Free The Truth of Yesterday by Josh Aterovis Page B

swing.”
     
         “Oh stop with the pity party,” she snapped, “What problems did you have with your family?”
     
         “Just the usual; Mom flipped out, Dad disowned me, my brother acts like I'm dying of AIDS.”
     
         “That's the usual?” Noah asked. “Then I'm glad I'm unusual. My parents were a little shaken at first, but they educated themselves and they're ok with it now. Or, if not ok, then at least they're trying.”
     
         “Then you're one of the lucky ones,” Peter said. “My parents are better now, though; they've had a few years to deal with it, but it was ugly at first.”
     
         “My mom still don't know,” Tony said.
     
         “My dad doesn't but I think my mom knows,” Val said. “At least she's stopped asking me if I'm dating any nice boys at college.”
     
         “I'm another one of the lucky ones, I guess,” Everett said. “My whole family had no problem with it at all, but then, we're a pretty liberal bunch and they've assumed I was gay since I was a little kid. What about you, Killian?”
     
          “My family? Well, my real dad freaked out, beat me up, and kicked me out of the house. This was right after a gay friend of mine was murdered and I was stabbed at the same time.” I almost laughed at the stunned expressions on everyone's faces. “The dad of the murdered kid took me in and I've lived with him and his partner ever since. My mom ended up divorcing my dad and moving to
Pennsylvania
. I stayed with Adam and Steve.”
     
         “Wow,” Noah said when I was done.
     
         “Yeah,” Val agreed, “I think you win the hard knock life award.”
         “Hands down,” Tony seconded, and Peter and Everett nodded.
     
         “I didn't know it was a competition,” I said, wondering what they'd say if they knew the rest of the details.
     
         “You're right, it's not,” Noah said.
     
         “Hey, it's getting late and I still have work to do,” Peter said.
     
         “Me too,” Everett sighed. “I was just putting it off as long as possible.”
     
         “Procrastinator,” Val said as everyone stood up and started gathering whatever things they had brought.
     
         “You know it. So, Killian, we'll see next week?”   Everett asked.
     
         “I think so,” I said. “As long as nothing else comes up at work.”
     
         “Where do you work?” Noah asked.
     
         “Uh, well, actually I'm a private investigator,” I said hesitantly. This time I had to laugh at the way everyone froze in place and turned to look at me in shock.
     
          “For real?” Tony said.
     
          “Yeah, for real.”
     
         “Whoa. You're just full of surprises, aren't you?” Everett said.
     
         “Well, we hope to see you next week, Mr. Detective-boy,” Val said.
     
         Everyone quickly went off in different directions, leaving me alone once again with Noah.
     
         “Walk you to your car?” he asked.
     
         I shrugged. “If you want.”
     
         “I do.”
     
         We walked out of the building and to my car while making small talk. Once we were at my car, Noah seemed to have something he wanted to say.
     
         “Spit it out,” I said.
     
         “Huh?”
     
         “Whatever it is you want to say.”
     
         “Oh. Am I that obvious?”
     
          “Yup.”
         He took a deep breath. “So, uh, how seriously are you dating this guy? Do you see other people?”
     
         “No, we're seeing each other exclusively,” I said gently. I felt bad shooting him down, but he seemed to expect my response.
     
         “And I can tell you're not the type to fool around, so let me just say that if anything ever happens and you break up with him, give me a call, ok? In the meantime, friends?” He held out his hand.
     
         I smiled. “Friends,” I said taking his hand and