“Cameron Alexander Greene,” his dad said, exasperated. He didn’t need to say,stop fucking around and just say you’ll do it,because he heard it, anyway. Message received.
“Fine, fine, I’ll go,” Cam said, pulling himself off the couch.
“One more thing,” Shane asked casually. “You meet anyone yet?”
Cam wasn’t sure if this was more or less embarrassing than admitting to his dad that he’d gotten freaked out by how big of a city Toronto was. “You know the answer to that.”
“Even someone . . .uh . . .temporary?”
“God, Dad,” Cam said, his cheeks flaming bright red. “No. And even if I did, I wouldn’t want to talk about it with you.”
“You said it was one of the reasons you wanted a bigger city,” his dad reminded him. “It would be easier to uh . . .um . . .what is it you said? Hook up?”
“God,” Cam repeated. “Please never say that again, okay?”
He reminded himself how lucky he was that his dad had always been unflinchingly supportive of his sexuality, even if being gay in small town, Montana, wasn’t full of its own challenges.
“Well, I want to know how you’re doing! How else am I supposed to know if I don’t ask?” Shane didn’t have to say,because you’re not going to volunteer anything, not like you used to.
“The answer isno. But I’m sure I’ll get there. Like comfortable enough to download an app and actually follow through or even go to a gay bar.”
“Uh. Yeah. Good.”
“Can we not talk about this anymore?” Cam begged as he headed towards his bedroom to change into his swim trunks.
“I’m good with that,” his dad said, chuckling self-consciously. “Not because I don’t approve! Or because I think it’s wrong or disgusting or—”
“Please,” Cam pleaded. “I don’t think that. I promise.”
“Okay, good.”
“Yes, you’re the most supportive. Nobody’s ever taking your ally crown away.”
“Thank goodness,” Shane said dryly. “You have fun, okay? Text me when you’re back.”
“Dad,” Cam warned.
“Not because I think you’ll be unsafe! Or because I’m worried. Just because . . .just because, alright?”
Cameron smiled. It was hard not to. He loved his dad, and his dad loved him. “Alright.”
A second later, he hung up, and after putting his phone on the charger by his bed, pulled out his swim trunks and an old T-shirt. He changed, shoved his feet into a pair of sneakers, and grabbed a towel from the narrow linen closet on the way out the door.
The elevator ride down to the basement level with its fitness center and pool was quiet. It was late afternoon on a Monday—too early for anyone to be coming home from their corporate jobs.
There were a handful of people in the fitness center, on the treadmills and ellipticals, a smaller group spread out among theweight machines. Cam headed right to the sign that identified the entrance to the swimming pool, bypassing the locker room.
When he pushed it open, he wasn’t surprised to see it empty.
Well,almostempty.
There was a single figure on the far end, sitting on the edge of the pool, head down and feet dangling in the water.
After pulling off his T-shirt and shucking his shoes, Cam stole another look at the guy, taking in the messy dark hair—all that was visible—and then realized a second later that herecognizedthat messy dark hair.
And the shoulders.
And the thighs.
