Lies On The Lips

Chapter Eleven

Brett

"We need to talk about your future." Dad's words stop me in my tracks. He and mom are sitting side by side at the kitchen table. Mom looks higher than a kite. Dad's tight expression and slightly curled lip have him looking more disgusted than usual.

I dropped my backpack on the floor with a loud thunk and crossed my arms over my chest. "What about it."

"Come sit, son," Mom says, absently waving at the furniture in front of them.

With a groan I stalk into the room and plop down into a chair opposite. "I have studying to do, can you be quick?"

Dad sat up straight. "I'm sorry, for before. I shouldn't have struck out at you," He's not, yet I nod anyway. "I have a proposition for you." Oh. God. I know I'm going to hate whatever he has to say. "I will Pay for your college since your grades are sub par and won't get you any scholarships, after stupid stunt you've ruined your chances at a football scholarship." He lifts his brows waiting for me to challenge him. I remain silent and he carries on. "I want you to get your degree in business, specifically , real estate law."

"I was thinking about finance, I'm good with numbers."

He waves me as if my words are stupid. "I'm not finished." I grit my teeth, waiting for more bullshit. "Your success is important to me." He draws out.

No, my success reflects upon him. Dad likes to be the shining star of our town. I'm tarnished under the glow of my father, barely hidden from all to see. "Did I ever tell you the story on how I met your mother?"

"No." I grumble. Mom lets out a giggle, but my father ignores her, eyes sharp on mine.

"Your grandfather owns all those restaurants across the country as you know. And my father was a wall street man."

I'm bored already.

"But," Dad continues. "They were from the same town and settled there. Two influential men with a lot of opportunities at hand. My father has me and your uncle Glenn and your mother's father has her." I tense, unsure where this is leading. "It made business sense to blend our two families." Dad smiles, but mom shudders. "I was eighteen when my father and your mothers father sat us down. They promised to set us on our own path of success. A marriage that was an integral piece to success."

My blood runs cold. "Dad...waiting,"

"I met with Leah's father for drinks over lunch and we've come to an agreement, you will marry Leah."

I jolt to my feet, panic rising up inside me. "Wait, what?" Dad also stands, pursing his lips making me straighten, like as a kid, but now it's different.

"Leah is an attractive enough girl, like your mother. It's detrimental to your future considering you screwed up any chance at a football scholarship."

"Dad, stop," I snap. "Just stop."

"I will not stop boy, you will go through with this or your cut off and out of my house, do you hear me?" I flinch, he didn't need to raise his voice to terrify me. I knew this was serious. He's serious. "You fucked up when you messed about at that party. I'm fixing it for you. I will not have you tainting the Cooper name. Your eighteen years old, so suck it up and stop being a bitch."

"I'm not marrying Leah." I snarl, anger churning in my gut.

Because I'm gay dad.

Because I can't get my dick up to give her a kid.

Because I'm in love.

"This is not up for negotiation, Brett."

"Whatever, we'll talk about this another day, I have to study." Snagging my backpack I run out the front door, across the lawn to Cope. Thankfully his car was in the driveway. I was meant to go to Dante, but Cope's the only person I can really talk to, who will understand. I let myself inside and bolt up to his room. I find him sprawled on his bed, headphones in and shirtless like always.

I drop my bag and kick off my shoes. I feel like I'm ten again. Bullied by my dad. Emotion clogs in my throat. Storming across the room I jump in bed and curl up to Cope's side. He removes his headphones and curls an arm around me as tears spill from my eyes.

"What now?" He asked, pulling me tighter against him. The one I want doesn't want me. My life is spiraling out of control. I have nothing left to fight with and I feel like such a pussy for crying. "Brett?"

"My…" I sob. "My dad is making me marry Leah."

He bolts up right. "What?" He looked mortified. I'm mortified. "You can't," I lay on my back and stare at his ceiling. "Brett,"

"I know, but what choice do I have."

He sighed and held his hand on my chest. "You have choices."

