Page 97 of Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling

But first I have to get past my family.

Mom and Dad are currently dancing around the living room, belting along to the Temptations’ version of “Silent Night.” Mom is doing her best to hit that high falsetto, and Dad is bellowing out the bass in between big gulps of eggnog.

I’m hoping this Christmas Eve tradition of theirs will bedistraction enough so I have a chance to slip past them unnoticed, but—

“Reggie, where do you think you’re going?”

“Andwhathave you got on?”

There’s the problem of my costume.

I’m currently wearing pointy elf ears, a purple flowing cape, and green tights tucked into tall boots, with an intricate design of sparkling gems across my forehead—courtesy of Georgia and her theater department connections. It’s all part of the plan.

I rack my brain for a way to explain this getup without getting into too much detail or talking specifically about D&D. Because no matter what, I’m gonna do this—no delicate suggestions from my mom or disapproving looks from my dad are going to stop me. But I also don’t want their judgment to cast a cloud over this whole special moment.

Before I can even get a word out, Eric sprints into the room, jumping between me and Mom and Dad. “This is who Reggie is! And you—you... you need to accept him!”

Dad’s raises one thick eyebrow, and Mom puts her hands on her hips, head cocked to the side in confusion.

Finally, Dad says, slowly, “Reggie is... an elf?”

Eric starts nodding, furiously. “Yep. He is, and I’m going to support him in that. Well, he’s not an elf all the time, or at least I don’t think so. But. Um. Well. You want to explain, baby bro?”

They all turn and stare at me expectantly. And looking between them, I know it’s not the most appropriate response, but I can’t help it. I laugh. Like the kind of laughing that makes you fall forward,sides hurting and eyes streaming. I laugh until I’m gasping for air.

“An elf! Am I trying to be an elf?!”

This just makes my parents look even more confused, and it’s starting to shift toward concern. But Eric has wide eyes and an excited grin, like how he looks when he’s watching a particularly goodSuper Smash Bros.match.

I take a deep breath, trying to get myself together. “I’m not, like, coming out as an elf.” This sounds so ridiculous that another laugh escapes.

“Then...” Dad starts, and his eyebrow gets dangerously close to hitting his hairline.

“Then why are you dressed like one, baby?” Mom asks.

“Tell them, Reggie,” Eric says. “I’ve got your back!” He crosses his arms all tough, and I think he’s taking this a little too far, but I appreciate the effort.

“I’m dressed like an elf because... well, because I’m trying to win Delilah back.”

Dad lets out a snort. “Dressed like an elf?”

“I know you miss her and I think... it’s... goodthat you want to mend things between the two of you,” Mom says, clearly trying to select the exact right words. “But are you sure... this would be, um, attractive to her?”

“Of course it won’t, Mae.” Dad shakes his head. “Reggie, you need to go upstairs and change before you do anything.”

“I’m not going to change,” I say, my voice steady and strong.

Dad’s jaw tightens at my tone. “I’m just trying to help you here, and I’m not sure where this attitude is coming from.”

My chest gets tight, and I consider ending the conversation right here. Because no matter how I try to explain myself, I’m just going to get the same confused, disappointed look Dad always gives me when I talk about the things I like. How could he possibly understand that Delilah—if she still wants me at all—will want me like this, confidently myself. I mean, not that I’man elf, but, like... it’ll all come together soon.

“It’s cool, Reggie,” Eric says, nodding at me. “Just, like, speak your truth.”

And I still think he’s overcorrecting and being way too extra, but... I guess it’s kinda nice, or whatever.

I take a deep breath and decide just to try. This whole night is going to be completely out of my comfort zone, so I might as well take a chance with my parents, too. “Delilah likes... or I guess,likedme the way I am,” I say. “She knew how much I loved D&D and that I spent, like, a huge chunk of my life playing D&D and thinking about D&D and writing about D&D—yeah, I haven’t told you about that. I do that, too. But yeah, she knew all about that, and it wasn’t a negative in her mind. The only thing that was a negative was that I didn’t let myself be vulnerable with her, not really. I put on a front and was dishonest. And a big part of that was because I felt like there was something wrong with me and that she’d never stick around if she saw all of me.”

“Oh, Reggie! There’s nothing wrong with you,” Mom coos, stepping forward to pat my cape-covered shoulder.

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