Chapter Thirty #2
Caleb and I both chuckle, and he ushers me over to a seat, holding it out for me like a gentleman before he sits.
On the other side of me, there’s a young man there who appears to share the same aesthetic as me, back when I was about his age—my late teens, early twenties.
He’s rocking a grunge, emo-punk look, but he smiles politely at me when I take my seat.
Underneath the table, I see him holding hands with the guy sitting next to him, who has his other palm on his belly, slowly stroking it as if he were pregnant or something.
The one sitting next to me leans towards me. “I’m Colton, or Colty-doodle, I guess, if you’re Morgan. You probably already met her, if she was out blowing bubbles in the parking lot again…”
I chuckle. “She was, and I did. Nice to meet you, Colton.”
He tilts his head towards the guy sitting next to him. “This is my boo, Petro.”
Petro gives me a shy wave.
“In my boo’s belly is our baby, by the way, so don’t think he overstuffed himself at the buffet. I mean, it’s good, don’t get me wrong—Taryn nailed it—but yeah…” Colton beams that same bright smile I used to see on Marcus’ face when he too was an expectant father.
I guess that explains why Petro was stroking his belly, however.
I won’t be intrusive and ask outright, but the only way I can foresee that being a possibility is if Petro is a trans-man.
Honestly, knowing the culture around Ternbay, I’m stunned at how casually Colton just brought that up.
It makes me wonder if the comfortability about everything I’ve seen here so far—Gannett and Gordy in a relationship, Evan and Brooks being married, Colton and Petro having a baby together—means that Marcus will turn up back here wearing—
“Look who brought the life of the party!” Marcus booms, pushing Aaron in through the door of the pub on his motorized wheelchair.
Marcus, who is currently wearing a mid-length cotton sundress with a very eye-catching floral pattern on it, has got a pair of rattan and canvas espadrille wedge sandals on to match. Very cute look, I must say. It’s so him, despite, I’m sure, no one here having a clue up until now.
“Aaron! Buddy!” Gannett chirps, standing to help Marcus make way for Aaron’s chair and all the equipment lashed to it. Then, Gannett’s gaze rakes up and down Marcus.
Marcus bites his lower lip nervously. “Um, Cap—” he starts, but Gannett cuts him off.
He holds his palm out to Gordy, making a gimme motion. Gordy grumbles, shifting Tati on his lap so that he can lean forward and pull his wallet out of his back pocket. Marcus’ brows pinch as he watches the same thing I am. Gordy pulls a twenty out of his wallet and claps it into Gannett’s hand.
Marcus scoffs. “Wait, you bet on me crossdressing?” he huffs.
“I knew you were keeping secrets from me beyond just that you and Caleb and Lauren are a throuple. I just didn’t know what you were too scared to come clean over.
For the record, I know I’ve been a little under a rock when it comes to this stuff—I mean, come on, the Pride cake is a prime example of that—but you should know that you’re safe to be authentic around me.
Heck, no one sitting here today is going to judge you or look down on you, are they? ”
Gannett looks around and I do as well. The whole table shakes their head, even the ones whom I don’t really know too well.
Gordy pipes up, “You know, I’ve learned a lot about you and Caleb because you both like to be sneaky and sign a lot when you think no one can understand you while you’re here. But I definitely did not see this coming.”
“Ta-da,” Marcus says flatly. “I wear dresses.”
Gordy snorts. “Cost me twenty dollars too. Truly, I thought the big secret was that you and Caleb role played Sam and Dean Winchester in bed at night.”
Alright, I’ve gotta suppress a giggle over that comment. I won’t admit that they have done that before, thus costing Gannett his twenty dollars and bragging rights, however. The rest of the table does offer a light chuckle though.
Hardly a soul in this town doesn’t know who Wagner Waters is, whether you’re “from away” or not.
Wagner, who has been quietly chatting with who appears to be one of his buddies the entire time, finally clears his throat and chimes in, “If anyone gives you shit about it, Marcus, send ‘em my way. I’ll give ‘em the same talk I gave your old man. If it ain’t hurtin’ anyone, why bother givin’ anyone grief about who or what they love.
Life’s too short to run around making people feel like crap about what brings them joy, right? ”
“Exactly!” Marcus points and snaps at him. “Thanks for talking some sense to my dad, by the way.”
Wagner harrumphs. “Saw a little of myself in ‘im, I did. Him actin’ all distraught about ya being gay or whatever. Simply asked him how it would make ‘im feel if you cut him outta your life over it. Didn’t take too well to that, I s’pose. Made ‘im kind of grouchy, if I’m bein’ real honest with ya.”
Wagner’s old man friend adds his two cents next. “My late daughter, Miranda, always liked that ol’ Dr. Seuss quote, ‘Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.’ That’s what you could stand to keep in mind, young chap.”
“Aw, I love that quote too!” Brooks chirps, nudging Evan who looks down at his lap.