Chapter 13 - Revelation

Lance

"Asshole, you ditched me last night," Jack nags.

"I didn't ditch you, you ditched me first," we walk side by side across the halls and he glares at me. I know he is not upset because when I texted him last night he replied with 'Get some for the both of us.'

"How was the night, you had the whole apartment to yourselves. Tell me he popped your gay cherry,"

I hit his shoulder and he rubs the spot dramatically "We didn't have sex. Apparently gay sex is a lot more complicated, him coming over unprepared didn't make things better."

He raises a brow "What do you even need to have gay sex?"

I know it's just sex at the end of the day and not gay sex, but this is a lot different than I ever imagined and it is new, so it is going to take a lot of getting used to.

I look around in case there is anyone that can hear us and whisper into his ear "Lube, a lot of it and just so you know in case you decide to ever try from the behind with your new boo, Coconut oil won't work."

He opens his eyes wide from the shock of my words and I laugh at the severity of his expression. Jack is used to be the vulgar one so those words coming out of my lips must be a shock to him.

"Dude, you are not my innocent best friend anymore," he places his hand on his chest and I laugh even harder.

The rest of the school day goes on unfulfilling and after school, we walk into his car together. Once home I see mom in the living room but everywhere is a mess. She is in a towel and her hair is wet probably from a shower. She looks up with a wide smile on her face "Thank God you're here,"

"What is going on here?" I furrow my brows because she looks very nervous. She is getting ready for something but I don't know what exactly. I walk closer into the room and she scurries into her room expecting me to follow her. I drop my backpack and follow her "Mother?" I push.

She grabs a dress from a hanger that is on the floor and raises it up for me to see "What do you think, this or the purple one I always wear?"

"What are you getting ready for?"

She smiles "Dinner with John, his son will be there and you're coming," she says it so casually, almost like she has totally forgotten that I am her rebellious child and I don't do what she tells me. I have already had my fair share of meeting John the fiance. I don't want to see him tonight. I am in a bubble, a bubble that revolves around Ford, if I attempt to go for this dinner, I know my whole mood would change.

"I am not going," I tell her blatantly.

She frowns "You have no choice."

Now, this is where she is wrong, I have a choice. I choose to stay in today and talk to Ford all night.

"I do and I choose No," I tell her.

She sighs "Please not today Lance, I need you to cooperate with me once in your life, just do this for mama," she pleads.

"I met up with John the last time, I cant do it again this soon. Pity your child here," I try to convince her that meeting him again so soon is not a good idea but somehow she doesn't believe me.

"Please, he wants you to meet his son. He is so sure that you guys would get along," I roll my eyes and watch as she pukers her lips. This is her attempt at a puppy dog face.

"Mom, please not tonight."

She opens her eyes wider and I know I am screwed. The love I have for this woman is impeccably annoying. I wish I could just say hell no to her and storm into my room like the rebellious child I try to act like.

"You won't regret it." she hugs me and I groan out of frustration.

*************

"I already regret it," I mutter and she slaps my arm to shush me.

She turns the wheel as we head over to Johns house, the route seems very familiar. Mom ended up spending another hour trying to find the best outfit but she ended up wearing the original black dress she brought out first. I will never understand women and why they feel the need to spend all that time dressing up. I just pick the first thing I see and that's what I settle on.

"How far away is this house?" I nag because I am a teenager—sue me.

"Another thirty minutes she tells me," I groan again and she laughs "You are going to like Brad, I already feel it. He is a very handsome boy," she winks.

"Are you trying to set me up with your potential stepson?"

She shakes her head immediately "No I wasn't, I just meant, since you bat for the other team, you'd appreciate a fine piece of eye candy," she winks again and I don't even know what she is talking about. It's been weird since I told her about my new found and pleasurable sexuality. She seems fine with it but now it seems like she doesn't know how to act around me. She doesn't know the right things to say and this is a curve in the learning process. I am fine with her this way, even though she just said eye candy.

I look at the road ahead and something doesn't sit right with me. We are on the same route as Ford's house. What if John lives in the same estate? What if I bump into him and he thinks I am a stalker?

We get to his gated estate and my heart beats from the tension. This cannot be happening, I know this is a small word and all but why does it have to be this estate?

Mom keeps driving and a revelation hits me immediately. My heart thuds in the confinements of my chest as the craziest thought pops into my head. This is all a coincidence, there is no way that is possible.

Right.

I keep doubting myself all the way until she parks in front of the house. This is not any coincidence anymore. This is real, this is happening. How is this possible and why does this have to happen to me? "We're here," she breathes out and I tremble in my seat. I can't come down and meet him, knowing full when he is about to become my stepbrother.

Suddenly his words come to mind and I remember clearly. Everything is adding up.

My dad is getting married soon.

So mom is his stepmom. I can't wrap my head around this. "I can't do this mom," I shake my head. I know once he finds out about this, it will be over between us. we are just getting started. I don't want things to end so swiftly.

"Can't do what?" she asks me with furrowed brows.

"I don't want to go for this dinner."

"Why?" she is confused. I don't blame her; I am not being clear enough for her to understand. To her, I am just being my usual stubborn self. She is used to me and she might just think this is me acting up as usual.

"We made a deal, come on I need you to show up for me. I told you his son will be there, you won't just be with us adults." she is trying to convince me. I cant show up in front of him like this. He might think I knew all along if I do. This is crazy. How do I explain to him that this is all a coincidence?

"Mom, trust me, I don't think it is a good idea to be here. I will call an Uber back home and you can stay for dinner," I open the car door and step out, heading to the direction of the gate. Mom follows me and grabs my arm in her grip tightly. There is a frown on her face, she never shows anger but it looks like this will be one of her angry moments. Somehow, I am making her mad.

"Stop this Lance, why can't you just be normal for once in your life?" she shouts at me glaringly.

Mom never shouts at me, I have been a brat, I have been the worst kid and she never raised her voice at me and now she is shouting at me because of a man. She doesn't understand why I am acting this way and she is lashing out at me. I am not ready to face Ford, he will hate me.. I don't want him to hate me, I think I love him.