“And you’re one of the bravest,” Joshua told him.
Colin, who had been listening closely, spoke up. “I think a lot of people here know exactly what you mean.” He raised his hand without hesitation. “I know I do. Anyone else?”
For a moment, there was only the crackle of the fire. Then Trent lifted his hand. Beside him, Nate did the same. Slowly, almost cautiously at first, hands began to rise around the fire—one here, another there—until nearly half the campers had lifted their hands in quiet solidarity.
Evan glanced around, his eyes widening slightly, then ducked his head with a small smile.
Joshua let the moment sink in, then spoke: “Andthatis what Camp Pride is all about.” He glanced around the circle, letting the warmth of the moment fill them. Then, with a sudden grin, he clapped his hands together. “All right! How about we shake things up with a quick game of Two Truths and a Lie? Andwhowill be first?” He drew out the last few words as he lifted a hand, finger moving in a slow, exaggerated circle around the group. “Leeets staaart wiiiiiith…….” The campers leaned in, grinning, waiting to see who his target would be.
Joshua let the suspense build before finally landing on his husband. “ …THIS GUY!”
Laughter and cheers erupted as all eyes turned to Colin, who shot Joshua an exaggerated scowl. “You’ll pay for this!”
Joshua grinned and punched his shoulder. “Ooo … scary! Now, let’s hear it—two truths and a lie, and make it good.”
Colin smirked at Joshua, then turned to the group and clapped his hands together. “OK. Here we go.” He paused for dramatic effect, then held up a finger for each statement.
“One: I once wrestled a full-grown goat to the ground because it stole a kid’s backpack. Two: I can do a perfect handstand and hold it for thirty seconds. Three: Joshua beat me at baseball once, fair and square.”
A beat of silence—then laughter rippled through the group as Trent groaned. “Ohplease!Agoat?”
The debate began. Some campers insisted that the goat storyhadto be true because it wastooridiculous to be fake, while others were skeptical about the handstand.
Colin just stood before them, grinning, arms still crossed. “Well? What’s the verdict?”
“I don’t believe the handstand thing, Colin,” Nico challenged. “That’s a lie!”
Colin leapt to his feet and pointed at Joshua. “Time me.”
Joshua sighed, already pulling out his phone. “Youlovethis, don’t you!”
But Colin was already in motion, flipping smoothly into a handstand, his body steady as a statue. The campers erupted in cheers and laughter as the seconds ticked by.
“Five seconds left,” Joshua announced finally. “And Ihateit that you’re making this look so damned easy.”
Colin held the position until Joshua called time, then flipped back to his feet with a triumphant grin. “Nice try, Nico.”
A boy named Bobby groaned, shaking his head. “OK, that was cool. But Istillthink you’re lying about the goat.”
Colin smirked and reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. He flipped it open and held it in front of Bobby’s face. “A picture of me and the goat.”
Bobby squinted, then burst into laughter. “No way!”
Grinning, Colin pulled the picture out and handed it to him. “Pass it around.” As the campers eagerly took turns looking at it, he sat back down beside Joshua. “And trust me, Joshua hasneverbeaten me at baseball.” He shot Joshua a teasing glance and leaned toward the group conspiratorially. “And he never will.”
Joshua rolled his eyes as laughter rippled through the circle.
Colin gestured toward the picture that was making its way around the fire. “That damned goat was a mascot for one of the UVA frat houses, kappa beta … I dunno …something. The damned thing grabbed a student’s backpack and wouldn’t let it go until I put it in a headlock.”
“You’re wearing a cop uniform,” one of the campers pointed out.
Colin nodded. “I was a UVA Campus cop back then.”
There was a brief pause, and then another camper hesitated before asking, “Did you ever shoot anyone?”
Silence fell over the campfire. Colin felt the weight of their curiosity, but this was a question that police officers were used to hearing. He peered around at the curious, expectant faces. “No,” he said finally. “I never shot anyone.” He let the words sink in, then leaned in and added: “But I didseepeople get shot. And I was shot myself. In fact, I damn near died.”
There was a collective inhale, and a few campers’ eyes grew wide.
