Page 104 of Floodgates

“He was so smart; he could have gone with me, done the community college thing for a year, and then got into Cornell, or done something else. I just wanted us to be together.”

“Of course you did,” I groaned, and I got up, walked around the table, bent, and hugged him. He looked startled, but after a minute he hugged me back.

“Tracy, you have a really soft heart.”

Pulling back, I stared down at him. “It’s a tragedy, and I hate those.”

He patted my shoulder before I retreated back to my seat.

“You must have been furious with Breckin,” I said.

“I was too devastated over losing Turi; Breckin was the last thing on my mind for so long,” he explained sadly. “I thought, if only I had been brave enough to tell Turi, maybe he would have fallen in love with me instead and still be alive today.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s nobody’s fault. It was Turi’s choice to take his own life. I wish he had talked to you. Even if he was done with Breckin, he still had you to turn to. I so wish he had.”

“Yes. If only.”

“So, was it hard for you in high school? Being gay in this small community?”

“No one knew,” he told me. “So, no, it wasn’t. I was a big jock, right? So were Breckin and Turi. And like I said, we were always together, and there were always cheerleaders.”

“Was Breckin bi then too?”

“Yeah, he was.”

“You and Turi too?”

“No, just Breckin,” he confirmed. “But Turi and I dated a lot of girls. Both of us just made sure we picked the ones we knew were saving it for their husbands or at least college.”

I smiled at him. “So, not only did Breckin have Turi, but cheerleaders as well.”

“Yep. You know him—he likes to have his cake and eat it too.”

“I wouldn’t know,” I lied.

He lifted his eyebrows. “No? You’re gay, Breckin’s bi…. Not once?”

“How did you know I was gay?”

His smile was sheepish. “I saw you kiss the inspector in the foyer last night.”

“You were here last night?”

“I was.”

“I don’t remember seeing anyone but Breckin’s family.”

“I’m a little invisible,” he teased me. “But I’m also in private security here in Fieldcrest and work closely with the police.”

“Oh.” I chuckled. “Well, that explains it.”

He reached out and patted my shoulder. “Yes. I’m under contract with the police department as we speak. The chief hired my company to do backup surveillance for them since he has a total of himself and four officers.”

“That makes sense.”

“Yes. We’re supposed to be walking around checking out all the guests, but since there are so many of us here, I thought, I’ll go sit with Mr. Brandt. I apologize for the subterfuge—I already knew who you were when I walked over here.”

“That’s okay.”