“The next month, my college frat was in the news. The school revoked their chapter registration after a pledge was hazed and…” Shawn shook his head and cleared his throat before he could continue. “A few guys in the frat found out he was gay and forced him to have sex with a girl in front of all of them. He went to the dean the next day along with some of the other pledges who witnessed it. It made me think about what I would have done in that situation, and if that could have ever happened to you and I… It made me sick, Chase. I started doing all this research and talking to people in the… community. I was wrong about so many things. I’m fucking embarrassed it took me so long to figure it out. Please, tell me it’s not too late. Do I still have time to be a good person, Chase?”
Chase wiped away tears as he considered Shawn. It was never too late to change, otherwise what was the point in trying to get through to people? He sure as hell wasn’t going to say, “Nah, Shawn, it’s too late. Go ahead and keep being a bigoted asshole.”
However, it would take a lot more than this confession to feel better about his relationship with his brother, so he didn’t want to let him off the hook too easily.
One question stood out among everything else running through his head.
“What happened with Dad?”
Shawn took a deep breath before tearing into his blueberry muffin and tossing a piece in his mouth. He hadn’t taken a bite of it until then.
“After I figured out some things, I tried talking to him about it. I knew he wouldn’t listen, because it took me so long to listen. So I tried going at it from an angle he wouldn’t expect. I told him about how doctors found this one part of the brain is a different size in gay men than it is in straight men. I thought, maybe, if I came at it from a biological side, how could he refute it?
“I shouldn’t have been surprised he thought those medical articles were bullshit fake news, but it still blew my mind. Things escalated and I ended up telling him Iwanted to fix things with Chase—withyou. He said… It doesn’t matter what he said, but I told him I was done with him and haven’t talked to him since.”
Chase couldn’t hold back anymore. He slid his hand over top of Shawn’s, causing Shawn’s gaze to snap toward him, shocked Chase was initiating physical contact. Chase gave his hand a squeeze, but couldn’t say anything else. Maybe in time, but not yet.
7
“HELLOOOOO?” A VOICE RANG out. “Anybody home? I have a special Christmas delivery from Colorado!”
Tobias hadn’t even heard the front door open, but there was no doubt who that voice belonged to.
Grace, Madison and Tobias jumped from their seats in the living room and hurried to the front hall to see Natalie beaming, standing on the doormat with a giant bow on her head and luggage at her feet.
“Mommy!” Madison shouted, running into Natalie’s arms, Tobias and Grace following. Natalie picked up Madison with one arm and wrapped the other around Grace. Tobias wrapped his arms around all three of them, thanks to his long reach.
“I’m so glad you made it home,” Grace gushed. “Best Christmas gift ever.”
They all cheered in agreement. Natalie wasn’t sure she’d get time away from training to make it home for Christmas, but she put her foot down since her family wouldn’t be able to join her at the Olympics. It was too complicated to close down the gym for that long, and Natalie didn’t want Madison to miss so much school. It was only preschool, but what did Tobias know?
It took a few minutes for the group hug to break apart, thanks to Madison pulling Natalie further into the house. Madison gave her the tour of all the Christmas decorations they’d put up together, plus a breakdown of everything she’d done in each room of the house since Natalie left.
It was a while before the adults could get a word in, but they eventually landed back in front of the TV where they’d been watching a Christmas movie.
“How’s training going?” Tobias asked, an easy smile on his face.
“Amazing,” she sighed. “I’m really trying not to get my hopes up, but everything is really clicking and it’s hard not to get excited.”
“I bet,” he said. “Ya gotta be confident but not overconfident. Tough line to walk.”
“It is. One of the other women I’m training with is starting to feel the pressure a bit. She’s the current favorite, and watching all the hype for her makes me so glad I’m not expected to place.”
“You’re gonna win the whole thing, Mommy,” Madison said loyally from her spot in between Natalie and Tobias.
“Maybe, but maybe not. The best skaters in thewhole worldwill be there too. I’m happy just to be there with them. That’s winning enough,” she said seriously, but then turned to Tobias and muttered, “Although, I wouldn’t exactly say no to a medal.”
He snorted, along with Grace, who sat on Natalie’s other side.
“We’ll be proud no matter what you do,” Grace said, and Tobias nodded in agreement. He’d competed in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, finishing in fourth place. He thought he’d get another chance, but professional players weren’t invited back until after he’d retired. Fingers were crossed that Natalie would be able to do what he couldn’t, but even if she came in last place, he’d still be proud of his little sister.
Later that night, after Madison and Grace went to bed, Tobias slumped on the couch next to Natalie, a big bowl of popcorn between them whileHome Aloneplayed on the screen. It was one of their favorites from when they were kids, and it had led to many jokes about getting left behind during family vacations. Even though Natalie was a few years younger than him, people always thought they were twins. They had the same brown eyes and dark brown hair, high cheekbones and square chins.They also shared the same intensity when they worked. Natalie’s gaze could be just as piercing as Tobias’. It was a look few people could face without crumpling. Natalie rarely used it since she loved being around people, while Tobias depended on it to keep people away.
“So, tell me more about this guy, Chase,” Natalie said, making Tobias sit up and gasp, which was a terrible thing to do while eating popcorn.
Immediately falling into a coughing fit, Natalie watched him with both concern and amusement, passing him his water from the coffee table when he was able to breathe again.
While he drank, he considered how to respond. Earlier in the day, Madison regaled Natalie with the wonders of rock climbing and her instructor, but why was she askinghimabout Chase?
