Page 40 of The Prodigal Son

“I know, but I’m trying to say…this is the kind of fame that makes it much harder to keep secrets,” she adds.

“Maybe I’m tired of keeping secrets,” I reply.

When she stands up, she gives me a look of sympathy, and I already know what she’s about to say. I just wish it wasn’t true.

“Just make sureyou’rethe one coming out before someone else does it for you.”

“I know, Lo.”

She touches my shoulder before walking toward the back of the bus to steal the bathroom first. I know she’s right, and I wish I wasn’t stuck in this limbo. Afraid to come out but more afraid of being outed. Afraid to be myself but tired of having to keep myself hidden. Wanting to date, but afraid that dating would ruin my career.

When I get out of the shower, there’s a new text on my phone, but it’s not from Jensen. It’s from Luke.

Hey. We have to talk.

That doesn’t sound good. I hope everything is all right with him and Sadie and Henry. Or maybe it’s about Mom. Or one of my brothers.

Before I start to panic spiral, I call him. He answers on the first ring.

“Hey,” he says into the line.

“Hey,” I reply as I run the towel over my head to dry my hair. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he says with concern. “I just want to give you a heads-up about something.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” I reply. Sitting on the couch, I brace myself for bad news.

“Caleb just called me,” he says. “Apparently, our dad has won an appeal in court.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“It means that whatever judge they put on the case has decided to lessen his charge from attempted murder to aggravated assault. They still have to go through sentencing, but there’s a chance he could get out early if he wins.”

“You’re joking,” I say as I let this news hit me.

“I wish.”

“What did Adam say?” I ask.

Lucas huffs. “He’s still too angry to speak to anyone. I’m afraid of what he might do if Truett does get out.”

My knee bounces nervously. “Yeah, that would be bad.”

“Honestly, Isaac, I’m more worried about you.”

“Me?” I ask with surprise. “Why me?”

“Because you’re famous now. Once Dad does get out, which I assume he will someday, he can easily find you. He could make some sort of statement about you. He could use your fame to his advantage. You’re the key to saving his reputation. And I don’t want it to get to that.”

Staring at the floor with the phone against my ear, I try to imagine my father doing that to me. Lucas is right that he absolutely could. And maybe he would.

But I remember a very different man than my brothers do. I have this theory that my father feels more shame for me leaving than they think he does. But I don’t verbalize any of that.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” I say. “For now, I’m not worried. Truett Goode can’t hurt me anymore.”

Lucas breathes a heavy sigh. “I wish that were true.”

For the rest of our call, we make small talk about Sadie and Henry and my tour. I hear the baby crying in the background, and Lucas says he has to go change his diaper, which makes me laugh.

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