Page 37 of Sweet T

“I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“Well,” Evan said. “If he was a straight teen, suddenly in a new country, in a household of gay men... that’s gotta be a shock to the system.”

“Why are you siding with him? You don’t even know him.”

“Sorry. I didn’t know there were sides. I just–” Evan reached across the table, lightly touching Tucker’s hand. “I just want to know more about the man taking care of me. That’s all. We don’t have to talk about him if you don’t want to. I assume I’ll be meeting him, though.”

“Not unless you’re here for the wedding. He’s in Spain.”

“Spain?”

“Yeah. Master’s degree. Madrid. Scholarship.”

Evan let this process. It was obvious that none of what they were discussing was to Tucker’s liking. There was tension.

“Well, I’m Team Tucker, just so you know.”

“Thank you. I think.”

When their eyes met this time, Tucker blushed with a small grin.

“You have lovely brown eyes, Tucker—what’s your last name?”

“Shepherd.”

“Shepherd,” Evan whispered. In his mind’s eye, he saw a lone man in a field, tending a flock of sheep. Then he recalled the large S at the top of the gate they had driven though—puzzle pieces were aligning.

“So, you have a gorgeous kaleidoscope of a family, and your parents can finally get married. It’s wonderful, don’t you think?”

“It is.” Tucker’s eyebrows lifted with his smile. “It really is.”

Evan heard the words, saw the smile, even felt the sincerity, yet still sensed underlying tension. He decided to change the subject, but Tucker beat him to it: “Your eyes,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like them. Blue, but so pale. They’re like ice.”

“Is that why you have a hard time making eye-contact, my cold eyes?”

“They’re not cold. Just unusual... distracting. Like those tattoos.”

“Oh, so now you’re coming for my tattoos?” Evan gestured to the chair across the table from them. “I brought that landscaping t-shirt. I can put it on if you like.”

“No.” Tucker said. “We’re at a pool. Shirt and shoes are not required, and sometimes—with my parents—swimsuits aren’t either.”

“Oh. I imagine that’s awkward.”

Tucker chuckled. “Not as much as you’d think. Since I still live here, we divvy up pool time. I get days, they get nights. So, we usually avoid any awkward nudity.”

“Y’all sure spend a lot of time at the pool.”

“It’s hot as hell. Haven’t you noticed? Pretty much stays that way six months out of a year. Not a lot else to do here either.”

“Another reason I’m Atlanta bound. Not much opportunity in Augusta, and absolutely nil in Waynesboro.”

“So, you’re off to be an actor.”

“That’s the goal.”

“Well, I wish you luck with it. Maybe one day I’ll see you on TV.”

“Maybe. Right now, all I’ve done is theatre. But television work would be a good thing, as far as making a living.”

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