Page 43 of The Rebel's Guide to Pride

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I’m sorry you had to go through all that, but that doesn’t make you any less of a person. I promise you aren’t a bad gay either, Zeke. Not everyone is brave enough to rebel against the mayor. Promise me you’ll be careful because things are getting crazy around here. A restaurant in West Point was shut down because of a drag brunch, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.

Chapter 18

The summer after seventh grade, the JACass had rented the nature preserve’s lodge to celebrate Chapman Law’s fiftieth anniversary. He’d wanted to honor the family legacy after Grandpa Chapman passed away. It was why we’d taken that matching photo together, an unveiling of the future of the law firm. He’d paraded me around to meet clients until I escaped out onto the deck to catch my breath.

Back then, I hadn’t known why I was suffocating. Only that the long rectangle of a room was closing in on me with each handshake, with each expectation-lined smile. But now, standing in the same spot I’d been in when he announced his vision for my future, I wasn’t afraid like I had been before.

I pushed my shoulders back, pushed that dark memory away. Mom had let me borrow her SUV to haul the decorations, and I’d spent the last three hours transforming the banquet hall into something new. The projection screen where Chapman Law had made the announcement with our photowas now covered in a pride flag. Tables where I’d been forced to kiss ass were put away, giving space for a giant dance floor. And most importantly, there was no one with a firm grasp on my shoulder steering me around.

“This place looks great,” called a familiar gruff voice.

Owen, the ranger who’d offered up the lodge, stood inside the main door. He’d been dressed as Miles Morales the last time I’d seen him, but tonight he was wearing a rainbow-colored shirt. Its bold white letters declared he was an ally for his child. It was endearing, and I wished my father was like him. So much so that it caused a lump to rise in my throat.

A nod was all I could manage as I double-checked the decorations I’d put up. By myself. Sawyer and Kennedy would be here any minute now and see what I’d spent three hours on. Streamers hung from every beam of the pitched ceiling, twirling from the AC vents, while the curtains of twinkling lights lined the walls. Complete with the green carpet leading from the entrance to the inflatable arches, the inside of the lodge was officially ready for a party. All that was left to do was organize the QSA table.

“My kid’s too young to be here tonight,” Owen added, crossing over to me, “but they told me to tell Zeke hello for them.”

It took a moment for my brain to catch up, but then I noticed something familiar about Owen’s eyes.The rec center.“You’re Addi’s father?” I asked.

He nodded, shooting me a wide grin. “Thank you for helping them with their essay,” he said. “They said the pride flag makes them feel safe, and now they’ve convinced all our neighbors to hang one up.”

“That’s great,” I managed. The lump was getting bigger,harder to swallow around. The rainbow flag had never made me feel safe when I was younger. It’d been intimidating, made me want to hide.

“Addi is the reason I’m volunteering with Carmen Bedolla’s campaign,” Owen said, looking around the hall. “Whatever I can do to make them safe in this town.”

“Thank you,” I blurted. “For offering this space and, uh, being a good dad. I’m glad Addi has you.”

“And thank you,” he said, clapping me on the back, “for all your hard work. I’m sure your dad is proud of what you’re doing.”

“Yeah…” He didn’t know the JACass, but for a second I imagined how life would’ve been different if he were like Owen. If I had been supported like Addi.

The door swung open behind me, slicing through my thoughts. Sawyer and Kennedy had finally arrived. I plastered on a fake smile to mask my burning eyes and readied myself for their reactions. But when I turned, the corners of my mouth fell in confusion.

Cohen?He waved awkwardly when his eyes found me.Why is he here?

“Be right back,” I told Owen, excusing myself.

“I’ll get the sound system ready,” he replied.

Cohen’s gaze swooped around the room as I made my way over to him. Astonishment washed over him as he took in the lodge. It was moments like these—when he was unguarded, emotions on his sleeve—that reminded me of the crush I have on him.Had.

“You did all this?” he asked.

“Why, is something off?” I rushed to say. “I can fix—”

“It looks great,” he said quickly with his hands held up.

“Thanks…” His niceness made me skeptical. It was one thing at the rec center, but now? “Why are you here?”

“Sawyer and Kennedy went out on a date,” he explained, his attention snapping to the supplies on the QSA table. “So…I wanted to help set up.”

“That’s nice,” I said, disappointed they’d be late. “For them, I mean. When they get here…what?”

He worried his bottom lip and cut his eyes toward me. “About that,” he began while unloading the QSA supplies. “I wanna give you a heads-up that Sawyer is pissed…and they’re not coming tonight.”

“What?” I asked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly.

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