Page 151 of Outcast
Emory
When I started planning my ten-year high school reunion, I never dreamed I’d walk in with a man I loved on my arm.
I hadn’t looked forward to revisiting my high school days when expectations had such a stranglehold on me.
But now?
I was the guy whobrokeexpectations and set tongues wagging by falling in love with a man. And honestly, after facing my family, the town busybodies didn’t even faze me.
Allison waved to us from the table where she sat with Matteo. She was wearing an elegant, off-the-shoulder gown that was black and silver, and Matteo cleaned up pretty nice in a charcoal sport coat over a T-shirt.
Ezra Jenkins, a local doctor, was holding court with a swarm of women who never would have given him the time of day in high school. Marty escorted Sasha across the ballroom to join us, looking pretty dang suave in a nicely tailored navy blue suit. She wore a clingy red dress that hit her mid-thigh.
The Class of 2015 geeks were representing tonight, proving I wasn’t the only one who’d changed since high school.
Marcia Denning, one of the meanest girls to rule the halls, had shown up sans husband. Todd, still trying to relive his glory days in a too-tight football jersey, was hitting on her by the bar—so okay, maybe noteveryonehad changed.
But most of us were in a state of constant evolution.
“This is weird,” Gray muttered, gaze darting from face to face at the reunion.
Even though we’d been on a few dates around town since I came out, he looked like he wanted to disappear into a corner now.
Much as he’d done when we were in high school.
I nudged him. “You’re dating the class president. That makes you one of the popular kids now.”
“I guess I’ve come a long way from that outcast with a crush on the golden boy in town,” he said. “You sure you want to tarnish your reputation with a bad boy like me?”
I rolled my eyes. “Please. You’re a big softy, and you know it.”
He pulled out my chair for me, demonstrating he was a gentleman, not some bad boy—despite his edgier vibe in dark jeans, a black T-shirt, and a leather jacket. With the rings on his fingers and the few tattoos peeking out of his sleeves, he would never totally blend into any crowd, and I liked him that way.
I took my seat, smiling as he sat so close to me our thighs rubbed.
I was used to Gray always being my rock—it was nice to be the one he leaned on for a change. I still carried my brother’s loss with me, but I’d recently started therapy at Gray’s suggestion, and I was learning how to make peace with it.
My brother wouldn’t want me to torture myself over what happened that day. If anything, I owed it to him to make the most of the life I had.
Which was why I’d decided I was going to apprentice at Anarchy Ink. I’d talked to Dad about going down to part time at the bank and training Shayla to transition into my place.
He wasn’t happy, exactly, but he was accepting—which was probably the best I could have hoped for. It was still hard, disappointing him, but my family had shown that they genuinely wanted me to make choices for myself, so that helped.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever entirely walk away from the bank. I liked spending time with my father and grandfather. Liked the way I’d been able to work with Allison to help people. But making space for the things that made me happy was important too.
Like my art.
And my new boyfriend.
Marty took a swig of the beer that was free at the bar. “You did a great job with the decorations,” he told Allison.
Each table had a floral centerpiece, a dish full of dainty candies, and a small votive candle. There was an arch covered in balloons in Riverton’s blue-and-yellow colors for photos. Next to it, a table was covered in props like pom-poms, sparkly tiaras, and letter jackets.
Last night, we’d sponsored a float in the parade, and Sasha had rounded up some volunteers to cruise through downtown to represent our class.
“Thanks,” Allison said. “Gold Community Bank was generous with our budget.”
I smiled faintly. “I may not have that pull in the future, so enjoy it.”
