“How does your family feel about that?”
“They understand and are in full support of us.”
“Good, that’s good. Jackie has faced too much crap for the things he likes. It’s about damn time someone understood just how special he is.”
Boone smiled when Jackie rolled his eyes. Apparently, he had heard his father. “I’m fully aware of just how special Jackie is. I won’t abuse the gift given to me.”
“Good, because sheriff or not, I’d have to kick your ass.”
Boone laughed at the picture that formed in his mind. He was pretty sure he was going to like Jackie’s father. “Why don’t I text you directions to Potter’s Creek from the airport? It’s not more than a few hours’ drive from the city. He might not say it, but I know Jackie’s been missing you.”
“I would appreciate that. I haven’t seen my son in almost six months. I’m used to him going off on his own every now and then, but he’s always kept in touch. I was starting to worry that something had happened to him.”
Something had happened to him. Boone just hoped the guy was understanding when it was explained to him. He knew it would devastate Jackie if his father rejected him.
“When can we expect you?”
“I’ll pack and catch the next flight out.”
“Text me when you know you’ll be coming in. We’ll have a room ready for you.” If not at Jackie’s place, then the pride house. One way or another, there would be a place for James.
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
“Boone, call me Boone.” The man was going to be his father-in-law, after all, even if he needed to go through a human marriage ceremony to tie Jackie to him.
“Thank you, Boone.”
“You’re welcome.” Boone lifted the phone away from his ear as he glanced down at Jackie. “Do you want to say good-bye to your father?”
Jackie nodded and took the phone. Boone just held him as the two men finished their conversation. When Jackie finally hung up and handed him the phone, there was an expression on his face Boone couldn’t decipher.
“Jackie, is everything all right?”
“Thank you.”
Boone smiled as he stroked the back of his hand down the side of Jackie’s face. “Oh, you’re more than welcome, sweetheart. I’d do anything to make you happy. That’s what it means to be mates.”
“I don’t know how my father is going to take this.”
“I suspect he’ll take it just as well as he did when you told him you were gay and that you like to wear women’s clothing.”
“I didn’t tell him I was gay.”
Boone’s gut clenched. “You didn’t—”
“He told me after I spent too much time standing at the kitchen sink watching through the window as the hot next-door neighbor worked on his backyard. He sat me down and explained about the birds and the bees, and the bees and the bees, and the birds and the birds, and so on.”
“That had to be an interesting conversation.”
“I was mortified.” Jackie’s face flushed as if he was remembering that conversation. “I didn’t watch out the window again for an entire week.”
“Just a week?”
Jackie’s eyes rounded comically. “He was really hot.”
The man just laughed when Boone growled.
“I mean it though, Boone.” Jackie’s voice had lost its amusement and become more serious. “Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I missed my father until I heard his voice.”
