Mack glanced at Jeff. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t know his reasons for hidin’ who he is or pretendin’ to be someone he’s not,” Travis said, “but I get the feelin’ he’s ashamed.”
“Why would he be? He knows I’m gay. Who does he have to hide from?”
Gage was the one to answer. “Probably from his mother.”
Well, hell.
*
Jeff’s brain was going a million miles a minute, rehashing everything Travis had told them. Even half an hour after Travis and Gage left, he was still speechless, unable to come up with a single thing that might ease the tension he could feel pouring off Mack.
As he sat on the couch, he watched the big guy pace back and forth across the ivory rug, bumping the wooden coffee table every so often by accident.
“So what did he think he would do? Make my life hell because he has to hide from his mother?” Mack looked up briefly. “Does he think it’s my fault he’s gay? Maybe he’s punishing me for it?”
They both knew it wasn’t hereditary, so Jeff kept his mouth shut, figuring it was best to let Mack talk this one out.
“How does making me move help this situation? Making me sell the bar?”
Jeff tracked him with his eyes. “The only sure way to find the answers is to talk to Daniel.”
Mack stopped, put his hands on his hips, and pinned Jeff with a stare. “And how do I broach that subject? Hey, Daniel, word is you’re gay. That true? Welcome to the club, son.” Mack shook his head, started moving again. “I don’t see how that’s gonna win me any points with him.”
“Maybe not, but it does help to make some sense out of all this. We both know Meredith loved you when you were with her. And she hated you when she learned you couldn’t love her back. She promised to keep your secret, but then she confirmed Daniel’s suspicions. Because of her past feelings for you, I’m sure that conversation didn’t go over well.”
“I don’t think she’s homophobic,” Mack said.
“I don’t, either. I think she was a jilted lover and there was no way for her to fix you, because you weren’t broken. You simply couldn’t give her what she needed. I’m sure she shouted her hatred to the rooftops, used your sexuality against you. Daniel likely believes she’ll hate him, too, if she finds out.”
Mack’s head popped up. “She could never hate him. Meredith loves him. She was a good mom even if she did hate me.”
“You know that,” Jeff said, “but Daniel is likely too confused to realize it. Or maybe he’s just scared. Lashing out at you because of it. People do stupid things when they’re scared.”
When Mack finally dropped onto the couch beside him, Jeff shifted so he could face him more fully. Mack was holding his cell phone in his hand. Every now and then, he would bring the screen to life only to darken it once more. He sat patiently, wondering if Mack would give in and call Daniel.
When he finally set the phone on the table, Jeff reverted back to the conversation they’d been having before Travis showed up.
“Earlier, when you said you would make things right … what did you mean?”
Mack looked over at him, his expression going blank for a moment.
“Before Travis dropped that anvil on your head.”
Mack smiled and let his head dip forward as though he was shy.
“Mack?”
“Chris is comin’ by the bar tomorrow night.”
Confused as to what the hell Mack was talking about, Jeff waited him out.
Mack cut a sideways glance his way. “He got an offer on my house.”
Jeff stared, still unsure where this was going.
“I’m gonna accept the offer,” Mack stated.
