Read Online A Glimpse of the Dream by L. A. Fiore - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: L. A. Fiore
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graduated broke my heart every time I allowed myself to think about it.
“Carrying on the tradition, that’s cool.”
I hadn’t really thought of it as carrying on the tradition, but I guess I kind of was—and he was right, it was cool. And then Simon reached for my hand and squeezed it very gently. He said nothing, but I could tell he knew where my thoughts were and was offering silent comfort. The gesture was one that Kane would have done, and in that moment I missed him terribly.
“Did you leave a boyfriend behind? Because that looks like an engagement ring,” he said as his focus shifted to my finger.
I missed Kane, but thinking about him always warmed me, and this time I felt it on my cheeks. “I did. He’s moving here in a few months after he ties up some things he’s working on.”
“How long have you been engaged?”
“He proposed on the way to the airport, so only a day, but I’ve known him since I was nine.”
“Since you were nine? I’m guessing you’ve got a good story to tell.”
He wasn’t wrong; the story of Kane and me, though unfinished, was pretty freaking great. “I do.”
“I love a good story. Let’s get some coffee and you can tell me all about this guy so I can live vicariously through you.”
It was the way he emphasized this guy that clued me in that Simon was gay. Though, in fairness, I’d already suspected it.
“What’s this guy’s name?”
“Kane, but surely you aren’t serious about hearing our story. It’d bore you.”
“Is it love?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I won’t get bored. Besides, isn’t that what today is all about? Making friends. I don’t know about you, but I think it’ll be more fun experiencing all this with a friend.”
Teasing him again, I asked, “You want to be my friend?”
“We both share a love for the chocolate chip cookie. Friendships have been built on far less.”
Simon was a bit goofy, and yet he reminded me a lot of Kane. “I agree.”
He reached for my elbow and started guiding me to the counter for our coffee. “Excellent. Coffee first and then the story. I want to hear all about this Kane.”
After orientation, Simon and I began to hang out regularly. It started with meals in the dining hall, but it didn’t take long before we found ourselves in each other’s room: studying, watching television, or just talking. We even hit a few parties, though neither of us were really that into it.
A couple of weeks after orientation, Simon appeared at my door, but it wasn’t for our standard meal breaks. His normally sunny personality was replaced with a look of dejection.
“Simon, what’s wrong?”
“I told my parents I was gay. They didn’t take it well.”
Reaching for his hand, I drew him into my room, where we settled on my bed. Eleanor was at a study session, so we had privacy. “I thought they already knew.”
“So did I. I mean, I never confirmed it, but I thought it was pretty clear.”
“So what happened?”
“My mom was mentioning a girl I grew up with, they often do that, and I’d had enough with what I thought were their passive-aggressive feelings toward my sexual preference. But apparently they didn’t have a clue. My mom cried and my dad . . . he couldn’t even speak.”
“And I’m guessing you weren’t expecting that response from them.”
“No. They’ve always been very supportive, if demanding, but I never thought they’d have an objection to me being gay. They love me, so it shouldn’t matter. Should it?”
“Of course it shouldn’t matter.”
“What if they can’t get over it?”
“There’s nothing to get over. Being gay is who you are and your parents love you. They’ll eventually come around.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Me too.”
Four weeks. Three full weekends. That’s how long it’d been since I’d left Raven’s Peak, since I’d left Kane. Eleanor, being a Bostonian, went home every weekend. I missed Kane something fierce, despite having to work so
“Carrying on the tradition, that’s cool.”
I hadn’t really thought of it as carrying on the tradition, but I guess I kind of was—and he was right, it was cool. And then Simon reached for my hand and squeezed it very gently. He said nothing, but I could tell he knew where my thoughts were and was offering silent comfort. The gesture was one that Kane would have done, and in that moment I missed him terribly.
“Did you leave a boyfriend behind? Because that looks like an engagement ring,” he said as his focus shifted to my finger.
I missed Kane, but thinking about him always warmed me, and this time I felt it on my cheeks. “I did. He’s moving here in a few months after he ties up some things he’s working on.”
“How long have you been engaged?”
“He proposed on the way to the airport, so only a day, but I’ve known him since I was nine.”
“Since you were nine? I’m guessing you’ve got a good story to tell.”
He wasn’t wrong; the story of Kane and me, though unfinished, was pretty freaking great. “I do.”
“I love a good story. Let’s get some coffee and you can tell me all about this guy so I can live vicariously through you.”
It was the way he emphasized this guy that clued me in that Simon was gay. Though, in fairness, I’d already suspected it.
“What’s this guy’s name?”
“Kane, but surely you aren’t serious about hearing our story. It’d bore you.”
“Is it love?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I won’t get bored. Besides, isn’t that what today is all about? Making friends. I don’t know about you, but I think it’ll be more fun experiencing all this with a friend.”
Teasing him again, I asked, “You want to be my friend?”
“We both share a love for the chocolate chip cookie. Friendships have been built on far less.”
Simon was a bit goofy, and yet he reminded me a lot of Kane. “I agree.”
He reached for my elbow and started guiding me to the counter for our coffee. “Excellent. Coffee first and then the story. I want to hear all about this Kane.”
After orientation, Simon and I began to hang out regularly. It started with meals in the dining hall, but it didn’t take long before we found ourselves in each other’s room: studying, watching television, or just talking. We even hit a few parties, though neither of us were really that into it.
A couple of weeks after orientation, Simon appeared at my door, but it wasn’t for our standard meal breaks. His normally sunny personality was replaced with a look of dejection.
“Simon, what’s wrong?”
“I told my parents I was gay. They didn’t take it well.”
Reaching for his hand, I drew him into my room, where we settled on my bed. Eleanor was at a study session, so we had privacy. “I thought they already knew.”
“So did I. I mean, I never confirmed it, but I thought it was pretty clear.”
“So what happened?”
“My mom was mentioning a girl I grew up with, they often do that, and I’d had enough with what I thought were their passive-aggressive feelings toward my sexual preference. But apparently they didn’t have a clue. My mom cried and my dad . . . he couldn’t even speak.”
“And I’m guessing you weren’t expecting that response from them.”
“No. They’ve always been very supportive, if demanding, but I never thought they’d have an objection to me being gay. They love me, so it shouldn’t matter. Should it?”
“Of course it shouldn’t matter.”
“What if they can’t get over it?”
“There’s nothing to get over. Being gay is who you are and your parents love you. They’ll eventually come around.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Me too.”
Four weeks. Three full weekends. That’s how long it’d been since I’d left Raven’s Peak, since I’d left Kane. Eleanor, being a Bostonian, went home every weekend. I missed Kane something fierce, despite having to work so
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