“What is this nonsense, Cameron?”Mom asks, her voice rising with each word.“We’ve talked about this.You’re not gay.Youcan’tbe gay.You’re just confused—”
“Stop it, Mom!”I snap, cutting her off.“I’m not confused.I know exactly who I am.The fact that you find it disgusting doesn’t make it wrong.You can’t force me to be someone I’m not.”
“You’re going to take that back now!”Dad roars, his fist slamming against the table.Mom stands abruptly, putting distance between us as though proximity might taint her.
I take a deep breath and force myself to push forward.“I’m in love.I’m in a relationship with someone.”
Dad’s face twists in fury.“God forbid such a demonic commitment!Youcan’tbe gay!I won’t be a father to a disgusting—”
“Are you dating a boy, Cameron?”Mom interrupts, her voice shaking as her eyes brim with unshed tears.“Answer me!”
“Yes,” I croak.My throat tightens, and I bite my lip to stop the tears threatening to spill.“I’m dating someone.His name is Fox Wilder—Lila’s son.The one you’ve been talking about.We’ve been together for a few months now, and we’re in love.”
I don’t see the slap coming.The sharp sting radiates across my cheek, and I stagger back, clutching my face.My father stands over me, his hand still raised.
“You’re a disgrace,” he spits.“We sent you to school to be better, and you came back worse.A fucking faggot.”
My vision blurs with tears as I stare at him, my cheek throbbing.“You’re ashamed of me because I’m gay?Because I’m in love?”
“In love with a man!”he thunders.“There’s no life for faggots like you.You’ll end up alone, depressed, raped—or worse, a slut.Is that what you want?”
Mom’s voice joins the assault.“And what makes you think Fox cares about you?He’s straight, Cameron.One day, he’s going to leave you for a woman.Someone who can give him children.Someone who’snotyou.”
“Stop telling me how to live my life!”I shout, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions.
“You mean your life as a fag?”Dad sneers.“Get out.Pack your things and get out of my house.You’re no son of mine.”
Tears stream down my face as I beg Mom with my eyes, but she only stares back with the same disgust as my father.“You ceased to be my son, Cameron.Until you’re ready to benormal, you’re dead to us.”
“Iamnormal!”I cry.“You can’t do this.”
“You’re not normal,” Mom whispers, her voice trembling.“But we can help you.Cameron, let us help you get rid of this...confusion.”
Her words cut deeper than the slap, and I feel myself breaking.My father’s final command rings through the room: “Leave.Now.Don’t come back unless you’re ready to be someone we can be proud of.”
I stagger to my room, blinded by tears.My hands shake as I shove my clothes and charger into my backpack.My phone buzzes, and a flicker of hope sparks in my chest.Fox.
But when I unlock the screen, the hope dies instantly.My breath catches as I stare at the picture on my screen: Fox kissing Lexi.
A video follows, and I press play with trembling hands.It’s thirty seconds of betrayal—Fox’s hands roaming her body, his lips tangled with hers.
My backpack slips from my hand, hitting the floor with a dull thud.I stare at the screen, numb.
This can’t be happening.Not now.Not after everything.
But the evidence is right there.Fox betrayed me.
And now, I have nothing left.
46
Fire And Fury
FOX’S POV
“Thisisreallybeautiful,Mom.I can’t believe you quit writing in the first place,” I say, scrolling through a passage in her book on her laptop.
It’s Saturday evening, and I’m at my parents’ manor.Cameron left for his parents’ house yesterday, and I’ve been restless ever since.Without him in the apartment, the silence felt unbearable.When Mom invited me over for dinner, I couldn’t say no.
