Page 117 of Strange Lad

My dad gives me a stern look. He’s got a few inches on me, his curls cut short to the scalp, and a thick mustache, making him look more serious than I’d like. His English isn’t the best, so he doesn’t bother. He offers me a sly smile instead of the grilling I was expecting. “Did you win?”

“Gabriel!” She slaps my dad, who chuckles.

He’s a firm believer in never starting a fight, only finishing it. “Si, Papa,” I say. “But we need to make a police report.”

“Police report? Why?”

I take a longing glance at Oli being fussed over. “The guy I fought was Michael’s brother, Morgan. He…” I shake my head.

Sonia pops out of the void, scaring me, so I yelp. “Jesus!” I cry, and my mom slaps me again. “Sorry, Mama.”

“You were saying,” she prompts.

My parents look eager to know as well. I bite my lip, eyes bouncing from Oli to my family. Oh, fuck it. They’re going to find out sooner or later. “He hurt my boyfriend,” I say in Spanish so my dad isn’t confused.

Sonia’s jaw drops, then slams shut.

My mom blinks at me, and my dad frowns. “Boyfriend?”

I nod once.

“I knew it!” My mom’s shriek has me flinching. “I knew it!” she declares in English that time.

“I knew you were gay. Oh, I knew it.” I swear to god, my mom’s brown eyessparklein delight.

Consider me surprised. I never thought she’d be so happy about this. “I’m not gay! Well, maybe a little. But it’s like…only for him,” I point, “I haven’t worked out labels yet, alright?”

She giggles and jerks me into a hug. I peek at my dad, who is still frowning. “Sonia, did you know?”

My sister eyes me for long seconds. “Yeah. I knew.”

“Ohmygod,” I groan, and my mom pinches me. “SORRY!”

I’m not used to my mom hugging me so much, so I take advantage, gobbling up her affection despite the child abuse going on here. She hates it when Isay the Lord’s name in vain.Sue me, alright? Shit is intense right now.

“First the band, then fighting, and now you’re a homosexual.”

I wince at my dad’s words. He’s old school. So it wouldn’t surprise me if he wasn’t cool with it. But, then again, he’s never been as strict as my mom. Who knows anymore? When she releases me, my dad grabs my shoulder and squeezes.

“Talk about entertainment, huh?” He grins, and I sag in relief. “Introduce me to your boyfriend.” His chest puffs out.

“You know him, Papa,” I tell him because what the hell? He’s known Oli his whole fucking life!

“Introduce me.” And he nudges me with his elbow.

We all move into the Sawyers’ front yard, and I introduce my dad to Oli. It’s so stupid, but it’s making him happy to meet my boyfriend. Oli doesn’t shake my dad’s hand, which I have to explain quickly. Emma, Oli’s mom, beams at me and squeezes me lovingly. Brandon welcomes me to the family. And once weare all aware of Oli and I’s romance, we have to hash out the hard stuff.

Thewhyof our fight.

Once we are all inside, Phoenix takes the lead, explaining it to both of our parents, while my sister translates for my dad. I hold Oli’s hand through all of it, knowing he’s extremely uncomfortable about openly discussing his truths.

“Are you okay?” I whisper in his ear.

“Yes.”

“We will get it figured out,” I promise.

He offers me a tiny smile and rubs his thumb over the back of my hand.

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