Chapter 20
TWENTY
GREY (GREYSON)
This was not good. It was terrible, even. This seemed inevitable, but I’d hoped Ella was better than this—not someone who’d out a queer person to their parents. With a knot forming in my gut, I strode into my bedroom and called Dad.
The phone rang once. In a gruff voice, Dad said, “Greyson? It’s about time you called me.”
I watched Malik close my door. “I-I’m sorry, I was tired after the—”
“Tell me it isn’t true. Tell me this was a stunt,” he hissed. “You’re not gay, are you?”
“No, I’m not gay, Dad.” I fell onto the bed, my body curling in on itself as I rubbed my forehead. Do I tell him the truth, or would he believe me if I told him it was a prank?
“Then this photo Ella has, where did it originate? And be honest with me, Greyson.”
As my eyes stung, I peeked at Malik, dropping beside me at the foot of the bed and throwing an arm around my shoulders. I couldn’t lie about it. Malik deserved better. “Dad, I’m bisexual and, yes, Malik is my boyfriend.” My heart faltered.
A long pause ensued, and then Dad scoffed and, inside a growl, he said, “You’re coming home immediately.”
“What? I can’t. I have school, and finals are almost here. We made the Holiday Bowl, and we play at the end of December.” No point in mentioning my plan to travel to Santa Fe for Christmas. That would be impossible now. My hand trembled, and I dropped it onto my thigh.
Malik grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it.
“I don’t give a damn about any football games!
” he shouted, and then scoffed. “I’ll let you stay long enough to finish your finals, but then you’re coming home.
” He took an audible inhale as if calming himself.
“I’ll set you back up at Cornell. You’ll finish your degree there next semester and move on to Harvard. ”
“I…but I can’t. I have…” Holy fuck, would he listen to anything I said now? Could I somehow work with Casey’s agent and still get into the draft if I went back to Cornell? As I glanced at Malik, I blinked as a hot tear raced down my cheek. What would happen to us? “But, but what about—”
“Listen to me, Greyson. It took a lot of negotiation with Ella’s father to make sure she deleted that photo from her phone and didn’t use it against you.
” He huffed. “You said you’re bisexual, which means you must like women.
I’ll find a more suitable partner for you, and you’ll forget this nonsense with Malik.
He’s a nice boy and I’ve always liked him, but he’s not your future. ”
I stared at the floor, more tears dripping down my cheeks, my heart twisting in two. I didn’t know what to say. How could I fight this?
Malik pressed his forehead against my shoulder, his arms winding around mine, his breath hitching.
Dad was so loud, surely Malik heard him. As my voice cracked, I said, “And what if I don’t? What if I stay here and—”
“You’ll lose all financial support from me. You’d be on your own. Since you lost your full scholarship when you transferred, I’m not sure how you’ll pay for books and fees for next semester.” He snorted. “Or your living expenses.”
“You wouldn’t.” As numbness overcame me, I wiped my eyes and sniffled.
I knew he would. He wanted control over me, and this was how he’d get it.
I’d handed him the reason he’d been searching for to subdue me.
I had no choice. I’d never had a job, and I couldn’t let Malik and Tex pay for me.
I wasn’t even sure they had the funds. Plus, what about the expense of training for the draft if there was any hope in hell he’d still let me do that? “Okay.”
Malik lifted his head, his wet gaze locking on mine, his lower lip trembling. With his voice soft and cracking, he said, “No, Grey. We’ve got this. We’ll find a way.”
“I’ll plan to leave the day after finals.” Pain sliced through my chest, and I glared through the patio doors into the gray backyard. Finally, I might see desert rain. I couldn’t look at Malik right now. It hurt too much. But we’d have a few more weeks together, and then it would end. It had to.
“Fine. Let me know the date and I’ll set the move in motion.” Dad freed a long sigh. “Greyson, I know you must hate me right now. But I’m doing this for your own good. Someday you’ll see that.”
“Yeah, okay.” I breathed through the clenching in my chest. He said nothing about my sexuality. “Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Do you care that I’m bisexual?” I straightened my spine. I had to be strong for Malik when the call ended.
“No, that’s not the issue. The issue is making sure you have an heir, and we both know two men—”
“Yes, they can.” I gritted my teeth. “There are ways.” I thought through his logic. “What if I were gay, Dad? Would you search for a certain type of man for me then?”
“But that’s not the situation, Greyson. It’s a hypothetical, and I won’t get caught up in hypotheticals.” Through his teeth, he said, “We’re done here. Send me the date.” The call ended.
