Page 21 of Betting Brett

"Can't complain," I say, taking a sip of the coffee that the waitress just placed in front of me. Paul likely ordered it for me in advance. "Things have been... interesting, to say the least."

Lee raises an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eye. "Interesting? Do tell."

I chuckle and take another long sip of the caramel-infused coffee. "Let's just say that things between Brett and me have taken a turn for the better."

Paul's eyes widen in surprise. "Really? That's great news!" I'd already talked to them about what was happening, but I hadn’t given them the latest update, which was a pretty big one.

Paul claps me on the back, his grin wide. "Congrats, man. It's about time you two figured things out."

We all laugh, the atmosphere light and carefree. It feels good to be surrounded by friends, to be able to share my happiness with them. The conversation flows easily, moving from one topic to another, from the latest town gossip to the fun happenings around Shafter Falls.

"Have you guys heard about the new art gallery opening downtown?" Lee asks, stirring his coffee. "I heard it's going to showcase local artists. Izzy's been taking painting classes, right? She should totally submit something."

I grin, pride swelling in my chest. "She has, and she's doing amazing. I'll definitely suggest it to her. She'd be over the moon if she won."

Paul chuckles. "I can already imagine her screech. That kid's got talent."

“Yeah, and no shortage of opinions,” I say as the table laughs. “It’s wild how fast she’s growing up. I feel like I only just got here, and she’s already about ten inches taller.”

“They really do grow up quick,” Paul says. “Which is great for her because then she can ride all those carnival rides she was too short to get on. Sam and I went last year with her and Brett, and her disappointment when they turned her away was pretty heartbreaking.”

“And she’s an adrenaline junkie, too,” I tell them. “I’m sure she’s going to want to get on each and every one of them. Even the ones that make me sick as a dog.”

"They're bringing in a bigger Ferris wheel this year," Paul mentions, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Sam's terrified of heights, but I'm determined to get him on it."

Lee laughs, "Good luck with that. Hank tried to get me on one last year when we were in Denver, and I flat-out refused. Those things are death traps. Where are the safety checks? I want them tightening all the screws right in front of me."

I join in the laughter. "I remember when Brett and I snuck onto it as teenagers. We thought we were so rebellious."

Paul leans in, mischief in his eyes. "Speaking of rebellious, did you hear about Mrs. Thompson's garden gnomes? Someone's been rearranging them every night. She's convinced it's the teenagers from down the street, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's Mr. Thompson trying to keep things interesting."

We all burst into laughter, the image of elderly Mr. Thompson sneaking around in the dead of night rearranging garden gnomes too comical to resist.

As the laughter subsides, Lee's expression turns more serious. "On a different note, there's talk about starting an LGBTQ+ support group in town. With everything going on in the world, I think it's important for people, especially the younger generation, to have a safe space. Maybe launching it at the fair could give it maximum visibility?"

"That's a fantastic idea,” I say. “There's still so much noise and bullshit out there. So much ignorance and hate. Having a local support group could make a big difference in changing that around here." I was grateful that Shafter Falls seemed to be more immune to the vitriol that poisoned other small towns, but that didn’t mean we were totally free of bigotry and prejudice. Hell, I could think of one very important person in Brett’s life who held some pretty fucked up views.

"Sam and I would be on board,” Paul adds. “I think it’s really important to show the younger folks that they're not alone and that there's a community here that supports them."

Lee seems to agree. I look around and see if Leeanne is around, wondering if she’d be able to turn the diner into a rainbow-filled space. She must have been somewhere else, though, since I didn’t spot her friendly smile. Still, it's clear how much we all care about our town and its residents, even the ones that didn’t care much for us. We have a great time sketching out ideas for maximum support and visibility and brainstorming ways that we can reach at-risk youth of all kinds.

However, the mood shifts when Paul brings up Brett's parents. "You know," he begins, his voice hesitant, "I've heard some rumors about Brett's mom, Darlene. Speaking about the need to keep gay spaces safe… Apparently, she's been donating to some big anti-LGBTQ causes lately."

I feel a pang of unease. He wasn’t the only one to hear that. It made my stomach turn, wondering what kind of drama it would cause if she found out her son and I were together. Would she think I ‘poisoned’ him? Would she go nuclear? What would that even look like? I sit back in the booth and say, “I remember her from when we were kids, but Brett always preferred hanging out away from his house, so she and I didn’t really interact. I always got along with his dad great, but when I was around her, there was definitely something there, even back then."

“Have you seen her since you’ve been back?” Lee asks.

“No, not at all.” Part of me is happy about that, and the other is doubtful. I didn’t want to be kept a secret from the people closest to Brett, but I also understood that Brett has a lot to consider when it comes to telling his parents about us. Since he doesn’t hide me from Izzy, I’m fine with treading lightly with the rest of it.

“Just be careful,” Lee says, his expression serious. "It's something you might want to be aware of. I just have a bad feeling about having something like that here."

"And, when she finds out about you two, things could get complicated,” Paul adds.

Their words increase the uneasy feeling in my chest. Anxiety rises up like a coiled snake, wrapping through my ribs and making it harder to breathe. I've been so caught up in the happiness of my budding relationship with Brett and spending time together that I hadn't considered the potential challenges we might face. The thought of Brett's mother being against us, against who we are, is one of those things I was trying hard not to think about. I wasn’t really worried about me and Brett, but what if she did something that hurt Izzy? I couldn’t imagine someone ever being that cold-hearted, but people tend to surprise you, and sometimes in the worst ways possible. I wasn’t ready to risk any of that happening.

"I appreciate the heads up," I tell them, my voice steady. "I'll talk to Brett about it. We'll figure things out."

Paul squeezes my hand, his gaze understanding. "Just remember, you've got us. Whatever happens, we've got your back."

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