“Grey?” I watched his mouth bow down. “Are you all right?” I squeezed his shoulder. Whatever happened, he needed me right now.
“I’ll call my dad in my bedroom.” Wrinkling his brows, he glanced at me.
“I’ll come with you. I don’t want you facing this alone.” With a glance at Tex, I nodded once. “Make breakfast while we handle this, please.”
“Sure.” Tex twisted his lips. “Take care, you two.” He pulled eggs out of the refrigerator.
TWENTY
GREY (GREYSON)
This was not good. It was terrible, even. This seemed inevitable, but I’d hoped Ella was better than this—not someone who’d out a queer person to their parents. With a knot forming in my gut, I strode into my bedroom and called Dad.
The phone rang once. In a gruff voice, Dad said, “Greyson? It’s about time you called me.”
I watched Malik close my door. “I-I’m sorry, I was tired after the?—”
“Tell me it isn’t true. Tell me this was a stunt,” he hissed. “You’re not gay, are you?”
“No, I’m not gay, Dad.” I fell onto the bed, my body curling in on itself as I rubbed my forehead. Do I tell him the truth, or would he believe me if I told him it was a prank?
“Then this photo Ella has, where did it originate? And be honest with me, Greyson.”
As my eyes stung, I peeked at Malik, dropping beside me at the foot of the bed and throwing an arm around my shoulders. I couldn’t lie about it. Malik deserved better. “Dad, I’m bisexual and, yes, Malik is my boyfriend.” My heart faltered.
A long pause ensued, and then Dad scoffed and, inside a growl, he said, “You’re coming home immediately.”
“What? I can’t. I have school, and finals are almost here. We made the Holiday Bowl, and we play at the end of December.” No point in mentioning my plan to travel to Santa Fe for Christmas. That would be impossible now. My hand trembled, and I dropped it onto my thigh.
Malik grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it.
“I don’t give a damn about any football games!” he shouted, and then scoffed. “I’ll let you stay long enough to finish your finals, but then you’re coming home.” He took an audible inhale as if calming himself. “I’ll set you back up at Cornell. You’ll finish your degree there next semester and move on to Harvard.”
“I…but I can’t. I have…” Holy fuck, would he listen to anything I said now? Could I somehow work with Casey’s agent and still get into the draft if I went back to Cornell? As I glanced at Malik, I blinked as a hot tear raced down my cheek. What would happen tous? “But, but what about?—”
“Listen to me, Greyson. It took a lot of negotiation with Ella’s father to make sure she deleted that photo from her phone and didn’t use it against you.” He huffed. “You said you’re bisexual, which means you must like women. I’ll find a more suitable partner for you, and you’ll forget this nonsense with Malik. He’s a nice boy and I’ve always liked him, but he’s not your future.”
I stared at the floor, more tears dripping down my cheeks, my heart twisting in two. I didn’t know what to say. How could I fight this?
Malik pressed his forehead against my shoulder, his arms winding around mine, his breath hitching.
Dad was so loud, surely Malik heard him. As my voice cracked, I said, “And what if I don’t? What if I stay here and?—”
“You’ll lose all financial support from me. You’d be on your own. Since you lost your full scholarship when you transferred, I’m not sure how you’ll pay for books and fees for next semester.” He snorted. “Or your living expenses.”
“You wouldn’t.” As numbness overcame me, I wiped my eyes and sniffled. I knew he would. He wanted control over me, and this was how he’d get it. I’d handed him the reason he’d been searching for to subdue me. I had no choice. I’d never had a job, and I couldn’t let Malik and Tex pay for me. I wasn’t even sure they had the funds. Plus, what about the expense of training for the draft if there was any hope in hell he’d still let me do that? “Okay.”
Malik lifted his head, his wet gaze locking on mine, his lower lip trembling. With his voice soft and cracking, he said, “No, Grey. We’ve got this. We’ll find a way.”
“I’ll plan to leave the day after finals.” Pain sliced through my chest, and I glared through the patio doors into the gray backyard. Finally, I might see desert rain. I couldn’t look at Malik right now. It hurt too much. But we’d have a few more weeks together, and then it would end. It had to.
“Fine. Let me know the date and I’ll set the move in motion.” Dad freed a long sigh. “Greyson, I know you must hate me right now. But I’m doing this for your own good. Someday you’ll see that.”
“Yeah, okay.” I breathed through the clenching in my chest. He said nothing about my sexuality. “Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Do you care that I’m bisexual?” I straightened my spine. I had to be strong for Malik when the call ended.