November
Ch. 5: November
The second week in November, Riley was lying on her couch with her phone. Sloane was on the other end.
“You look exhausted,” Sloane said as they were face-timing each other.
“You try running on a few hours of sleep.”
“I did do that with the kids sometimes, remember? How long was your shift?”
“About forty-eight hours give or take,” said Riley.
“Yikes. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Me neither, but I love it.”
“Hey,” said Sloane, “Did you hear the news, Harper and Abby got engaged.”
“I saw your mom’s post. She really loves those gay puns, doesn’t she? The ‘gay’ in the word ‘en-gay-ged’.”
“You know my mom, she’s all about that Pride ever since Harper came out.”
“I’m glad both of your parents are supportive.”
“That got me thinking, you never really talk about how your family is with it.”
Riley sighed, “My dad has us keep a don’t-ask-don’t tell policy. It kind of sucks but I get to live my life on my terms. Back in high school after everything that happened with Harper, when my parents found out I was gay, my dad’s exact words were, “as long as I don’t know about it, we won’t have a problem.””
“Ouch.”
“It’s worked out, I guess. I know my mom wishes she could stand more on my side, but she doesn’t dare question my dad.”
“I’m sorry, Riley, for all of it.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“No, but Harper’s my sister. If things were different maybe I could have been there for her somehow. I don’t know. Speaking about Harper…” Sloane struggled to find the right words. “I know she and Abby just got engaged and I don’t want to take away from that. We’ve competed with each other our whole lives as it is, but I’ve been thinking what if I came out to them over Christmas break?”
Riley sat up and leaned against the edge of the couch. “Are you serious?”
“Why not, it worked for Harper last year, sort of. I mean it got messy, but in the end, everything worked out.”
“Sloane, if this is something you want then I say go for it, do what’s right for you, but if this is some way to kind of stick it to Harper or your family, then maybe those aren’t the right reasons.”
“It’s not just the competition, I mean sure maybe a small part, but this year my sisters and I have been learning how to not compete with each other and simply be sisters without all the intensity of it. Riley, you and I have had this thing going for almost a year now and I’m tired of hiding it. I want us to be more than what we are to each other. I want to be proud when I talk about my girlfriend, I want to be proud when I’m out in public and when I’m around my family when I’m with you. I don’t want our relationship to hide in the shadows anymore. It’s been fun and all, but I want to be seen with you. I want to talk about my girlfriend and have people know who I’m talking about.”
Riley sat in silence for a moment. It took a little longer to the point where Sloane said, “Please, say something.”
“I…wow you really have thought a lot about this haven’t you?”
“I have yeah. You mean everything to me, Riley, and I’m tired of hiding how I feel.”
“As long as you’re sure then I’ll be ready when you are. I’m sorry I can’t be there for Thanksgiving this year.”
“That’s okay. You’ll be here for Christmas though, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“We’ll tell everyone then. Though I should probably be the one to tell Harper.”
“You sure you don’t want me there with you?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. I would love that, but this feels like a sister thing if that’s okay.”
“Whatever you want. I’ll see you at Christmas.”
“See you then,” Sloane said with a smile as the two of them hung up.