Page 38 of Heal Me, Love Me

That was different.

His mom used to shove extra food onto my plate whenever I stayed over for dinner because I was “a growing boy.” His dad taught me how to change my oil and handle other car maintenance. They’d include me in their plans for day trips to the lake and make sure I felt welcome.

Back then, I’d spent so much time in their house that it’d started to feel more like home than mine ever did. And now they knew, not just that Rowan was gay, but that we were together.

I was relieved they hadn’t reacted badly. After carrying all this shit around for years, he deserved parents who loved him without making him earn it.

A knock sounded against my door, and I told whoever was on the other side to come in before it cracked open.

“Saw your car in the driveway. You eat yet?” Derek asked.

“Nah. I’m not hungry.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I lied. “Just tired.”

He didn’t look convinced but nodded anyway. “We saved you some food if you change your mind.”

“Thanks.”

After he left, I changed into sweats and lay down, but sleep took forever to come, mostly because every time I closed my eyes, I pictured Rowan standing by that river, talking about Florida.

Before I’d fully wokenup the next morning, Mason’s laugh carried through the house followed by Derek swearing about coffee.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and saw a text from Rowan waiting:

I’m here

My pulse kicked up instantly, and I shoved off the bed, pulled a hoodie over my head, and headed toward the kitchen.

Derek stood near the sink with a coffee mug in his hand, and Enzo was at the table, scrolling on his phone. Mason leaned against the counter, eating dry cereal straight from the box, while Rowan sat across from him at the island, looking awkward as hell. Their conversation stopped when I walked in.

“Morning,” I greeted before grabbing an apple from the counter and taking a seat next to Rowan.

“So now that the gang’s all here,” Mason began, turning to Rowan. “Want to tell us what’s going on?”

Rowan took a breath before speaking. “First, I’m sorry for disappearing.”

“That’s not enough information for me.” Mason shook his head. “You can’t vanish after a fight, send one cryptic text that leaves me thinking I’m going to end up on a true-crime documentary, and then just apologize like it’s no big deal.”

“You watch too many murder shows.” Derek chuckled.

“I know I handled things badly,” Rowan continued. “I scared you guys, and I’m sorry. I had some shit going on, and I’m still trying to figure it out.”

“You good?” Enzo asked.

Rowan hesitated. “Yeah. I just …” He ran a hand through his hair and looked down at the table. “It’s complicated.”

Mason frowned. “Complicated how?”

Knowing it would probably be easier to explain if we just came clean about everything, I blurted out, “We’re together.”

Three pairs of eyes snapped toward me.

“I’m sorry, what?” Mason blinked.

“Rowan and I are dating,” I clarified.