16. Tristan
SIXTEEN
TRISTAN
Woke up single again. It’s the story of my life.
Always has been, and the way things look like right now, it always will be.
I guess nobody can say I’m not consistent.
Consistently sleeping around. Consistently shying away from being in a committed relationship.
Consistently hiding a part of myself, so no one knows the person I truly am.
And yes, I got up in a shitty mood, but it promises to be a great day.
It’s little man’s birthday, and we’re going to celebrate it at the family entertainment center with his friends. As I drive into the parking lot, my mood lightens considerably. No way will I ruin Nix’s special day.
The cacophony of the center assaults my senses as I stroll in.
The scent of pizza and over-excited children fills the air while the bright lights from arcade games flash sporadically.
My ears are bombarded by the sounds of laughter, squeals, and the occasional frustrated groan from a parent trying to keep up with their kid.
My eyes scan the room until they land on the beautiful man I’m falling for and his precocious son.
Myles looks all kinds of handsome as he organizes party hats and goody bags.
Damn, how does he manage to look so good in this chaos?
He whips around as if he senses my presence, and my heart does that annoying flip-flop thing that seems to happen whenever he looks at me.
He gives me a smile, his dimple popping.
Trapped under his spell, I smile in return, my heart still somersaulting in my chest.
Nix races towards me. "Tristan! Look at my Batman cake!" He tugs me toward the table where a Batman-themed confection awaits his eager hands.
"Wow, that's an awesome cake, buddy," I say, grinning down at Nix whose face beams with excitement.
"Alright, everyone gather 'round for cake!" Myles announces, and the kids jostle for position around the table, already hyped up on sugar and excitement. They enthusiastically sing the happy birthday song, sounding more like a cackle of hyenas than anything else.
Nix closes his eyes and makes a wish before blowing out the candles. The room erupts in cheers and applause, and I can't help but feel a warmth in my chest at how happy he looks. It's moments like these that make all the chaos and noise worth it.
Myles and I start cutting the cake and passing out slices.
Nix is practically bouncing on his toes as he waits for his piece of cake.
I take the opportunity to sneak a glance at Myles.
He catches my eye and winks, a small smirk playing on his lips.
I feel like I'm on top of the world, like Jack Dawson in the Titanic movie… well, before the iceberg, I mean.
"Hey, Nix," says a girl with pigtails who looks suspiciously like she's planning something devious. "You wanna see something funny?"
"Uh huh?" Nix says, a quizzical look on his face.
"Watch this," she whispers before shoving a handful of cake into another kid's face. The boy with the cake-covered face giggles uncontrollably. It looks like the two kids had that planned all along. Laughter erupts around us, and even I can't stifle a chuckle.
"Okay, okay, settle down, you little devils," Myles says playfully, attempting to regain control.
"Let's move on to the Ticket Blaster!" The cylindrical contraption looms large, filled with colorful tickets that are about to be blown around like a tornado.
He helps Nix into the transparent tube. “Get ready, son!
" The boy’s eyes widen with anticipation, the look of pure joy on his face making my heart swell.
"Remember, grab as many as you can!" I shout encouragingly, trying not to laugh at how seriously he's taking this challenge.
The machine roars to life, and a whirlwind of tickets fills the tube. Nix jumps, spins, and contorts himself in every possible way to snatch up as many as he can. His limbs flail wildly, and I can't help but snort at his determination.
"Come on, buddy, you can do better than that!" I tease, laughing at his valiant attempts. In my mind, I muse, Ah, to be young and carefree, where the most important thing in life is how many tickets you can grab in thirty seconds.
"Got one!" Nix shouts triumphantly, clutching a single ticket in his hand like it's the Holy Grail. The countdown timer ticks away, and I cheer him on as the seconds slip by.
"Three, two, one!" Myles counts down, and then the blower comes to a sudden stop. Nix emerges from the Ticket Blaster, grinning from ear to ear, and presents his winnings—a small handful of hard-earned tickets.
"Nice job, kiddo," I say, patting the boy on his back. "Now let's go trade those in for some prizes!"
The rest of the party flies by in a flurry of arcade games, laughter, and moments shared between Nix, Myles, and me. And through it all, I can't help but feel grateful for this chaotic, noisy, beautiful mess that I’d love to call family.
