Page 53 of The Easy Way
“Better quality of life,” Shaw informed them. “Gorgeous mountains, cleanair.”
“And a senator who was planning his retirement at exactly the right time,” Lydiainterjected.
“Lydia!” Lucy exclaimedrepressively.
If not for the fact that the charged atmosphere had made his training kick in, Cort would have burst out laughing. Cam coughed and looked at the ground, while Cain became fascinated by the sight of his own shoes. Shaw merely arched a brow at Lydia, as if he expected no less fromher.
“That isnotthe reason we moved,” Lucy explained to Cort with a trembling voice. “We wanted better opportunities for our children! Better schools and betterinfluences.”
Though Cain’s gaze was still pointed downward, Cort saw a muscle in his jaw flex, like he was clenching it hard. Cort recalled Cam saying Cain would likely never be able to come out to his parents, and wondered whose badinfluenceshe’d had inBoston.
Poor kid. He made a mental note to ask Cam about itlater.
“And, uh, Cady?” Cam said, once again venturing into the awkward silence thatdescended.
“Oh, Arcadia!” Lucy Shaw said, her eyes lighting up. “She’s here, too. Probably already talking someone’s ear off about her father, securing somedonations!”
Cam nodded. “That’s great,” hesaid.
“Itisgreat,” Lucy enthused. “Oh, you and Cady used to havesomuch in common, Cam. Remember back when you two were anitem?”
Cam’s fingers squeezed Cort’s hip. “Er…” he hedged. “It was a long, long timeago.”
“Yes, but some things never change!” Lucy said. Her smile was bright and hopeful. “Maybe she can save you a dance tomorrow night and you two canreminisce!”
Cort frowned. Cain glanced up at Cort, his eyes full of sardonic humor. Cort gave a tiny shake of his head. His annoyance dissipated under a wave of sympathy forCain.
Growing up as he had, Cort couldn’t believe he’d ever look with sympathy at someone like Cain Shaw, who’d been raised in the lap of luxury. Cort had always wanted a family of his own, wished he had parents and siblings to look out for him, but now he had to amend that wish. He couldn’t imagine growing up in a family where you had to hide part of yourself to fit in with someone’s career ambitions or deluded ideals. When he’d come out to Craig Dempsey - an event precipitated by Craig catching him kissing his next-door-neighbor Ethan behind the garage one sweltering summer afternoon just after he’d turned seventeen - there had been no question about whether or not Craig accepted him (he hadn’t). There also hadn’t been any question as to whether Cort would hide his sexuality to please the Dempseys (not a chance in hell). For the first time, Cort felt as though maybe he’d had a certain amount of freedom in growing up that way. Money seemed to bring a shit ton ofposturing.
“Excuse me, please. I’m really quite thirsty,” Cain gritted out, then squeezed between Cam and Lydia without saying another word and headed for the small bar set up on one side of thepatio.
“I could use a drink, too.” Cort squeezed Cam’s shoulder. “Come withme?”
Cam nodded, but before they could turn around, an older woman on the far side of the patio squealed, “Cam! Oh, darling!” and made a bee-line forthem.
Cam hesitated. “That’s Mary-Alice McMann, Drew’s mom,” he told Cort. “I needto…”
“I’ll bring you something,” Cort promised, trailing his fingers over the nape of Cam’s neck before he moved away, and loving the way the banked fire in Cam’s eyes instantly kindled into somethinghotter.
Cort moved through the crowd, ignoring the curious glances from the men and women he passed. At the bar, he ordered two beers. He could have used something stronger, but he also wanted to keep his wits about him, just in case Damon made contact. His eyes circled the patio, paying careful attention to the men and women who were carrying drinks and setting up platters of fruit and snacks, but Damon wasn’t among them. He tamped down hisimpatience.
“So, you’re Cam’s boyfriend.” Cort turned his head to see Cain Shaw standing by the bar, his hand wrapped around a glass of brown liquid. Apparently, Cain had progressed right to the hardstuff.
“Yeah,” Cort said, and Cain noddedslowly.
“He tell you about, ah…” Cain cocked his head andshrugged.
“Yeah, a little. Long time ago, wasn’tit?”
“It was another life,” Cain said bleakly, giving Cort a sidelongglance.
Cort dug a bill out of his wallet and left it in the tip jar, then picked up the beers that the bartender set in front of him. “Well, you can rest assured, anything Cam told me isn’t something I’dshare.”
Cain nodded again. “I figured. Cam is a good guy.” Cain’s voice was low and serious. “He’s never brought anyone to one of these before,” he said, raising his glass to encompass the patio and the low murmur of cultured conversation. “Not sure whether to be glad for him or sad foryou.”
Cort chuckled. “I would’ve thought this stuff would be easier if you were born intoit.”
“Hmm. You thought wrong,” Cain responded. He turned to look at the crowd and Lucy headed in their direction, practically dragging a pretty girl about Cain’s age. He sighed and tossed back the remainder of his drink. “I just remembered something I need todo.”
