“I told you we weren’t looking for your approval, or even your opinion. And that goes both ways. You need to live your life foryou. You and Ben, maybe. But not for me, or your mother, or the people you went to school with or your neighbors or the world. Justyou.”
“Terry Franks lived that way,” Uncle Calvin said. He seemed serious, although of course there was no way to be sure. “And Terry hada pretty damn good life.”
“So—” Liam looked blankly at the people around the fire, and Ben fought the urge to step in, to help out, to do whatever he could to make Liam less confused. Possibly this was something Liam should figure out for himself. “I was already going to move to North Falls.” He turned to Ben. “Not in with you, necessarily. If you think it’s too soon, that’s fine. But the town?Yeah, I was going to move that far. And I knew it might hurt my career. But I was okay with that, more or less. So—this conversation hasn’t really changed anything. But—I feel like it has. What’s that about?”
“Maybe now you know you don’t have to be ashamed,” Uncle Calvin suggested.
“More than ‘not ashamed,’” Richard said. He beamed at his son. “You should be proud. You’re not quitting anything.You’re not running away. Youwon. You’re a principal in a major New York architecture firm. You’ve made it. Walking away now? You’re walking away with pride, looking for a new challenge.”
“Living with Ben,” Seth said. “Yup, that could be challenging.”
“Shush,” Ben told him. Then he turned to Liam. “I’m not proud of you.”
“Uh—what?” Uncle Calvin leaned forward. “That’s not quite the feel-goodmessage we were shooting for, hoss.”
But Ben ignored him. “I’m not proud of you because ‘pride’ makes it sound like I’m taking some kind of credit for things. I’m notproudof Elon Musk for combining entrepreneurship with environmentalism, and I’m notproudof you for having a great careerorfor being ready to walk away from that career. But I’m—” Ben squeezed Liam’s hand. “Damn. I’m impressed.Whether you go on and build artistic skyscrapers or cozy, functional houses for people to raise their families in, I’m impressed. Andwhateveryou do with your career, if you’re in North Falls? If you’re with me? I’m happy. More than happy. And if you’re proud of yourself? That makes me happy too.”
“I think I might start cooking meth,” Liam said. “Just as a sideline to see me through, financially.Anyone got any objections to that?”
“A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do,” Uncle Calvin said.
“Your mother worked hard to teach you to cook. I’m sure she’d be pleased to see you putting it in practice,” Richard said. Ben honestly wasn’t sure if the man knew what meth was or not.
“I’ve never tried meth,” Seth said. “Would you be offering free samples? Or maybe some kind of pyramid marketingscheme?”
“I’d still love you,” Ben said. “I’d kick your ass and throw you out and yell at you a lot. But I’d love you.”
“Okay,” Liam said slowly. “I’ll put the meth idea on the back burner, but I’m sticking to the idea that we should do more. Like—live even deeper, even richer than we are. You, Ben. You and me? I want that for us.” He leaned back and the firelight danced across his face. “Butall of us. My dad, my friend, my—” He stopped, glanced at Calvin, then said, “My uncle. By blood or not, I don’t care. You’re mine, whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t object,” Calvin said.
“Okay. So, all of us. We can all live deeper and richer together. Does that sound possible?”
“It sounds like something Dinah’s likely to kick my ass over,” Seth said. “Can you give me some details beforeI commit to anything?”
“Nope. No details. But no long-term commitment either. For now?” Liam stood up. He pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the sand. “For now, we swim. The sharks should know better than to mess with us. And if they don’t, we’ll teach them a lesson in manly fashion. Who’s with me?”
Ben stood up. He hadn’t needed to think. Ofcoursehe was with Liam. Always.
Seth was the next to rise. “I’m not gay. I don’t have to worry about pleasing the damn picky male eye. I’m sorry if I’m not as ripped as you guys are.” He pulled his shirt over his head and slapped his belly. “But I’m a good floater, and I’m ready to go.”
Uncle Calvin looked at Richard. “This younger generation,” he said. “They don’t understand what it’s like to be a little older.”
Richard nodded.“They don’t know about sore joints.”
“Low energy.”
Richard stood up. “Failing eyesight and hearing.”
Uncle Calvin stood up as well. “Increased craftiness,” he said, and he and Richard took off together, sprinting for the ocean, barely stumbling as they pulled off their shirts and tossed them to the breeze.
Seth ran after them, whooping so loudly it might have been heard up at the house, ifanyone was awake to listen.
Ben turned to Liam. “Do you actually want to swim, or were you just trying to get rid of them?”
“I want to swim. I don’t want to get rid of them.” Liam pulled his own shirt over his head. “But since we just so happen to have a moment to ourselves….”
His lips were salty from the sea air, his skin warm compared to the cool night breeze. He was Ben’s. He’d been gonefor too long, but now he was back. And he was damn well not getting away again.
