He didn’t come out until his senior year of high school. He was afraid that everyone would hate him and his friends would leave him. He had been goi...g out with a girl to keep up pretenses and told her first. “Of course you are, honey,” she told him. “Everybody already knows.” It turned out to be true. Brett was six-three and had played basketball. He told the coach who said, “Thank God, we don’t have to dance around the issue any more.” Brett had been astounded. His teammates, the girl he was. "She walked to the bureau and retrieved an ice bucket with several bottles of beer on ice and offered the boys a cold one if they wanted it. All took one and popped the top.Luke still seemed puzzled by the unfinished description of the special way she wanted to say goodbye and said so."It's like this, Luke. First, you all have to promise to make this our own little secret. Even if any one of you personally decides not to stay, you still have to keep it a secret. Second, if you decide to stay,. ." Yes?" I wonder if you might have something to help me persuade my boyfriendto get a little more serious?" Hmm. How do you mean?" I've been dating Todd since... a couple of weeks after I was in herelast. Almost a year. But he hasn't asked me to marry him yet." Could be he thinks he's too young to get married. He's about yourage, right?" Yes, just a couple of months older than me." How serious are you two in other ways? Are you sleeping together?"She blushed prettily. "...Yes." Living. When I kissed Mom she asked if Angie and I were all right. That was what I had been waiting for."Mom, Angie and I are engaged (Mom's smile was very wide), and she has a surprise for you and Dad (I called my stepfather Dad, too because he was almost as good a man as my real father). I think you'll like it. ANGIE, come in now!"Mom was a little surprised that Angie was with me, but Dad had a knowing grin on his face that was completely washed off when he saw Angie and Ray. Mom had not seen Ray yet.