Mr Kincaid’s brows raise when he sees me standing on their front porch, and for a second, my insecurities have me wanting to run away, but then he grins, and I force myself to straighten my spine and follow through with my plan.
“Noah,” he says, stepping back to let me in. “It’s good to see you. I think Zac’s at the library, but he shouldn’t be too far away.”
“I wanted to chat with you, if that’s okay?” I close the door behind me and follow him into the living room.
I have to give Zac’s dad props; he covers his surprise quickly, waving to the couch. “Of course. Would you like a drink?”
Is tequila an option?
“No, thanks.”
“Okay,” he says, settling onto a well-worn armchair. “What can I do for you, son?”
The warmth in the word has emotion clogging my throat, and I breathe through my nose, trying to pull myself together. He doesn’t say anything, giving me time to organise my thoughts, and I can’t help but notice the difference between him and my dad. Carl Bentley would have lost his patience with me the moment we sat down and said nothing.
“I wanted to apologise for running out last night,” I finally say. “Things haven’t always been easy for me with mysexuality, but I want to assure you, I really like your son, and I’m not going to hurt him.”
At least not intentionally.
“It takes guts to come here and say those things to a stranger,” he says. “I respect that, and I’m sorry you’ve had a hard time.”
“I want to be up front with you… my father doesn’t accept who I am. Zac knows this, but I can’t help feeling guilty that I can’t be with him in the way he deserves.”
Mr Kincaid frowns, and I worry that he’s about to warn me away from his son, which is why his words shock the shit out of me. “We can’t help who we fall for, Noah, whether they’re gay, straight, or bi. It pains me to hear that about your father, but believe me when I say, he should be proud of the man you are, regardless of your sexuality.”
“Thank you,” I choke out, blinking rapidly.
His smile is warm. “I said last night, you’re welcome here anytime, and I meant it. Zac’s happiness is important to us, and the fact he brought you home says a lot. We support you, and if you need me to talk to your father?—”
“No,” I rush out, then wince. “Sorry, I didn’t mean…” I take a deep breath. “I appreciate the offer, but I just need a bit more time to figure out how to talk to my dad.”
He nods. “I understand, but Isabelle and I will be here for you whenever you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Mr Kincaid. That means a lot.”
“Adam, please.”
“Right. Thanks, Adam.”
“Why don’t you give Zac a call and tell him to come home while I get dinner started.” He stands and walks to the kitchen, clapping me on the shoulder as he passes. “Everything will work out the way it’s meant to.”
Chapter 26
Zac
When Noah calls to say he’s at my place, I bail on my study group and go straight home, worried he’s looking for an excuse to call it off after running out last night. I spent the ten-minute drive home trying to figure out how I’ll convince him that what we have is worth the stress of standing up to his father.
If I ever come face-to-face with the arsehole again, I can’t wait to give him a piece of my mind. His son is incredible, regardless of his sexuality. He doesn’t realise it yet, but he’s strong and brave, and he can have everything he wants. I’m determined to prove that to him.
His dad has really messed with his head, but when he forgets all the noise, his guard slips, and I glimpse the real Noah… That’s the guy I’m drawn to. I love how he looks at me like I’m something steady among his chaos. When he chooses me in those quiet moments, I know whatever this is between us is real. It’s worth fighting for.
I was sixteen when I realised I was bi, but I didn’t tell my parents for a year. They didn’t even bat an eye. Mum just said she wanted me to be happy with whoever that happened to be. Dad clapped me on the back and told mehe was proud of me for being true to myself. I’ve never been more grateful for my parents. I couldn’t imagine what it’s like to grow up with a parent who can’t accept who you are.
The first thing I hear when I push open the front door is laughter, and that settles the swarm of wasps buzzing around in my stomach.
“What’s going on here?” I ask, unable to hide my grin when I enter the kitchen to see Noah and Dad seasoning the steaks while Mum and Milly make a salad.
“We’re cooking dinner,” Noah says as if it’s the most natural thing in the world for him to be standing in the kitchen with my family.
