Travis
“Ithink that’s about it.” We finish the porch swing for Oakley’s mom. We just stained it and fixed a couple of loose nails to keep it as close to the original creation as possible. It looks really good, and I think his mom will be happy with it.
“Yeah. I think so.” Oakley stands up from where he was putting the final touches on it and admires his work, then looks toward the drive.
“You know, your parents don’t live too far. Maybe we could stop by on the way out.”
I freeze, my whole body and mind going numb, just thinking of my parents. “No.”
“Travis . . .” he starts, sounding a little disappointed in my answer. “You miss them. I know you miss them, and I’d bet anything they miss you too.”
I shake my head. “No. They don’t want to see me.”
He drops his paintbrush on the tarp and walks closer to me, forcing me to look into his eyes.
“Listen, I say this fully knowing that I could be messing up my chances for sex today—and let me tell you, I’ve been thinking about fucking you all day long.
” I shake my head at his tangent but let him finish.
“But it occurs to me that you’re a little stubborn, and you probably get this from your parents.
So maybe there was a lack of communication between you and them.
And I’d bet a blowjob they miss the hell out of you. ”
I shake my head, still feeling slightly numb at the thought of seeing them. “They don’t know I’m gay.”
“So tell them.” His nose brushes against mine as he leans in.
“Or don’t, but I know you, and I know you came from good people.
I feel it deep in my soul, Trav. They’ll love you, no matter what.
They want you back. I just know it.” He presses a soft kiss against my lips. “And I know you miss them too.”
“What if they won’t accept me for who I am?” My voice sounds broken and scared. Because I am right now.
“Then fuck ’em. You don’t need them if they don’t see how incredible you are, but I’m willing to bet I’m right.”
He pulls me into a hug, and I wrap my arms around him, leaning on him because I can. I know I can, and he’s shown me that. “Will you go with me?”
“Anytime. Anywhere. The answer to that is always yes.”
I pull back and kiss him before we clean up and show off our handiwork to his mom, who is, in fact, very pleased. She tries to pay us, but we, of course, decline. And she ends up paying us with a fresh-baked peach cobbler that she sends home with us.
But instead of going to Hayes, I ask Oakley to drive his beat-up, old truck out to my parents’ house. We walk to the front door, side by side, my knees trembling as I knock on it.
My mom answers with surprise on her face but no anger. “Travis.”
“Hi, Mom. Is it okay that I’m here?”
Tears fill her eyes, but she nods her head. “Of course it is.” She wipes at her cheeks and pulls me into a hug. “Are you okay? I’ve missed you. I wanted to call you so many times . . .”
I squeeze her, holding onto her like I did when I was a little kid. “I should have called. I might be a little stubborn.”
She sniffles but laughs as she releases me. “I don’t know where you could have gotten that from.”
I smile. “Is Dad here? I have some things I want to discuss with you both.”
Yes.” She waves us in and calls my dad into the living room.
He looks like he just came in from outside, which isn’t a surprise.
He was probably catching up on chores. A pang of guilt shoots through me, knowing he’s probably had to take on so much more since I left, and his body is getting older and worn.
“Son.”
“Hi, Dad,” I say cautiously, and I’m caught off guard when he pulls me into a tight hug. I feel Oakley smiling next to me without having to look at him, and my dad shakes his hand in greeting before we all sit down in the living room.
“Are you going to school?” my dad asks right off.
“No.” I clear my throat. “Well, I’m taking some business classes right now.
I enjoy them a lot.” Two nights a week, I drive an hour and a half away to the nearest community college to take three business courses.
I probably won’t end up with an actual degree, but I’m learning a lot.
“It helps with the business I started with Oakley.”
My dad’s eyes go to Oakley, who’s sitting at my side. “Business. Landscaping, like your dad?”
Mr. Easton is the landscaper in Kensley. No one goes to anyone else around here. Oakley sits up a little straighter and nods. “Sort of. But we do more custom projects, like decks and patios. Firepits and swings. Stuff like that.”
“That sounds like a nice business,” my mom says, and I smile because she hasn’t changed at all.
“I’m gay,” I say, my voice cracking, and all three pairs of eyes land on me. I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that, but I’m glad I said it.
My mom appears cautious as she slowly nods her head, and I think I’m holding my breath. “Well, I’ve read that you’re not supposed to assume anyone’s sexuality, but”—she looks at my father who nods at her and then back at me—“we kind of thought you might be.”
“You did?” I stare at her, shocked.
She nods, playing with the hem of her t-shirt like she does when she’s nervous. “Well, I ran into Jameson’s mother not too long ago, and she told me about Jameson and the Dixon boy living together. They seem to be pretty happy.”
“They’re very happy,” I say.
She’s smiling now, a sweet smile. “I’m glad. That’s all any mother should want for her child.” She reaches out from where she’s sitting on my other side and takes my hand. “That’s all I want for you.”
I turn to Oakley, who gives me an encouraging nod, and I look at my dad and then my mom. “I’m very happy. I’m in love and running a business with the love of my life.”
She’s beaming now and leans over to hug me. “I’m so sorry I was stubborn. We only wanted the best for you, but we forgot that we don’t get to make that decision. Only you can do that.”
“I love you both. I’ve missed you.”
She sniffles, and I realize she’s crying again. “You’re welcome here anytime. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that before. I should have.”
“Thank you, Mom.” I turn to look at my dad.” Thank you.”
“Thanks for coming back, son,” my dad says with a smile, and then my mother insists we stay for dinner, which we do. I really missed my mom’s cooking, that’s for sure.
When we’re in the truck headed back to Hayes, I feel truly at peace for the first time in my life.
“You totally owe me a blowjob.”
I roll my eyes. “Way to ruin it, Oakley,” I tease with a laugh.
“Hell no. Blowjobs make everything better.”
I lean over and kiss him hard on the mouth, holding onto his chin in a possessive way that says he’s mine and I’m never letting him go. “You make everything better.”
He smiles. “Don’t ever forget it.” He kisses the tip of my nose as I release him and then winks at me.
“As if you’d ever let me.” He chuckles and drives toward Hayes. “You know, you might need to get a new truck someday.”
“Bite your damn tongue. I’m never giving her up.”
I laugh. “Never change.”
“Not planning on it.”
I smile to myself, just sitting back and enjoying the bumpy, loud ride.
I’m happy as hell to hear that though. I don’t ever want him to change a damn thing about himself.