Hanging my head, I dropped my phone onto the bed and scrubbed my face. I had to reason with Malik, but how?
“Babe?” He pawed at my arm, his forehead wrinkling and tears hovering on his lashes. “What’s happening? What will you do?”
“Fuck.” Throwing my arms around him, I yanked him into my chest and buried my face in his neck, an unbearable ache rushing through my body. “We’ll have a few weeks together.”
“No,” he croaked and hit my sides with weak slaps. “Don’t tell me that, Grey. You need to fight for us.” Shoving me away, he sniffled and lifted his head, tears spilling down his cheeks. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“I don’t have a choice, Malik. If I don’t do what he wants, I…
I’ll lose everything.” He had to understand.
I snatched his wrists and gripped them tightly.
“What am I supposed to do if he pulls my funding? I won’t be able to pay rent or buy books for class or fucking pay for any of the costs associated with preparing for the draft.
How the hell am I supposed to go to the draft if I can’t buy a fucking plane ticket?
” It hit me how much I relied on my father’s money and took it all for granted.
Taking deep breaths, I stared at Malik. “At least if I comply, I might still have a chance at the draft. I might get him to pay for agent fees and the training needed to get me there.”
Malik’s gaze grew hard, and his lips pressed into a thin line. “Fine.” He ripped free, jumped off the bed and stomped from the room, slamming the door as he left.
My phone buzzed on the bed. “Fucking hell.” I glanced at the phone. It read Mother across the top. Would she berate me now? Blowing an exhale, I answered the call. “Hi, Mom.”
“Greyson, what have you done? Your father is parading around the house, ranting about something with you and your friend Malik.” She freed a sharp huff. “I’ve never seen him so angry.”
Right now, I didn’t give a fuck what she thought of me. “Mom, I’m in love with Malik. I’m bisexual, and he’s my boyfriend, but Dad would prefer I be with a woman.” I held my head high. How much did she know regarding the situation with Ella?
“Oh, dear.” She choked a soft laugh. “I always wondered about you two.”
My brows lifted. She saw it? Could she help me?
Wasn’t she the one who told me the final decision of who I’d marry would be mine?
Getting her help was doubtful, but it was worth a shot.
“Mom, Dad is making me leave Arizona after finals are over. He’s taking me away from Malik and wants me to find a woman. ”
“But if you’re bisexual, you could find a female partner, right?”
“That’s not the point.” I pressed my fingers into my temples. Sometimes I wasn’t sure where her head was. We were so different. “The point is, you told me the decision would be mine, and if I had to decide today, it would be Malik.” If only he could hear me now.
“Oh, honey, a woman would suit you better. That’s nonsense. You should have a proper wife.”
I ground my molars. Talking to her was pointless. “I don’t want a woman. I want Malik. I choose him.” Hanging up on her, I growled. “Fuck!” Had everyone gone crazy? How was this happening? I had to face Malik and Tex. Shit, what would Tex think of me?
Two hours later, I lay on my bed, staring at my ceiling, numb. I had no choice, right? I had to do what my father had insisted. Still, I couldn't believe how this had played out.
My door creaked open, and Malik stood there, his sad gaze trailing across my body. “Grey?”
“Yeah?” I sat up, my heart wrenching. It hurt to look at him now. Was he here to ask me to move into a hotel or something? My vision hazed. I couldn’t blame him.
“I…” He padded to my bed and dropped in beside me. “Are you sure you can’t talk some sense into your father?” He sucked his upper lip between his teeth and then released it. “I mean, what if we called him together? What if I told him—”
“No, Malik.” With a ragged sigh, I hung my head. “His mind is made up. I called my mother after you left, and she’s of the same mind. I can’t fight them both.” As tears pricked my eyes, I sniffled and squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. You know I love you.”
“Yeah, I know.” With his breath hitching, he wrapped an arm around me and hugged me to his side. “I love you too. But I guess we’ll need a lot more than love to get through this. If we even can.”
As I buried my face in his neck, I clenched my eyes shut and held in a sob. This was unbearable. “We can be together after the draft.”
“If your father doesn’t send you to Harvard and if they don’t find another socialite for you to marry.” He dragged himself from me and stood. “I…I need to talk to Shimá. Alone.” With a miserable peek at me, he left the room, shutting the door with a soft click.
My emotions boiled over, and I threw myself onto my stomach on my bed, the tears spilling without end.