I find myself watching one of the parents—Jenna or Gemma, or whatever her name is—as she leans in closer to Myles, giggling at his every word.
The sound grates on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard.
I mean, seriously? Does she have to be so obvious about it?
It's not like Myles is a stand-up comic. He’s thoughtful and serious and sweet and doesn’t use curse words.
And yes, Myles is witty, but enough to elicit such over-the-top giggles? Good grief.
"Isn't this just the best place for a kid's party?" Sam, another parent, asks, trying to make conversation with me. But my attention keeps drifting back to Myles and his admirer.
"Uh, yeah, it's great," I mutter, forcing a tight smile. My eyes flick over to them again, and I can practically feel the jealousy clawing at my insides. I should be the one standing next to Myles, sharing inside jokes and basking in the warmth of his laughter. Not her.
"Did you try the pizza? It's pretty good," Sam continues, oblivious to my inner turmoil. I nod, feigning interest in our conversation while my mind screams that it's just pizza; it’s nothing special.
"Hey, look at this!" Nix exclaims, running up to us with a cheap plastic toy he'd bought with his tickets. For a moment, I'm grateful for the distraction, but then I catch Myles smiling at Jenna-or-Gemma, and my stomach clenches with envy.
"Wow, that's cool, buddy," I say, trying to focus on Nix and the happiness radiating from him. If only I could bottle that joy and save it for a rainy day.
"Okay, everyone, it’s time to wrap up!" Myles announces, finally tearing himself away from his new best friend. Parents gather their kids and belongings, and the noise level drops as they prepare to leave.
"Bye, Tristan! Bye, Myles!" Miguel shouts, dashing towards two men waiting for him. "Papá! Papi!" he beams, leaping into their outstretched arms.
"Does Miguel have two dads?" Nix asks, looking up at his dad and me with innocent curiosity.
"Seems like it," I reply, watching the happy family reunion. Myles takes a deep breath and explains to Nix that some people have two dads or two moms instead of one of each, just like some kids have only one parent, or even none.
"Okay," Nix says, furrowing his brow. "That means Miguel’s parents are gay, right?” Myles nods before Nix continues. “But when I went to Grandpa and Grandma's church, the pastor there said that gay people will go to hell. Is that true?"
The question hits me like a punch to the gut, and I see Myles flinch as well. We exchange a worried glance, both of us momentarily speechless. And then, I can't help but think how important it is for us to set things straight—no pun intended—for Nix's sake.
The words echo in my mind like a bad song stuck on repeat: gay people will go to hell.
The silence that follows feels heavy, suffocating even, as Nix looks up at Myles with wide, questioning eyes.
I can see the gears turning in Myles's head, trying to find the right words to say.
He's caught off guard, and if I'm being honest, so am I.
"Um," Myles stammers, his face a mix of confusion and concern. "Well, buddy, not everyone believes that."
"Pastor Johnson seemed really sure about it," Nix says, his voice small and uncertain.
"Sometimes, people say things because they're afraid or don't understand something," Myles explains, kneeling down to Nix's level. "But that doesn't make it true."
"For real?" Nix asks, searching his dad’s face for reassurance. My heart aches at the vulnerability in his voice. And for a moment, I'm flooded with anger toward whoever planted this hateful idea in his young, impressionable mind.
"Absolutely," Myles replies firmly, placing his hands on Nix's shoulders. "Love is love, kiddo. And no one should be punished for loving someone else, no matter their gender."
I feel a surge of admiration for Myles as he navigates this delicate conversation, and I can't help but chime in. "That's right, Nix. Love is what makes us human, and it's a beautiful thing. We shouldn't let anyone tell us otherwise."
Nix seems to consider our words, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Finally, he looks up at Myles with a bright smile. "Okay."
"Good," Myles says softly, pulling Nix into a hug. "Now, let's—“
Jenna/Gemma cuts Myles off unintentionally—–at least, I think it was unintentionally—but I'm understandably annoyed. A little blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl has her hand clasped in hers. "You know what a rainbow is, right?" Jenna/Gemma asks Nix.
He nods, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "It's when all the colors mix together in the sky!"