“We haven’t seen you in a while. We thought lunch would be nice,” Mom said without a smile, like usual.

“Um, I think… I mean—”

“Stop blabbering, stand up straight, and answer your mother,” Dad ordered.

Like always when he used that stern tone, I knew to listen. With gritted teeth at my weakness for not standing up for myself, I straightened my shoulders and replied, “Lunch would be good.” Then they could leave, and it would be another few months before I saw them again. If I did. Maybe this day would be the one I stood up for myself and told them I was gay. They’d disown me, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. I had my own little family with Lucas and Kylo. They cared. The people in front of me didn’t.

“I’ll follow you, if you have a place in mind,” I said.

“No. You’ll come in our car, and we’ll drop you off after,” Dad stated.

I breathed out a frustrated breath through my nose. “Of course.”

Mom turned. “This way.”

As soon as my dad followed her, I slouched, stuck up my middle finger, and regrettably went after them. One day I would stop acting like a scared child who got scolded over the littlest things and stand up for myself.

Today just could be the day, because I knew I didn’t want to see them again, even in this small amount of time. I’d grown. I was happy, to an extent, and had a life. I didn’t want them to tarnish it by their bullshit.

“You may sit up front,” Mom said at the car, which had me stilling. She never let me before, why now? Suspicion dipped my brows. However, I was probably being an idiot. Maybe they were trying to change.

“Thank you.” I smiled and slipped into the seat that Dad held the door open to. He closed it and walked around the front to the driver side. I wanted to be anywhere but here. Shit, I’d even take a dentist visit or a waxing over being there.

Dad started the car and backed out of the space while I strapped my belt in. “There’s a nice restaurant not far from here. I could give you directions,” I suggested, since they’d never come to visit me before.

“I don’t need it,” Dad replied. He gripped the steering wheel. “You didn’t call your mother for the monthly check-in.”

Shit. I hadn’t even realized it had passed.

“I’m sorry. Study and work have kept me busy.”

Dad grunted.

“We were worried,” Mom said from the seat behind me.