jen, he didn’t give a shit about Huxley and wouldn’t even consider taking Jake and Troy off the team.
Then I got into an argument with him and threatened legal action.
But I stuffed up, Jen. Poor Huxley…” My voice breaks, as I try and fail to stop a fresh wave of tears.
“Oh Oliver. I’m so sorry this is happening to Huxley. And to you.” Jennifer pauses when she hears me blowing my nose, then continues, voice gentler this time. “You know you don’t need to hide it from me. You and Huxley are together, aren’t you?”
I inhale sharply, tongue-tied for a moment. “H-how did you know?”
Jennifer chuckles affectionately. “Seriously? Anyone with eyes and a brain can see the way you two look at each other. It’s sickening how in love you both are. I’m not wrong, am I? You do love him.”
There’s no point in denying it. “Yeah, I do. But I haven’t told him yet. It happened so fast, and it’s not easy finding out at twenty-three that you’re not straight.”
Jennifer hums. “You know what I think? Fuck anyone who’s a homophobe. Love is so hard to find. Don’t hide it. Don’t waste a second. Is Huxley there with you right now?”
“No,” I say, chin dropping to my chest.
We end up talking for a while; Jennifer listens to the whole story, right up until I failed to stand beside Huxley as his boyfriend. She orders me to get off my ass and set things right.
Ten minutes later, I’m speeding towards Huxley’s house, my heart at a sprint. It’s time to tell him exactly how I feel.