I brush my thumb over Evan’s swollen bottom lip, sucking mine in nervously. “And how did that go?”
He grins, and it occurs to me now that heusuallylooks like an ebony-haired Sam Hunt doppelgänger, when he’s not potentially going anaphylactic on me. And, let me tell you what, there’s nothing more that I’d like to do than study his body like a back road. And,ugh, I wonder what Evan looks like with a guitar. I know he plays, because Sully told me he’s caught Evan strumming his guitar over in their bunk room a few times.
“Actually, not as bad as I thought,” he tells me, pulling me out of my fantasy session. “Dad just said he wasn’t thrilled about it enoughto throw me a coming out party, but that he wasn’t going to write me out of the will because of it. He wants to meet you.”
I scoff. “Yeah, because I’m just biting at the bit to go meet the father whoisn’t thrilledabout this—us.”
Evan just brushes me off. “You’d have to know the man. Trust me, his reaction? That’s praise coming from him. Wagner speaks his mind, but if he was truly revolted, he would’ve definitely kicked me out. Turns out, he knew about Colton and Petro, too, and I honestly think that softened the blow for him to find out about me. All he said about that was that Colt and I have always been two peas in a pod, so finding out we’re both gay wasn’t much of a shock.”
“Oh yeah, speaking of that, you should definitely talk with your son. And by that, I meanreallytalk. Maybe tonight I can cook dinner and we can do it here. Together. Might go easier if there’s a buffer person in the mix.”
“That’d be good. I made him a birthday cake before I came back, anyway. He was out kayaking with the campers when I got back. And you’d be more than a buffer person, you know,” Evan replies. “I want to tell Colt that I’m ready to start seeing people again—and that, for some unknown, fucking cosmic, reason—you’re the one I latched onto.”
I grin. “Happy to be your hitching post,” I tease.
“Bullshit,” he says with a chuckle, squeezing his arms around my waist and nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck. “You literally made this huge stink about me wanting to date you.”
I nod, allowing myself to go boneless in his arms. “See, you should be glad I don’t have a backbone. I wouldn’t have ever caved, if I did. But! I’ll warn you now, if I’m allowing myself to swim here, you better be the best darned lifeguard and never let me sink, Evan Waters.”
I can feel him grin against my neck, the deep rumble of his chuckle reverberates between our chests. “Are you a farmer, Brooks Gallagher? Because that’s about the corniest line I’ve ever heard.”
Chapter Twenty-One
My heart feels so frickin’ light, I’m almost afraid it’s going to take shelter in the clouds. Dinner with Colton wentsowell, I didn’t even feel like the mediator I intended on being. What made it cute was that Morgs and Nikolas came too, apparently figuring Colton could use some support as well.
We ripped off the heavy stuff like a Band-Aid, tackling that first. Father and sonofficiallycame out to one another. There were happy tears all around the table.
Evan also had been worried about a note he’d found in Colton’s bedroom, when he was at home. Colton told him about his plans to run away. Evan was relieved, because I guess the tone of the note alluded to suicide a bit, but Colton assured his dad that wasn’t the case at all.
I’m glad to hear that, too. I worry frequently about suicide rates among kids his age, and even more so amongqueeryouth at his age. Colton promised that he would reach out to either Evan or me, if heever felt that way, but continued to reassure us that he was just looking to get out of Ternbay. Not only did he think his family wouldn’t accept him, but he still misses his mother immensely—and there, he is surrounded by a constant barrage of memories which he didn’t feel like he could talk about without upsetting Evan.
The only reason he wanted to stay was because he felt he needed to protect Nikolas. Nikolas protested vehemently, stating that he could fight his own battles, though he does appreciate Colton’s adamance. Like a truly supportive partner, he wants Colton to put himself first.
Then, Evan assured him, much to both their surprise, that they would be accepted—by their family, at least. Everyone else, they could work through together as a united front. They planned to do the same for their avoidance of discussing anything to do with Miranda. They agreed to not keep her memory locked away in a proverbial box. Colton beamed with pride from his father’s assurance.
Finally, Evan admitted to Colton that he was looking to start dating again, and was floored when Colton literally did a celebratory football dance in the kitchen, as if he’d just scored a touchdown. Then, Morgan looked at me with a Cheshire Cat grin. She nudged my shin underneath the table and mouthed ‘with you?’to me.
I gave her a subtle nod, and she beamed, mouthing ‘yay!’back at me.
By the end of the meal, we were all around the table, sharing stories just about… I don’t know, life? It felt just like a blended-family meal, which is ridiculous since it’s far too soon to know where any of this could go. Whatever, I sat there soaking up every moment like a thirsty sponge regardless, because it just felt soright.
Evan eventually presented Colton with his birthday gifts. He signed Colton up for driver’s ed, and then also bought tickets for Colton and Nikolas to go to a Patriot’s game this fall—so they could have a properdate, finally. Colton was so excited, he practically launched himself over the table to hug his dad.
Luckily, I had my phone out, so I caught the embrace on camera, though neither saw me. I might send it to my mom and see if she can turn it into a watercolor painting. That way, they can have that moment immortalized forever. It was so heckin’ touching, seeing father and son finally making real progress.
It’s stuff like that which makes doing what I do all worth it.
Only after the kids left did I start to feel a little uncomfortable, because the hungry look Evan was giving me from across the table—and that I alone was the banquet—rendered my khakis just a touch tighter in the crotchal region.
“Would you like to stay the night?” I hastily ask, flushed by how adolescent it sounds now that I’ve said it aloud. Evan’s eyes flit up the stairs at Morgan’s still closed door. “Kai, uhm, he took off sometime while we were out getting groceries for this evening. He texted to let me know not to expect him back for a bit. I’d like to make sure your facial swelling subsides.”
His reaction to the sting has gotten significantly better, but, ya know. To be sure, I’d really like him to stay the night. That’s theonlyreason. Yup.
Actually, you know what? That’s not the only reason…
“Oh, and the sheets. I uhm, I’ve been testing them out. Ten out of ten, recommend. You’re more than welcome to sample them as well.”
Evan’s grin turns wolfish, as he stands to grab plates and racks them in the dishwasher. “That offer still open to practice on you?” he asks me.
