Page 44 of Tides of Change
I grinned and stood. “Yeah, buddy.”
But he was already bounding down the hall, his stockinged feet skidding against the carpet as he disappeared into his room like the question had never even existed.
I turned back just in time to see my dad watching me, his expression unreadable. “Who’s Mr. Ethan?” he asked.
“A new neighbor,” I said, keeping my tone light. “We’ve been…getting to know each other.”
Dad nodded, slow and stiff. His jaw worked for a second before he spoke. “That’s fine, Garrett. But I’m a retired sergeant. You think this’ll come back on you at work?”
The words hit like a pebble dropped in a calm pond—small, but rippling.
I pressed my molars together, pushing back the sting of irritation. “There are openly gay men and women in the department now,” I said evenly. “It’s not like it was when you started. People are more open. More decent.”
Dad lifted his chin. “You know we love your gay friends like our own sons.”
“I know,” I said, quieter now. And it was true. My parents had welcomed every friend I’d brought home with genuine warmth, even when they didn’t fully understand.
Dad stood slowly, walked over, and rested a callused hand on my shoulder. His voice was low, gravel-thick with age and pride.
“I don’t always understand everything in this world, Garrett. But I know this—you’re a good man, a good father, and a damn good son. That’s all that matters to me.”
I swallowed hard, the words catching in my throat as I nodded.
And as he stepped away, I realized something had shifted.
My family didn’t need to understand everything. They just needed to show up.
And maybe, just maybe, so did I.
I looked down the hall where my son had vanished, then toward the door where Ethan waited for a chance. I was done standing on the threshold. It was time to walk through it.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ethan
Garrett expertly parallel-parked in a town to the south of Seacliff Cove with the precision of a trained cop, avoiding the curb by a breath. He shut down the SUV and silence reigned. The quiet felt charged—like something big was about to shift.
He cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair. Garrett Whitlock, unflappable deputy sheriff, was nervous.
My pulse kicked up a notch, and I braced myself. “Everything okay?”
“I, uh…” He clutched his hands over the steering wheel and his knuckles whitened. “I told my parents I was going on a date with a man.”
My chest squeezed, and my eyes flew wide. “Garrett.” I whispered his name like a prayer, reverent and full of meaning. “That’s huge.” I hadn’t realized Garrett’s parents didn’t know he was interested in men. “How do you feel?”
He tilted his head toward me, a small, self-conscious smile playing on his lips. The streetlights cast soft shadows over his face and highlighted the crinkles at the corners of his eyes. “Good. Relieved.” He exhaled slowly, like he was letting out years of tension. “I’ve spent so long suppressing this part ofmyself. Since high school. And now…it’s like I can breathe easier.”
A wave of emotion hit me and caught me off guard. Joy. Pride. “How did they take it?” I held my breath, hoping for the best.
“At first, they were surprised. They had questions. But once they got over the initial shock, they were supportive.” A small smile crept over his mouth.
I released my breath. “I’m so happy for you.”
His gaze dipped to his hands, fingers drumming on his thigh, before sliding back to me. “And…I told Noah I was taking you on a date tonight.”
My breath caught.Noah.This wasn’t just about Garrett. It was about his family—his son. And that he’d shared this with Noah felt monumental. I swallowed hard. “How did he react?”
Garrett chuckled. “He said, ‘Yay!’ Then he asked if he could go play.”
