Love & Other Disasters(35)

“Julie.” London rubbed their forehead. “I know where the Mossy Ridge Trail is. Why the hell are you in Percy Warner Park at”—London checked the time, calculated two hours ahead—“ten o’clock at night?”

“I know. We have an hour until the park closes. I hope you give a nice speech, at my funeral.”

“Julie, I swear, if you don’t just get to the—”

“Dearest Ben Caravalho is training to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.”

“Yeah. I know. I talked to him last week.”

Ben had been Julie’s best friend since elementary school. London had been jealous of him for a long time, even though Julie had assured London they would always be her number one. The jealousy had been exacerbated by the fact that London had harbored an enormous crush on Ben all throughout high school, which had felt hopeless at the time, since Ben was super gay and London was still living under the illusion that they were just an awkward straight girl.

“Well, I’ve been trying to convince him what a horrible idea it is—”

“Julie! Why would you do that? Hiking the PCT is badass!”

“Yeah, and dangerous.”

London smiled. “Ben will be fine.”

“Anyway, he wanted to hike this dumbass trail in the dark to make sure he was prepared for night hiking. Which you apparently have to do in the desert in California, if you want to make the right amount of miles in a day, because it’s too hot to hike all day during actual daylight. Did you even hear that sentence, London? Did you hear how ridiculous it sounded?”

“So you went with him to convince him how ridiculous it is.”

“Exactly.”

“Is it working?”

There was a pause. London could practically hear Julie’s scowl.

“No. He is having a great time.”

“Hey, London!” Ben shouted into the phone.

“You know what Ben was just telling me before you called?” Julie cut back in. “That we’ll have to check for ticks when we get back in the car. This is why the best sports are played indoors.”

While London had focused on music in middle and high school, Julie had been a star basketball player. She still refused to believe any other physical activity compared.

She was also over-the-top, exasperatingly protective of the people she loved.

God, London really missed her.

“You should probably go then, so you can get back to the car before the park closes. I can call later.”

“Shut your face. We’re like ten steps from the car. I can talk.”

“So I won’t have to report your missing body to the police.”

“You know who hangs out in parking lots of creepy parks late at night, London? Creepy people. We’re not safe yet.”

London heard the beep of Ben’s car door.

“Okay. So we’re safe now. You know, unless there are ticks up my ass ready to give me Lyme disease. I’ll keep you updated on that.”

“Great. Can’t wait.”

“What’s up?”

London sighed. They would actually be entirely pleased to keep talking about Ben’s PCT plans, but they had to stop being a coward and talk about this.

“So the first episode of Chef’s Special airs tomorrow.”

It wasn’t a good sign that they heard Julie sigh.

“No shit. But yeah, about that. Wait—you didn’t get kicked off or something, did you?”

“I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you, technically. But no, I’m still here.”

“Of course you are. Good. Okay, so have you talked to Dad yet?”

London winced. “No.”

“Listen, London, you should do that. Because Mom has sort of organized a big watch party at the house. She’s having it catered and everything.”

London groaned.

This meant that half of Nashville would be tuning in, together, in the living room where London was raised.

London shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course their mom would organize a watch party. She loved her kids, and she loved an event.

London’s family was privileged, but they weren’t a dysfunctional level of privileged. The Parkers were close. Growing up, London’s parents worked long hours. Their dad, in particular, traveled a lot. But their parents still always attended every one of Julie’s basketball games, all of London’s band and choir concerts. They had dinner together at the dining room table every night they could, and a big Sunday supper every week that included an open invitation to any cousin, uncle, aunt, neighbor, or family friend who wanted to come. London’s childhood had been full of love and community.

“I’ve wanted to say something to Dad about it, to warn him, but . . . ” Julie trailed off.

“No, I know. It’s my responsibility.”

And it was London’s responsibility. To let their dad know that when half of Nashville showed up in their living room, they would all be witnessing London introduce themself as nonbinary on national TV.

London stared out the window at the lights of Burbank, the darkened sky.

They hadn’t really known what to expect when they came out to their family three years ago. Their mom had seemed a bit confused, but she’d promptly done research, as her scientific mind usually did. And then she’d been fully accepting, even if she did have lots of intrusive Science Mom questions.