Garrett

“How long are you going to continue to keep this up for?” Josh sat back in his seat across from you in the small apartment that you owned as you two ate the dinner you’d cooked.

“I don’t want to get fired.” It was the same answer you always gave, but the only one you really believed that you could ever give.

“I want an actual boyfriend, Garrett. I don’t want to be the secret kept behind closed doors.”

“You know it can’t be like that right now.”

“Well then maybe something needs to change.”

You let out a long, frustrated sigh. You really do think that Josh might be the one for you, but everything is so damn complicated. Though you don’t know for sure the church would fire you for coming out as gay, you’re fairly certain you wouldn’t be allowed to date, and certainly not have sex with, any guy. So, that really wasn’t a consolation prize by any means.

“You don’t need to be acting all high and might yourself, Joshua. It’s not as if you’ve come out to the church.”

“I don’t care about all of that.” You know he’s telling the truth because he’s said it before. Most who know he’s gay found out, not because he told them. He just lives and lets things fall where they may. However, you need something to not lose him already.

“It’s not that simple for me.”

Josh let out a sigh. “I need something. I don’t care whether you come out to the church or anyone else. I don’t need you to take me out to some fancy restaurant or show me off or anything. I just simply need you to take some kind of stand that we’re together in at leas somewhat of a public setting.”