Page 53 of More Than a Spark

She halted with food held to her lips and stared at me for a second. “How about if you tell her you moved back home first and then in oh…about a month or so, give her this news.” She ate her food.

I huffed a laugh. “Yeah, so she’s not going to take it well. What else is new.” I drank some water, the tightness winding through my chest again. Maybe she would never talk to me again after I told her. Would it matter that much?

“She might be fine with it. I just don’t know. She’s more of a wild card than Dad.” She tapped my forearm with the back of her hand. “Besides, you should try having a relationship with her again first.”

“Yeah, okay. I get the point.” Scoffing, I shook my head, then gazed at her. We’d gone through so much together and I hadn’t nurtured my relationship with her in the last few years either. Yes, it had been time to come back and be with my family. “Sis, thanks for listening. I’m glad we’re doing this. We need to do it more often.” I held up my whiskey to her and she tapped it with her drink.

“I can’t wait to see you and Milo together. Isn’t he in some queer punk band now, too?” She took a sip of her drink.

“He is. He’s playing out at Gila River casino on Saturday if you want to see him play. I’ll be there.” I dunked another slice of sashimi into my soy sauce. And maybe by then, I’d have the balls to come out to Dad.

“Really? Yes, I’d love to come see his show.” A warm grin swept over her lips.

“They usually have dinner at the venue before they play. Would you want to get there early and join us for dinner?” I snuck a peek at her. I hoped Milo would be okay with it. Oh hell, he’d be fine with it.

“I do. Text me on Saturday with the deets.” She leaned into my side and pressed her head to my shoulder for a second. “Love you, Ryder.”

Warmth drifted through my body. “Love you too, Hazel.” God, it was good to be home.

* * *

Friday night,I was showered, wearing my best white shirt, paired with gray board shorts, and had packed a weekend bag. I wasn’t getting caught without extra clothes again at Milo’s and I still had to return Jeremy’s shirt from last weekend, now that I’d washed it. I strode for the front door and my waiting truck.

Dad ambled into the house through the carport door in the kitchen, his work t-shirt and trousers hanging off his thin frame. “Oh, Ryder, good. You’re still home.” He shut the door behind him.

I stopped with my hand on the front doorknob, then dropped my bag and twisted around. “Yeah, um, I was just headed to Milo’s.” I hadn’t had the chance to talk to him last night when I’d gotten home from dinner. He’d been in bed already and had left again early this morning. He was working way too much.

“Milo’s, huh?” His gaze dropped toward my packed duffel bag. “You plan on staying there for a while?” He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottled water.

“I was uh, planning to, yes. I’ll probably stay the weekend at his place.” Biting my lip, I strolled to him and dropped into a chair at the kitchen island. Should we have the talk now? My chest pinched. Shit, I wasn’t ready, and Milo was expecting me.

“How did dinner go with Hazel? She said you two had dinner last night.” He stepped to the other side of the island, then leaned his hip against it and drank some water.

“It was good. She’s coming out to watch Milo’s band play at a casino tomorrow night.” I jiggled my leg and rubbed the corners of my dry mouth. Why was this starting to feel like an interrogation? Hazel wouldn’t have said anything to Dad, would she? Hints, maybe?

He sighed a breath. “I’m glad to hear you and Hazel are spending time together. But have you called your mother yet?” He eyed me.

“No, I haven’t called her.”Fuck!This was getting old. I looked at my hands, gripping the edge of the counter. “I’ll call her when I’m ready.”

“What’s going on, son?” He peered at me.

“N-nothing’s going on.” I forced myself to look at him. Could he see through my lie?

He winced, then bumped off the counter. “Okay, but when you’re ready to talk to me, I’ll be here.” He gave me a tight smile.

“Dad, I’m sorry.” I hung my head, an ache squeezing my chest. I was a shit. He wasn’t going to have a problem with me being with Milo. Hazel even said so. “Give me a minute, okay?”

“Sure.” He rounded the island, then sat in the chair next to mine.

I slid my phone out of my front pocket and opened my text app, then typed.

Ryder

I’m going to be a while longer. Talking to Dad.

The three dots popped up.

Milo

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