Page 63 of The Dating Coach
"I'm sorry," I whispered, pulling her close. "I'm so sorry you had to see that."
"I'm proud," she said through her tears. "You came out for me. You stood up to them."
"We stood up to them," I corrected. "Together."
Liam's arms came around both of us, creating a shelter from the chaos. "That was the bravest thing I've ever seen," he murmured.
"That was the scariest thing I've ever done," I admitted, adrenaline crash making me shaky.
"But you did it anyway," he said. "That's what courage is."
We stood there in the middle of campus, surrounded by chosen family and unexpected allies, while the video of my coming out spread across social media. My phone exploded with messages – support from teammates, shock from high school acquaintances, pride from friends who'd suspected but never pushed.
"No taking it back now," I said, attempting levity. "I'm officially, publicly, irrevocably queer."
"Welcome to the club," Mia said wetly. "We have good music and better fashion."
"And family who loves you exactly as you are," Liam added, pressing a kiss to my temple.
That night, in the safety of the hockey house, surrounded by people who'd literally stood between us and harm, I let myself mourn. Not for the parents we'd lost – they'd been gone long before today. But for the parents we'd deserved, the unconditional love we'd never had.
"Do you regret it?" Liam asked softly, holding me as I cried. "Coming out like that?"
"No," I said immediately. "I regret waiting so long. Regret the years I spent hating parts of myself. But not this.Never this." I pulled back to look at him. "I'm sorry I never told you. About being bisexual. I should have trusted you with that."
"Hey," he said gently, wiping a tear from my cheek. "You don't owe anyone your story until you're ready to tell it. Not even me."
"Really?"
"Really. And I'm so fucking proud of you I could burst."
"Language," I teased weakly.
"Fuck language," he said firmly. "You just came out to your homophobic parents in front of half the campus to protect your sister. I'm allowed to swear in celebration."
I managed a faint smile, the weight of it all still settling over me.
"What happens now?" I asked. "They won't just give up."
"Now we live," he said simply. "Openly and honestly, surrounded by people who actually love us. Let them waste money on lawyers. We'll be too busy being happy to care."
It sounded impossibly optimistic. It sounded like everything I wanted. It sounded like freedom.
Chapter 28: Liam
The video had twenty thousand views by morning. I watched it again on my phone, still in awe of Gemma's fierce bravery. Someone had captured the whole thing – her parents' ambush, her protective stance in front of Mia, the moment she'd declared her truth to the world. The comments ranged from supportive to vitriolic, but the overwhelming response was solidarity.
"You've seen it twelve times," Henry observed from across the kitchen. "It's not going to change."
“I know,” I replied, but I hit replay anyway, watching her say “I’m bisexual” one more time—still in awe of her courage.
My phone rang – my father. Again. I'd been ignoring his calls since yesterday, but the voicemails were getting increasingly unhinged. Time to face the music.
"Finally," he barked when I answered. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
"Good morning to you too, Dad."
"Don't be glib. This video is everywhere. Three scouts have already called to express 'concerns' about your judgment. The Providence GM wants to know if you're planning any more 'public displays.'"
