Page 75 of Josh’s Play

Campbell went to open his mouth, but I jumped in. “Don’t even try to decline, Cam. Mom will not let us leave here without feeding us.”

Campbell’s nervous smile returned. “Thank you.”

Mom took a swallow from the beer bottle before swinging it between the two of us. “So, how did you two meet?”

I went on to tell the story of our meeting and ending up in class together.

“You were right about keeping secrets, Mom. Campbell isn’t out. Because of the whole hockey thing. So we’re not telling many people.”

Mom put a hand over Campbell’s. “That must be very hard on you. I wish this world wasn’t the way it is for you boys, but I understand. Your secret’s safe with me. Your dad is going to be home in a few minutes, though, so if you want to keep your secret, you may want to slide your chair over a little bit, Josh. And maybe try to not look at him like that.”

“Ma,” I said, rolling my eyes and looking sheepishly at Campbell.

“Yeah, maybe don’t look at him at all, Joshy. Because I’m not sure you can fool anyone.”

“Ma!” My mother got up but stood before us with another smile. “This family is full of secrets,” she said, shaking her head before making her way back to the grill. I didn’t ask her what she was talking about. My mom was really good at keeping secrets.

We told my dad as well, and I think Campbell was a little more relaxed by the end of the evening after having shared a quiet dinner with them.

A few days later, Campbell insisted on meeting me at the dorms because a couple of the guys from the Hockey House hadn’t yet left for the holiday weekend, and he didn’t want to answer a million questions about why he’d ask me to drive him instead of any of them.

Devon, who was also staying in town for the holiday and would be joining my family on Sunday, seemed preoccupied when I told him I was leaving and wouldn’t be back until Sunday. I thought he would question my vague declaration, but he merely glanced up from peering at his tablet as he perched on the bed.

“Huh?” he asked before following it up with an, “Okay.”

“I probably won’t need the room tonight. Or tomorrow.”

For some reason that got his attention. “Really?”

“Really. You know, last long weekend before graduation. Might as well live it up, right? I won’t be back until Sunday. How about I text you when I’m at the house, and you can meet me there. That way we both get to skip some of the early-morning chaos that is Vera before any holiday where a mythical character breaks into our house on her behalf.” Devon looked oddly disappointed by that statement and didn’t react at all to my joke.

“Yeah, cool. So I’ll see you on Sunday at your parents’?

“Sunday at the professor and the dean’s. I’ll text you.”

“Cool.” Devon had swapped his tablet for his phone, his fingers flying, but his tone didn’t match his excited digits as he continued to be distracted and monotone. I packed an overnight bag, anticipating questions from Devon that never came, and slipped out of our room with a, “See ya,” feeling like I had dodged a bullet and making sure the door closed quietly behind me.

I worried that it was too risky to meet Campbell in front of Cortland Hall and convinced him to wait at the dorm across the street from mine while I went to borrow a car from my parents. There weren’t many people milling about when I pulled up to pick him up, but there were a few.

I kept my eyes on my own dorm, worried someone I knew would exit while Cam was tossing his luggage in the back and pouring his large frame into my mom’s car.

“I slipped into the lobby to wait. Felt kinda silly, standing on the sidewalk with my bags,” he said. It all felt like a bit of subterfuge.

Once we were on the road, being together felt normal. I put my worries about meeting Cam’s parents out of my head so we could enjoy the drive as we chatted and fought over music.

“It is common knowledge that the driver picks the music. The driver has to stay awake and focused and cannot be distracted by that ridiculous last-century arena rock you’ve got playing.” I handed over my phone. “Here, find my road-trip playlist. Last time I listened to it, I was traveling back from Delaware with my hand in a cast, so it’s kind of fitting. If I hadn’t had that accident, I wouldn’t have met you.”

I shared my password with Cam, and he responded, “Wow, I’m honored. No one’s ever shared their password with me before.” I wasn’t sure if his tone was reverent or snarky, so I snuck a quick glance to find those puppy-dog eyes looking at me like I was holding his favorite treat. I smiled back and returned my focus to the road.

After a few beats with no change in the music, I flicked my head to the right again long enough to see Cam scrolling on my phone.

“You criticize me about arena rock, and then you turn around and ask me to play this modern emo drivel. I am questioning our entire relationship right now.”

My heart fluttered at Cam’s ability to joke about our relationship.

“Okay, compromise!” I turned the radio to the oldies station my mom had preset. “Everyone loves good, old-fashioned retro pop, right?”

Campbell sighed and dropped my phone in one of the cup holders, but before long, we were both singing along to Karma Chameleon, trying to outdo each other.