Page 47 of Ambiguous
“They are. And you treat them right.” Loren steps back to get out of the photo.
“I hope so.” I turn to a teenage girl, about fifteen or so? “Hey,” I say. “I’m Jules.”
“Stacy. Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m getting to meet you.” Her bright, glossy eyes watch me, rapt.
“Same for me,” I say with sincere enthusiasm. “I’m well chuffed to be meeting all these fans. I hope you’re having a good time?”
Her hands visibly shake, and she presses her palms to her cheeks. “Yes. This is a dream come true. Will you take a photo with me?”
“Of course.”
Stacy releases an appreciative sigh. “Even my grandma is a fan of yours.”
“That’s wonderful! What’s her name?”
“Vicky.”
I scan the crowd. “Is she here with you?”
Her face drops. “No, she doesn’t do well in crowds these days.”
“Want to record a video for her?”
She lays a hand on her heart, and her voice squeaks. “You’d do that?”
Loren’s expression says,Oh god, Jules, there’s a line. “Yes, of course.”
Stacy pulls out her camera and turns on the video. I smile and wave like a dork. “Hi, Vicky. Your granddaughter Stacy came to see me, and I wanted to say I’m sorry you couldn’t make it today and hope all is well. Lots of love!” I press my hand to my heart and blow a kiss.
She hits the button to stop recording and looks at me in amazement. “Thank you,” she whispers, her voice close to tears. “She’s my relative I’m closest to. Do you think I should tell her I’m gay? I don’t know what I’d do if she said she hated me.”
I swallow hard, amazed at the confessions I receive on a regular basis. “That’s a decision only you can make. But I always think you should embrace who you truly are.”
“Yeah. I think I’ll tell her.” She grins at me. “If Julian Hill can wear skirts, I can tell my family I like girls.”
I give Stacy a hug when she asks, then blink to refocus for the next fan, wishing I could really talk with her.
Loren comes up and murmurs in my ear, “At this rate we’re going to be here all night.”
I lift one eyebrow.
They put up their hands. “Okay, you wouldn’t be you if you took less time with them. I get it.”
“Precisely. Can you get her contact info? And send some merch or something?”
Loren’s eyes narrow. “You can’t give things away to every fan, Jules.”
“She’s dealing with a big decision. If I can give her something to smile about, shouldn’t I?” I feel like that’s something Sam would say. I smile at myself for taking his responsibility philosophy to heart. “Will you please find out the details?”
“Of course. I’m just registering my complaint that you don’t need to swoop in like a fairy godfather all the time.”
I roll my eyes and focus on the next fan in line.
CHAPTER18
Sam
“I’m by the fountain,” I say into my phone, whirling around and searching for her. “The one in front of Coffee Bean.”
