Page 107 of Ambiguous
“No,” I mutter. “Pop-Pop is a much better choice. Still, what does it matter who I date?”
She pinches the bridge of her nose. “Like it or not, showing gay men in a lasting and stable relationship helps counter all kinds of negative perceptions.”
“At what cost, Mom? At the cost of my heart?”
“Look, honey. I want you to be happy. But this is the greater good. I’m sure your new man—whoever he is—will be happy to support you. Ask him. He’ll understand.”
I sigh. “I promised him I’d make it clear I was single.”
“Your mom’s right,” Kurt says. “You know I don’t care if you’re with your new man, but don’t be seen in public with him. Just hold off a little longer.”
I can’t handle talking with either of them anymore. I turn and walk away, headed to my car, hoping no one can see my face.
Because I’m sure it’s thunderous.
* * *
“It was bad, Jules,” I say. “They want me to keep appearing with Kurt until Election Day.”
I’m curled up next to him on his couch. He sighs. “I’m used to being the nice guy. The one who says, yeah, no problem, that’s fine.”
My eyes widen, and I reach out a hand to touch his thigh.
“But I really don’t want you dating him anymore. I’ve never been jealous in my life, yet it’s making me jealous to think that you’re in his arms—even if it’s only for the cameras. That he has his hands on you. That he’s kissing you.”
“I can refuse,” I say. “But I’m scared.”
He furrows his brow. “Of disappointing your family?”
“Well, that’s unpleasant, too, but… of the other side winning. The field is wide open, and any little misstep could cost the whole thing. And I don’t want to turn California back to the Dark Ages.”
“No one wants that, love,” he says. “But do you really think who you are dating is important enough to swing the election?”
I give him a look.
“Okay, yeah,” he concedes. “No one is expecting you to go and date, uh, me.” He’s silent for a moment, looking thoughtful. Then he says, “Can I at least meet your family?”
“Of course.” I pull out my phone. “I’ll tell them to expect my boyfriend for dinner.”
“What should I wear?”
“That jersey dress that you wore to the Grammys.” I’m irritated enough with my family’s demands that I mostly mean it. He looked fucking hot in a sleek black tank dress that accentuated his lean frame and his toned arms.
“Pretty sure a dress, particularly one that’s tailored to showcase a designer jock strap, isn’t the thing to wear to meet the parents, even liberal ones.”
“I’d be fine with you wearing it,” I insist.
“Yeah, but I don’t need to be in their face about my fashion choices. Besides, I have a new jacket I’m dying to wear.”
I kiss him. “Sounds good.”
CHAPTER40
Sam
“Are you ready for this?” I ask, as Jules and I walk up to my grandfather’s midcentury modern showcase home, which isn’t all that far from Jules’s house. “Because we don’t have to go in.” I stop on the walkway. “If you want to leave, we can. We don’t have to do this.”
Jules stops me, turning to face me and put two hands on my shoulders. “I’m ready. They’re your family. Of course I want to meet them. I only wish I had family to share with you. I mean, apart from Colin.”
