I quickly take some shots of him, hoping they turn out.
“Isn’t he a beauty?” Mike says, following the flight path of the eagle. “Just stunning.”
He bumps my shoulder with his, looking down at me with a large smile, showing off his white teeth, the bottom ones slightly crooked. “We didn’t get to see whales today, but I think seeing the bald eagle is pretty cool, right?”
“So cool,” I agree.
We sit in silence, just enjoying the day. I hadn’t planned on telling him my secret, but I want to now. If I told anyone first, it’d be Mike.
“Mike?”
He glances at me, tucking strands of hair behind his ear. “Yeah?”
“Uhm…” I wipe my clammy hands on my pants, forgetting I’m wearing my stupid gloves. “Can I tell you something? It’s… kind of a secret.”
His thick brows drop low, and he gives me a curt nod. “Of course, Den. You can tell me anything.”
“I’m not sure how my family will react, but I trust you. I trust them too, but it’s kind of scary.”
Mike slings his thick arm around my shoulders and gives me a reassuring squeeze.
“I like… boys. Not girls. I mean, girls are fine and all, but… not that… way.” I shiver as the truth,mytruth, spills from my lips.
His smile is soft and small, but his eyes are bright as he reaches out and zips my coat all the way up. “Thanks for trusting me, Den. I think it’s just fine to love who you want.”
My heart burst right then. He accepts me just as I am. I think I might love him even more, if that’s possible. “Yeah?”
“Yep. You should tell your family. I know for a fact they’ll always love you. You don’t need to worry about that.”
His confidence builds up mine, all remnants of doubt leaving my body. “Thanks, Mike. I’ll tell them.”
“Clouds are moving in. We should get back, Den.”
Chapter 3
Mike
SevenYearsEarlier
I’ve barely made it to my truck to head into work when Mom comes sprinting after me, the gravel crunching under her tennis shoes.
“Michael! You forgot your lunch.” When she reaches me at the end of the driveway, she’s panting, and a few strands of dark brown hair have escaped her high bun, spilling into her face. Her equally brown eyes regard me with amusement, a few fine lines adorning the skin around them. She shakes her head at me, smiling. “You always forget something, sweetie. Head in the clouds as always, Michael.” She hands me the metal lunchbox that she got for me the day I officially started working forVerdant Visions Landscaping,along with the sage-greenStanley Classicthermos that belonged to Dad.
I groan, accepting the lunchbox and the thermos. “You’re the only one who calls me Michael, Mom.”
She frowns at me as she crosses her arms in front of her chest, a defiant look in her eyes. “Well, I happen to like the name Michael. It was your grandfather’s name and your—”
“Great-grandfather’s name before that,” I finish for her, and we both laugh. Fuck, it’s good to hear Mom laugh like that again. The sound had been absent from our house for so long after Dad died, and I often wondered if she would ever laugh again. I can’t exactly remember when she started coming back to me. It was all a blur back then. At the time, the Holbrooks were the only constant in my life.
I do remember the first time she laughed, though. Since Mom was slowly feeling better, Aaron had started coming over to my place again. He had Dennis in tow, and they were already bickering, their usual MO, when I let them in. Aaron was trying to dodge Dennis’ attempts at stealing the Tupperware box from his grasp, the smell of freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies wafting through the lid. Mom was in the kitchen making tea when we entered, the scent of Earl Grey and jasmine filling the room. As soon as Aaron removed the lid from the box and placed the cookies on a plate on the counter, Dennis was there like a persistent mosquito, buzzing around him. I swear, the cookies barely met the plate before he instantly inhaled one, and then grabbed another. That was when I heard it, starting soft and low at first, but so distinctively hers—Mom’s laughter.
She uncrosses her arms, reaching out with her hand, brushing her fingers through my bangs. “I wish you didn’t have to go. It’s Saturday.”
I shrug. “I know, Mom, but I guess Mrs. Lennox’s old fir didn’t get the memo.” Jon, Aaron’s dad and my boss, called last night to say that the old fir finally decided that enough was enough and tipped over, taking a part of Mrs. Lennox’s garden shed with it.
“I know, I know.” She smiles at me, ruffling my hair. “My reliable son to the rescue.” Something dark flashes through her eyes, andI instantly recognize it as regret. I know she still feels guilty about her breakdown following Dad’s death. That she checked out on life and me. I don’t blame her, though. Not one bit. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to love someone as much as my mom loved my dad, only to lose them in the blink of an eye. Shit, they’d been high school sweethearts, marrying right after graduation, and then one year later, I came along. They grew up together, expecting to grow old together, too. “I just wish you’d go out more, like other kids your age. Have some fun.”
“I’m not a kid anymore, Mom.” Besides, Aaron has gone off to college. There aren’t any other guys to hang out with other than Dennis.