I lean up on my elbows and study his face. He looked flushed and scared. "Such as?"

"Leave," he whispers. "Leave with me, I have a ton of money put away."

"Are you mad, then what?" He shook his head. "I have nothing if I leave, nothing." He bit his bottom lip and sweat started pricking at my skin as my eyes roamed freely over him.

"You, have me. You don't need anyone else."

"It's impossible, Cope."

"How?" His fingers grip my hair and tugs my face closer, so close I can feel his heat. "Cope,"

"I.." He stops.

I chuckled. "It would be so much easier if you were gay," I complain, all to grumpy over the situation.

He chuckles at my words. "Wow, you really have no filter about this anymore, do you?"

I shrug. "I held it in for so long, not anymore. If you're my best friend you get to hear everything, even if it makes you uncomfortable."

"I'm not uncomfortable anymore, I'm getting used to your gay ass." He laughs and moves away from me. The distance between us is all too painful. "Pretend," he blurted. I frown.

"What?"

"Forget whatever it is you have with Dante and pretend with Leah, just until we graduate, then we can both leave. Me and you."

"Leah will go nuts."

"She will understand, she's our friend too, so just go with it."

Rubbing the sweat from my neck. "I don't know."

"It will be okay. I'm on your side, we got this." I look up, He's smiling. I'm not sure if its because I won't be involved with Dante anymore or if its because I have to pretend to be with Leah when I'm gay and no guy or girl will approach me. I feel caught in a net, with no way out. I love him, so much it's painful. He doesn't want me. So, I guess I have no choice but to play along with my father's demands until I can leave.

Lies On The Lips

As soon as I walked into the lunchroom the next morning, Leah nearly ran me over. Panic in her eyes. "We need to talk," she hisses, looking over her shoulder. "My dad told me some seriously messed up stuff this morning of what to expect from me."

I cringe and nod. "I got the talk last night." Her eyes wide from behind her glasses.

"They can't really expect us to follow through, can they?" She lets out an angry huff. "Besides your G…." Cope's hand muffles her words as he hugged her from behind."

"Leah, Leah, Leah. What we know doesn't always need to be said. There's a lot at stake here." He says releasing her and she gives a nod of agreement. My dad cannot find out I'm gay. Practically yelling it in the middle of the lunchroom would get back to him before I even got the chance to eat my meal. "Come on," Cope tells her, throwing an arm over her shoulders. "Let's talk outside." As he guides her out, Follow behind trying hard not to stare at his ass in those black skinny jeans.

Jesus, I've got it bad.

Once outside and alone Leah starts pacing, to the amusement of Cope.

"Marriage!" She blurts. "Like what the fuck, I'm eighteen and….and…" She stutters. We look at her confused.

"What is it?" I ask. She looks at the floor and starts fiddling with her fingers.

"I, well...I have a boyfriend." Me and Cope gasp at the same time. "He's not from this school. He's at the college I've applied for."

"Shit," said Cope, trying to assess the situation. "You're both royally fucked."

I glared at him and he caught me, his lopsided grin hitting me right in the chest. "It's not funny."

"It is, it's funny."

Leah almost bursts into tears. "One...one more thing," she stutters. "My dad and your dad have arranged a meal, a get together at your house, Brett. Tonight."

Now I'm laughing, I'm almost hysterical. What a load of horse shit. What a shitty miserable fucking life. "This is a fucked up dream, right?" I asked, turning to Cope. "Please tell me its a dream." He moved closer and grabbed my hand.

"Just do the meal, I'll be there too."

"You will?"

"Of course, I'm your best friend, I'm there for support."

"I don't want support. I want it to go away."

Leah jumps in and sits in front of us. "let's just get the dinner out of the way and then we can devise some kind of plan, okay?" I nod, although I fucking hate it, I have no choice. I hate my dad, I hate the ground he walks on and if I ever get a chance at ruining that piece of shit, I'm taking it. Period.