What else is there to say? It’s not like we can go back and have a do-over.
“And….” She smiles. “I’m proud of you for finding your backbone. First, you’re still volunteering, and now, you’re calling me on my shit. Are you sure you don’t want to be an attorney?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” I don’t even know if I want to be a doctor.
What? My breath catches in my lungs. I can’t mean that. Can I?
“I need to tell you something, but I need you not to tell anyone. Especially mom and dad.” She licks her lips. “At least until we’re ready.”
“Okay.” I nod. “Unless it’s a crime, and then I can’t promise I won’t tell the police.”
“Valid point.” She lets go of my hand and picks at the paint on her thumbnail. Her eyes widen as she inhales and slowly exhales. “Wyatt and I are poly.”
“Poly what?” My eyes widen as her meaning registers the second the words are out of my mouth. “Oh….” Polyamorous.
“I wasn’t cheating on Wyatt. We’re both in a relationship with Brandon. That’s why he was at the wedding. We wanted to celebrate together, but people wouldn’t understand. Especially mom and dad.”
“I….” I swallow as I try to wrap my mind around her words. “Wow. I don’t know what to say. I’m shocked.” Just when you think you can’t be shocked anymore, you’re proven wrong.
“See.” She shrugs. “It’s a lot for people to wrap their minds around. And you’re in college and see that kind of thing or other LGBTQ+ relationships all the time.”
“I do, but none of them is my sister. The woman I grew up with that was conservative and straightlaced.”
The hotel room? Ugg. No wonder there was so much moaning and wall-smacking. Holy cow. I fan myself.
“He went on the honeymoon with us, and he’s moving into our place next week.”
“How are you explaining that to mom and dad?” I wave the waitress over for another round of drinks because one drink won’t cut it for this conversation.
“If they ask, his place is getting condemned, and he needs a place to live. He and Wyatt are best friends, so he offered him a place to stay. It’s that simple.”
I shake my head. “I always knew lawyers were liars.”
“Thank you.” She smiles weakly.
“Eventually, it will come out. It always does. If you love them both, you need to stop caring what mom and dad will think. Tell them.”
She leans forward and raises her eyebrows. “Right after you tell mom and dad, you’re still volunteering at the shelter, and you don’t want to be a doctor.”
Clearly, everyone but me and my father thinks I don’t want to be a doctor. I don’t analyze that assumption because the future is written in stone. It doesn’t matter if I want to be a plastic surgeon or not. I will be one.
“Fine.” I raise my finger to signal for two more drinks before I even have the last one finished. “We all have our secrets.” That’s not the biggest one. What would she say about Alexander and me? I clear my throat and wipe my hands on my jeans. “Thank you for telling me.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for listening and not judging. Not many people are that forward-thinking. And….” She smiles. “It’s time I stopped treating you like a child or a servant.”
“Thank you.” Who would have thought we’d have this conversation tonight?
“So….” She bites her bottom lip and tips her head toward the condiments at the end of the table. “Can you hand me a napkin?”
“Nope. I can’t.” I shake my head, and we both burst out laughing. I wish Alexander was here so I could tell him I finally stood up to Julia. And it didn’t blow up in my face. It’s crazy. We’re having a good time together.
Chapter Twenty
Daisy
Two Hours Later
As we’re getting ready to leave, my phone rings. “It’s dad.”