Love Means No Shame - Andrew Grey

should go to you.” She took the quilt with wide-eyed surprise and gently unfolded it. “Thank you, Geoff.” She then hugged him and sat back down, admiring the gift. His aunt Mari changed the subject. “Geoff, the real reason we’re here is we’ve been worried about you. Since Eli left, you haven’t been yourself.” He didn’t argue with her, but he had no intention of pretending to be happy either. Janelle humphed softly.

    “I’m fine. I’ll get past it eventually, but it’ll take time.” He truly doubted he’d get over it any time soon, but he didn’t want her to feel bad. “If you ask me, you’re better off without him. Now you can find a nice girl and get married.” Janelle’s sanctimonious tone grated up Geoff’s spine like nails on a blackboard.

    His temper flared, and he turned on her, giving her his full attention. “First thing you better get through your thick head is that I’m gay. I will never meet a girl, settle down, and get married. That just isn’t going to happen.”

    Geoff’s anger was starting to get the better of him. He’d been holding it in for a week, and it wouldn’t be held in any longer. “And don’t think I don’t know that you’re the one spreading rumors around town.”

    “I speak my mind!”

    “Spread lies is more like it. Lies that got us attacked a week ago.” Geoff heard gasps but kept going. “Lies that hurt the one person who means more to me than anyone else in this world.
    Someone so kind and caring that he left because your lies would hurt his family!”
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Geoff wiped his eyes and kept going. “And they hurt me. A member of my own family deliberately spread rumors to hurt me. Well, I hope you’re happy because it worked. He’s gone, and I’m miserable without him.” Geoff turned and started to walk away. “I want you gone.” “What?” That sanctimonious tone was back, and Geoff snapped.
    “I want you gone!” He pointed at her. “You have five minutes, you hurtful, spiteful bitch, to get off my property, or I’ll have you arrested for trespassing!” He pointed to the door. “Get out!” Janelle stood up. “Come, Victoria, we’re leaving.” She started to walk to the door. “I’m not going anywhere. He’s my nephew, and he’s right.

    You are a spiteful bitch, and I’m tired of you.” Janelle looked like a fish caught on a lure, her mouth hung so far open. “Then how am I going to get home?”

    “We’ll take you home when we’re ready.” Vicki looked like she was just getting comfortable.

    Geoff looked at his watch and relented. “You can stay until they’re ready to leave. But I don’t want to see you or hear you. Go sit on the porch. Maybe the dogs will keep you company, if they’re feeling charitable. And after today, I never want to speak to you or hear from you again.”
    Geoff’s anger had run its course and began dying away.
“Excuse me.” Geoff turned and left the room, sitting at the kitchen table.
    A few minutes later, Mari and Vicki sat down across from him. “I’m not going to apologize to her, so don’t ask. I’m hurting right now, and she’s partially responsible,” Geoff said.
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“You’ll get over this and find someone else. This isn’t the end of the world.”
    He knew Aunt Vicki meant well. “It sure feels like it.” He looked up at them. “I spent a lot of time in Chicago with a lot of men. Hell, I had sex with three or four different men a week sometimes, but nothing compared to what I feel for him.” They didn’t understand so he tried again.
    “Do you believe in having a soul mate, someone who completes you in a way you never thought possible?” They both nodded. “Well, Eli was mine —I know that. I can feel it with every fiber of my being, and now he’s gone. He’s less than ten miles away, and he might as well be on the other side of the world. Hell…
    he is in another world, a completely different world.” Vicki took his hand. “Honey, he chose to go back. You have to see that.”
    “I know he did. He chose to go back because her rumors threatened to hurt his family. If word got back to them that he was gay, his entire family would be shunned. Don’t you understand? He gave up his own happiness for his family.” Two sets of eyes looked at him, definitely confused. “He’s gay. By leaving he’s condemned himself to live a lie for the rest of his life. He’ll probably marry and have children, but his wife will