Page 68 of Havoc
“What could it hurt?” Lawrence asked with a shrug.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am,” Lawrence responded.
“Dennis, bring a chair from the dining table,” Claudia stated.
He watched his father leave the room, and as he walked past Gloria and Marie, they looked skeptical. His father returned with the chair, placed it in the middle of the room, and gestured for Lawrence to sit in it.
“Form a circle,” Anita instructed. The four of them circled the chair, Gloria and Marie declining to participate.
“This is stupid,” Remy stated as he stood from the couch, walked over to the arch leading into the dining room, and leaned against the wall.
Anita began to pray, and Lawrence tuned her out because Remy was right. This was stupid. He wasn’t sure at what point people would realize they could not pray the gay out of someone. They couldn’t send them to camps and think it would do anything other than make that person suppress themselves for the sake of those around them, leading to depression and sometimes worse.
Yes, it was all foolish. Lawrence knew that, and here he was, seated in a chair surrounded by four people: one praying, one speaking in tongues, and the other two humming some old hymn. It would all be so funny if he didn’t find it sad.
He wasn’t sure how long it had been going on. What words were said, but it died down until it came to a stop. At some point, he’d closed his eyes to keep them from wandering over to Remy.
“Son,” Dennis stated, and Lawrence opened his eyes to see his father before him. “How do you feel?”
“Do you feel unburdened?” Claudia asked.
Slowly, Lawrence began to nod.
“Really?” Dennis asked.
“No!” Lawrence snapped. “I still love him. You four are ridiculous if you thought this shit was going to work.”
“You are out of line and disrespectful,” Sally admonished.
“Me?” Lawrence laughed. The sound was telling. “Oh, okay.”
“Ah shit,” Marie mumbled from the corner of the room because his cousin knew he was about to say some unhinged shit.
“Well, let me really be out of line. Let me show you disrespect,” Lawrence started. “The two of you should be the last ones trying to pray for someone. Are you still making conjugal visits to your husband’s little brother, Anita? Or you, Sally. Are you still busting it wide open as your pastor's side chick, or has his wife found out yet?” He swung his eyes to Claudia. “You still don’t know who your kids' fathers are. So, don’t throw stones, jezebel.” His eyes went to his dad. “And you are the last person that should sit in judgment of me. Word on the street is you used to spread those cheeks for a few men.”
Dennis’ eyes widened, and Lawrence would almost feel bad if he had not been pulled into a setup for them to try to make him and Remy uncomfortable. He didn’t care about their feelings because they did not care about his.
“Look in the mirror before you come for me and my man next time,” Lawrence stated.
The room was quiet, and before anyone could even respond, Remy pulled him from the chair and led him out of the house to the car. “Remy?” he asked.
“Get in.”
Lawrence bit his lower lip but slipped into the car. He couldn’t blame Remy if he were upset with him, but surely he knew Lawrence hadn’t thought they could actually “cure” him, that he had no desire to be, even if it was doable. He glanced over at his boyfriend as he weaved through traffic on his way to their hotel, hands gripping the wheel.
He sighed to himself, turning his attention out of his window.
The drive to the hotel and the elevator ride were silent. When they entered their suite, Lawrence was done with it. He turned to Remy, intent on clearing the air, but his boyfriend grabbed him by the neck and pulled Lawrence to him. A gasp left his lips.
“Repeat it,” Remy demanded.
Lawrence furrowed his brow.What was he talking about?“Repeat what?”
Remy leaned down and kissed him. It was a soft touch of their lips. “You love me. Repeat it,” he requested against his lips.
At first, Lawrence was confused until he played back everything he’d said at Claudia’s house, and he almost cursed. That wasn’t how he wanted Remy to find out. How he wanted to say it for the first time, but he’d been so irritated.
