Page 94 of Unexpected Boyfriends

"Here, let me see," my dad is standing real close on my other side. I don't know how I didn't see him there. I pull out the phone again, unlock itagain, and show him the picture. He shrugs like he doesn't get it but doesn't say anything. Maybe he doesn't find it funny.

My mother steps away and goes to the fridge. "You two go and chat in the living room, so you don't get in the way while I'm getting dinner ready."

Does she mean talk about me being gay? Or is tonight for getting along and the hard conversations will come tomorrow? I guess I'll find out.

???

It turns out that the hard conversations are for tomorrow, as we don't discuss the elephant in the room before or during dinner. We do have a pleasant family dinner though. I help with setting the table, and clearing away afterwards. I don't get time to text Axel, but I'm not worried as he probably doesn't expect to hear from me, and he's going to text me tonight anyway.

After dinner, Dad is keen to start work and hustles me along.

As I go to follow him out of the kitchen, Dad turns around and snaps, "Leave your damn phone here. I know how you young people are. You'll be spending more time on your phone than you do working if you have it with you."

I sigh, but it's not worth the argument. I'm trying to build bridges here, so I have to pick my battles. I drop the phone on the table and follow him out the door.

AXEL

I've changed my mind about us. I'm staying with my family. Please don't contact me again. I'm blocking you

The message hits my phone with a loud ping around 10pm just as I'm wondering if it's too early to Facetime Justin. WTF? Frowning, I hit the button to Facetime him anyway, but the request doesn't get answered.

I try again, but as much as I glare at my phone, it doesn't make the call get answered.

I try a normal call, but the phone rings out. I'm trying not to freak out. He's probably just messing with me, right?

Hey! You can't just drop that on me without talking to me!

But apparently he can because he doesn't reply. Is he really blowing me off? How can so much have changed in so little time? Or has it really?

I remember the conversation I overheard in the kitchen between Justin and his mother. Maybe he'd already made his decision then, and saying he was staying over was just an easy way of breaking things off?

JUSTIN

After sorting out the contents of the garage for the big clean up collection, I'm anxious to get inside and text or talk with Axel. I know it's only hours since we saw each other, but he seemed unsettled when we parted and that makes me uneasy. Dealing with this whole situation must have been incredibly tiresome. Ever since he got to know me, I've turned his life upside down and not in a good way. I've dragged him away from the beach and even his work must be suffering with him being away so long.

We don't finish until late, re-entering the house with dust and cobwebs clinging to our clothes, and scattered through our hair. I grab my phone off the kitchen table where I left it, and hustle to the bathroom to shower. When I check the screen, I'm surprised to see there's no message yet from Axel. No missed calls either.

Maybe something came up and he's busy. I shoot off a quick text and try to ignore my rising unease as I step under the water and let the cascade of warm droplets wash the dust away.

Curled up afterwards in my single bed, I give in and call him but there's no answer.

This is horribly reminiscent of the first time he ghosted me not long after we first met.

???

"Rise and shine!" my mom intones cheerfully, rat-tat-tatting loudly on my door the next morning. She calls throughthe closed door, "Remember we're going to the markets this morning. We need to get going."

I groan. I've hardly slept, my head a mess of confused emotions.

Despite this, an hour or so later, my mother and I arrive at the Victoria market. It's a massive noisy place selling food produce and almost everything else, in an enormous undercover space echoing with the vendors' competing cries and the bustle of avid shoppers. It's loud and chaotic and full of color and life. We go from one stall to another, feasting our eyes on colorful garments, beautiful flowers and the freshest fruit and vegetables that make those in the supermarkets look like last-choice leftovers.

It's an amazing and vibrant place and I'd be having a wonderful time if it wasn't for the niggling fear sitting heavy in my chest. My mother flits from stall to stall, oblivious to my unease.

We don't arrive home until late in the day, my impatience growing as my mother decides unexpectedly to visit a number of other shops and then an elderly distant relative who lives alone.

By the time we get back, I'm beside myself. I've heard nothing from Axel and he hasn't answered any of my texts or calls.

The hinges of the front door voice their protest loudly as we enter the house groaning under the weight of our shopping bags. My father, sitting in the living room, looks up over his paper, and pins me with a knowing stare.

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