Page 133 of Faithful

“I had someone to take. You drove him out of my life.”

My father’s face reddens. “Stop this, Dylan.” He tightens his massive fingers into a fist and I’m having flashbacks of him slapping me around. It’s hard to remain still because my entire body has just entered a pre-battle mode.

“You don’t think I saw those disgusting photos of you two?” Gavin goes on, his voice threatening. “The whole world saw them. It’s only a matter of time until some sneaky reporter figures out your identity.”

“Is this your way of doing damage control? Pair up your gay son with a girl and show them off to the press? You think it’s going to fly?”

“You are getting a proper date for the gala. If you’re not man enough, I’ll make the arrangements.”

I shoot up from my chair, hating every second I’ve wasted on listening to the nonsense that just came out of Gavin’s mouth. “You know what, Dad? Don’t bother. I will find my own date. And stop messing with my life.”

I exit the dining room and head upstairs to chat with my mother for a bit before leaving this house of horror.

* * *

It’s Tuesday evening.

I’m sitting in the tiny lobby of a tiny office building somewhere downtown. My chair is tiny too. This experience reminds me of my first time at the Blue Sun Project, when I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.

The receptionist, a young guy in a light blue shirt, keeps giving me curious glances from time to time and I wonder if he knows who I am.

I mean, besides being Gavin Watson’s troubled son, I’m a popular meme too.

Time continues to trickle by. I continue to wait.

Thirty minutes later the only door down the hall swings open and a man in his early thirties escorts a woman out.

I watch them exchange warmhearted goodbyes. Once the woman is gone, the man approaches me. “Are you Dylan?” he asks casually.

I nod.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Vance.” He extends his hand and I shake it quickly as I stand up. “Shall we?” He gestures at the door.

“Yeah. Thanks.” I realize I’m nervous. I’ve never done anything this daring in my life before. I mean, I talked back to my father. I disregarded his rules and looked at another man and fell in love with him. But I’ve never done anything so dangerous. And if this backfires, then it won’t only affect me but my entire family. My mother, my aunt, my grandma Sue.

“Are you okay?” Vance asks as I lower myself into a chair opposite his.

There’s a modest desk between us and it feels like a good buffer, so I push past my fears and make myself speak.

“I’m alright.”

“Gin didn’t elaborate, but she did mention the subject you want to discuss is quite sensitive.”

“You could say so, yes.”

“I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that everything you tell me now falls under attorney-client privilege.”

“I know…”

Vance gives me a small reassuring smile and all the information about him I could find online after Gin sent me a link to his website flashes through my head. He’s pro-minority rights, pro-social justice, pro-ending income inequality. The exact opposite of what my father and his political agenda represent. There’s no way Gavin will be able to shut this guy down.

“You know who I am?” I ask him carefully.

“Yes.”

“You know who my father is?”

“I’ve heard.”

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