Bernard didn’t tell him about his experiences at the club. His brother would worry. It was his burden, not his brother’s.
“Good.” Emilio smiled.
“How are Camila and the boys?”
“They’re doing well. Camila is visiting her parents in Nebraska for a week with the boys before they have to be back in school. To be honest, it’s good to have a little time alone.”
“I’ll bet. Alone time is necessary to stay sane.”
“Hear, hear.” Emilio held up his beer.
“Wait? Why aren’t they in school?”
“We transferred, and they attend a year around school. They are out in, let’s see—” Emilio paused. “April, August, and December.”
“How do holidays work?”
“They get the usual holidays off. Fourth of July, Christmas, Thanksgiving, same as we did,” he said.
“Not like when we were kids. Summer was it,” Bernard said, “but I wouldn’t give it up for rotating months off.”
“Same.”
“I’m going to grab another soda. We’ll catch up some more.”
On his way back to the cooler, his dad stopped him.
“Bernardo, come here.”
“Dad, can’t you call me Bernard?”
“No, I named you Bernardo, and that’s what I’ll call you,” he said. “Anyway, how are you and Rory getting along?”
“Fine,” Bernard said. “Why?”
“Oh, just wondering.” He shifted and looked down at the grill. He wouldn’t meet Bernard’s eyes.
Bernard narrowed his gaze. “Why?”
“No reason.” He held up his hands. “You two haven’t seen each other in a while, so I just wanted to check.”
“Dad, are you trying to set me up?”
“Not set you up. I just remember how well you and Rory got along at school, and he was one of the few people who stuck around after you came out. You guys had great times. I just thought—”
“Dad, I love you, but your taste in men isn’t the same as mine.”
“I don’t have a taste in men,” he protested.
Bernard laughed. “Okay, let me rephrase it. What you think I like in a man differs from what I like in a man.”
“Except, you forget I’ve met the guys you date. Rory checks all the boxes. He’s your age, he’s handsome, he’s a sweet boy, he’s got a large build like you, he’s single, and he’s employed. What more could you want?”
“For starters, someone who’s actually gay.”
“Rory’s gay,” his dad insisted.
“I’m sure if he was gay, I would know. I’m sure he would have told me.”
