Garrison
We graduated today. I walked across that stage and took that diploma in my hand. My parents were in the stands, cheering for me, and a lot of my classmates did the same.
My last name shouted out when it was called from my teammates.
There are a lot of guys who have been acting weird around me, that’s for damn sure, but the ones who matter haven’t treated me any different.
I don’t know if it’s gotten back to my parents or if it’s even left the school. But they both seem happy today and haven’t said a word about it.
I’m going to a party at Oakley’s later, but now, I’m at my house with a bunch of my family for a cookout and a big-ass cake decorated in my school’s colors.
I need to tell my dad, face-to-face and on my own terms, and for whatever reason, now is that time.
I’m sure he’d rather I do it on a day when our family isn’t crammed into our backyard, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
I’m not going away to college, but I’ve been looking into some landscaping jobs, and I plan to move out soon if I can. If this doesn’t go well, I’ll probably be moving out sooner rather than later.
Still, I’m holding hope that he won’t kick me out. That he won’t push me away.
Nerves are starting to take over as I ask my dad to go inside with me for a minute so we can talk. He follows me, telling his brother to take over the grill and not to burn the meat. His mood is jovial, and I’m not sure if I’m about to ruin that.
“What’s up, son?”
He sits down on the couch, but I’m too wired to sit still, so I elect to stand. “Dad . . .” I start, my mouth feeling dry and my palms sweating like crazy. It’s now or never. “I’m gay,” I finally force the words to come out.
He studies me quietly for a moment, no real expression on his face. “I’ve heard those stupid fucking rumors, Garrison. Don’t worry about them. I know they’re all bullshit.”
“They aren’t rumors.” I feel like my knees are going to buckle. Damn, it would be embarrassing to pass out right now. “I’m gay.”
“That’s not funny, Garrison.”
“It’s not a joke, Dad,” I say firmly and stand as tall as I can.
“You know what they’re saying about that Wells boy and his friend?”
I nod. “I don’t know if it’s true or not, but if it is, it shouldn’t matter if they’re in love. It’s no one’s business. They aren’t hurting anyone.”
His face remains impassive as he looks up at me, this strong man I admire.
Who I’ve always looked up to and always wanted to be like.
I know my dad isn’t a bad guy. I know this.
But I also know this may be bigger than him.
He’s been conditioned all his life too, just like I have.
But it’s time to break that cycle. “Maybe you just haven’t found the right girl. ”
I shake my head sternly. “No. It doesn’t work that way. I’m attracted to men, not women. I’m gay,” I say as clearly and calmly as I can. He needs to hear it. I need to be able to say it and not give him an out.
He takes a deep breath and stands up from his seat. I feel fear like I’ve never felt in my life, waiting for him to talk. “You’re sure?”
I nod, not laughing at how insane it is for him to ask. “Yes.”
He pats my shoulder hard, looking out to the backyard and not at me, his shoulders slumping. “I need some time.”
It hurts, but I nod. He leaves, going out to the backyard without sparing me another glance. But I still know it could have gone so much worse. I told him. He didn’t kick me out. He didn’t yell.
I can give him some time. I can do that.
A grin spreads over my face as I grab my keys and go out front, hopping in my truck because I need to see Jameson. I have to.
When I pull into his parents’ driveway, I see a ton of cars parked here, and I realize they’re probably having a graduation party. Maybe I shouldn’t be here, but then again, there’s a part of me that knows I belong where Jameson is.
When I get out of the truck, he looks slightly nervous to see me but waves, and most of the people gathering in their front yard barely notice me except maybe Adam. I walk over to him, and he’s smiling, which is surprising. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to talk to you.” He looks slightly freaked-out now and looks around the party, jerking his head in the direction of the barn for me to follow, which I do. He opens the barn door enough for us to slip through and then closes it.
“Are you okay?”
“I told my dad,” I say the words, more weight coming off my chest from the reality of that statement.
His face drops, and he looks even more worried. “Was it bad?”
I shake my head. “It could have been a lot worse. He just said he needed some time.”
He seems to be thinking that over but shocks me stupid when he presses a hard kiss to my mouth. “That’s a lot better than I expected.”
I chuckle at that and nod as he kisses me again, leaving me breathless and desperate as my back hits the wall of the barn, and he presses against me. I can feel the hard ridge of his cock against mine, and God, I want this but know we need to stop.
His entire family is only feet away from us, for Christ’s sake. “Hey, let’s save it for my room later, okay?” I reluctantly pull back, but he just keeps his hands on my hips and our groins pressed together.
His head shakes side to side. “No way. You deserve a little reward for this. That’s fucking incredible what you did.” He drops to his knees, and holy shit, I might lose it right now at the sight of him on the dirty barn floor in his nice clothes from graduation.
“Bates, you don’t have to do this. You’re going to get dirty.”
“Maybe that’s exactly what I need. To get dirty. To not overthink.” He undoes the button on my slacks, and I’m trying to be good. I really, really am, but holy fuck, he kisses the tip of my hard cock through the material, and I nearly lose my knees for the second time today.
“What the hell is going on?” Shit. That’s not Adam’s voice.
Jameson jumps up, and we both turn toward the door, where his dad is standing, rage burning in his eyes. “Dad.”
“This was a joke. I was just messing around with him,” I try, my words coming out way too damn fast and not convincingly.
I watch in horror and delight as Jameson’s body straightens. He shakes his head, grabbing my hand in his. “No.”
“Bates—” I start, but he cuts me off with a look.
His eyes go back to his father. “I’m with Garrison. We’re together.”
Shit. I can’t seem to get air to fill my damn lungs right now. He just said that. To his father, who doesn’t look passive like mine. No. He looks like he’s about to unload a ton of damaging shit.
“You are not together. Don’t you dare say that.”
Jameson stays firm. “We are. He’s my boyfriend, and I love him.”
I let out a small gasp, unable to keep it in and nearly fucking choke on it, but I remain quiet, other than that.
“Love?” He moves closer to us, the anger in his voice ominous. “He’s a man. My son is not gay. You’re not doing this to me and our family.”
“I’m not gay, I’m bi. But I’m with him, and I want to be with him.” I squeeze his hand to let him know I’m here, that I’m behind him, even though I’m beyond terrified for him.
“Your family is out there,” his dad seethes, pointing toward the party. “You’re going to forget about this boy, and you’re going back to that party, And I don’t want to hear anything like this come out of your mouth ever again.”
Why do people have to be like this? Why does it fucking matter to him?
“No.” Jameson shakes his head, full of determination.
“Jameson, maybe I should just go—” I try, but he squeezes my hand.
“No.” He looks his father dead in the eye. “The only way I’m going back out there is with my boyfriend.”
His father’s face is nearly purple now, about to explode. “You won’t have that boy anywhere near my house.”
“Fine. I’ll go with him then.”
He starts to pull me toward the exit, but I don’t know what to do. I didn’t mean to do this today. I just wanted to tell him about talking to my dad. I didn’t mean to out him, to implode his entire life.
“Jameson Bates, you will not leave with him. If you do, don’t you ever come back.”
“I love you, Dad.” And my heart nearly cracks in half because I know he does. “But this is me. If you can’t love me for everything I am, then you don’t love me. I’ll try to talk to you when you cool down.”
He doesn’t say another word and just walks with me out to my truck. We both climb inside before I drive, not really sure where I’m going.
“Don’t worry about it, Dixon. Just drive.”
And that’s exactly what I do.
Wherever we’re going, it’ll be together.