Okay… “Just asking.”
She takes a quick sip of her cappuccino. “This party you guys are organizing… Will Jet’s cousin be there?”
I grin behind my glass. “He’s invited. Hasn’t confirmed yet. Why?”
“Oh, no particular reason.”
Yeah, right. “You’re coming, right?”
“I’ll even bring my patented chocolate cake.”
“You have a patented cake? Since when?”
“This week. I’ve decided to learn to cook.”
“Really.” The most Brylee ever cooked when we were roommates was cheese on toast and boiled eggs.
“Yes. My mom says that if you’re a good housekeeper, men will flock to you.”
“I’m not a good housekeeper and I have my boys,” I say.
“You already have them,” Brylee says with perfect Brylee-logic. “So you don’t need to cook. That’s different.”
Welcome to the rabbit hole. It’s nice, deep and dark, and doesn’t obey the rules of our world.
“No, Bry. The whole point is that I didn’t need to know how to cook or clean like a pro in the first place. I found love anyway.”
“That’s because Joel does the cooking.”
Okay, she has a point. I think? She has me so frigging confused.
“Fine, then bring the cake. Better still, come in early to help us fix up the apartment, yeah?”
“I’ll see if I can. Are your parents coming, too?”
“Yeah.”
Mom wouldn’t miss it for the world, and I need to speak to Dad, see if he has any idea that Mom is planning to elope with a rentboy and a suitcase full of dildos.
Holy crap…
Chapter Fourteen
Joel
When I think of my parents, I see a wall. Between them. Between them and myself. There is no bridge, no opening, no warmth, no understanding or forgiving.
I’ll tear down that wall. I’ll speak the things they don’t wanna hear.
I won’t be afraid of being who I really am.
Even if I’m not perfect.
I’m not stressed.
This morning I called home and told my mom I’ll swing by tomorrow to see them. I have a little speech spinning like a top inside my head, about my choices and decisions and my hope they will see my side of things.
That they will accept the invitation to the party and meet my girlfriend and boyfriend. Yeah, complete with rainbow-farting unicorns and rosy fluffy clouds. And now I’m sitting at work and trying to focus on numbers.