Page 130 of Outcast
Grandpa spoke up from his recliner. He’d moved in with my folks after his wife died three years ago. “They arrested you for no reason?” He levered himself up. “That’s not right!”
“There was a reason,” Dad said. “He was at a bar brawl, thanks to those Forrester boys on the edge of town. You remember how their father was. The apples haven’t fallen far from the tree.”
“That’s not true,” I protested. “It wasn’t their fault. They’re good men. You can’t judge them by their foster dad’s actions.”
Mom watched us, hand pressed to her mouth, eyes sad. I hated that look. It reminded me too much of her expression in the days after Adam died.
“I can sure as hell judge them for their actions last night, though,” Dad said. “They got you into trouble. And after we went on a limb to help them with that debt. We should have foreclosed and been done with it. I never should have let you talk me into playing musical loans.”
“They deserved a break,” I argued. “And you said it was my call. I didn’t talk you into anything.”
“Well, I guess it was a mistake to trust you, wasn’t it?”
I flinched at his words.
“Jim,” Mom scolded. “Don’t say things you’ll regret.”
“There’s no point in blaming Emory,” Grandpa added. “Whatever happened, he’s a good man. A good son to you too. Perfect, practically, which isn’t really healthy, but?—”
“But this isn’t like him,” Dad insisted. “The Emory I know wouldn’t be spending time with sketchy characters. They better never step foot into the bank again, I’ll tell you that. If they so much as miss one payment on that loan?—”
“Stop it!” I burst out. “They’re not sketchy characters, and they don’t deserve to take the blame here. Gray was standing up for me.”
Dad blinked. “What now?”
My chest ached. “You’re so quick to judge them, but I’m the one you should be angry with.”
Grandpa patted my back. We were all standing in the middle of the living room, two feet from the door. Dad hadn’t let us sit down before laying into me all over again. But worse than his disappointment in me was his disappointment in Gray and his brothers.
I thought it’d break me to let my parents down, but standing here while he dragged Gray’s name through the mud was worse. I couldn’t do it. It was too cowardly, even for me. It was too unfair to Gray and everything he meant to me.
“Why would I be angry with you?” Dad asked. “Other than the poor company you keep, that is.”
I drew a breath. “I did keep poor company, but it’s never been them. It was Dallas.”
“The sheriff’s son?” Grandpa asked.
“I made the mistake of going for a drive with him one night, and we got into it. Now he won’t leave me alone. He’s resentful and jealous. So I…I punched him. Gray and his brothers were the ones in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“I don’t understand,” Dad said. “Youhithim?”
“Why would Dallas be jealous?” Mom asked, sounding confused.
“Because…” There was no way to tell them withouttellingthem. My gut churned, but I forced the words out, knowing they wouldn’t understand unless they knew everything. “That night when we went for that drive, it wasn’t just a drive. He…expected a hookup. I told him no, and he didn’t like that. He got pushy, and things got ugly.”
“Oh my god, Emory,” Mom said, eyes filling with tears. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, because Gray showed up and stopped him. He sent him packing, but Dallas doesn’t want to take no for an answer. And last night, he was even angrier because I was there with Gray.”
“With Gray, like…” Mom’s eyes widened as the truth sank in. Dad looked grim, lips tight, eyes downcast. Could he not even look at me?
Grandpa was the one to put words to it. “You’re dating this boy, Gray? You’re gay?”
“Bisexual,” I said, my voice hoarse as my emotions tightened my throat.
“But what about Allison?” Mom asked tentatively.
“I’ve told you Allison and I are just friends!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up. “Why won’t you ever listen?”
