Page 21 of Like the Season
Caleb thought about the last time his father had laid hands on him. He’d been fourteen, and his father had received a report about him being seen coming out of a showing ofBrokeback Mountainat the dollar theater in town. He’d snuck in to see it after buying a ticket to see a different movie.
At the time, Caleb had denied it was him, and he’d gotten away with nothing but a hard shaking, but it’d scared the crap out of him. In the past, his father had usually used a belt on him for “issues.”
“Maybe your mom won’t even tell him.”
“Maybe not. I don’t know. Honestly? I don’t even care anymore. I’ve never felt like I belonged in that family. I knew it would come out at some point.”
It sounded like Boyd sighed. “Okay. We’ll deal with that, if there’s anything to deal with, when we get home. Maybe go in and lock down your Facebook privacy settings, huh?”
“I will, but I haven’t posted much on there. I really don’t use it that much. Not like I had much to share on there before I left Virginia, and I think I’ve posted three pictures of sunsets on it since I moved to Florida, and I friended you on it. Shared a couple of things. Liked a few of your posts. I use FetLife way more than I use Facebook.”
Boyd used Facebook every day, was very active on it, even though he had very few people from work friended.
“Still, lock it down.”
“Yes, Sir.”
There was a heavy pause in their conversation, like Boyd was thinking about something, maybe working up to saying something. “I know this is a crazier situation than you signed up for. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare apologize for this, Sir. I want to be part of your life. Ella’s your daughter, and her baby is our family, too.”
Caleb wished he was with Boyd. Especially when the man sounded so choked up right now. “Thank you, Cay. You don’t know what that means to me.”
When Boyd finally ended the call a few minutes later, Caleb leaned against the kitchen counter and stared at his phone, at a selfie he’d taken of the two of them a few days earlier. They’d been in bed, snuggled together, and nothing had felt more perfect, more right.
From the smiles they both wore, Caleb knew the feeling was mutual.
For the first time in his life, he truly felt like he washome.Boydwas his home.
Even if he was on the other side of the country from Caleb right now, Caleb knew the man’s heart belonged to him every bit as much as he owned Caleb’s.
No matter what he had to do to make it work between them, he would.
