Page 55 of Snow Globe Secrets

“I’m glad too. Surprised, and really, really glad.”

I moved to return to the other room, and Mom put a hand on my forearm, silently shaking her head “no.”

“You had no idea?”

“None. I mean, you were always quiet and didn’t date, but I didn’t think anything of that. I figured you’d find the right … girl, and the way you were always so quietly confident, I figured you’d know right away when you’d met the right person. Was it like that with David?”

“You thought I was confident back then?”

“Well, yeah. You did not give a shit what people thought about you. You succeed at everything you set your mind to. I just thought, when you set your mind to romance, you’d kick ass at that as well. Was it like that with David? Did you know right away?”

Randall was silent for a long while, and I could picture him thinking about it in that serious way he had, and it made me realize Dad was right, Randall could exude confidence. He was taking his time thinking about an answer, not worried about filling the silence. I think maybe Randall had needed to hear that. I was glad Dad had said it.

I looked at Mom and shrugged, silently offering up my stack of plates as if to say, we can’t stand here forever. She held her hand up to tell me to stay put, then she scurried around the kitchen, returning with a pizza cutter, a handful of forks, and a roll of paper towels.

“Keeping it classy with the paper towels, Mom,” I whispered, and she rolled her eyes.

“David was effervescent and handsome and … seemed to like me. It was enough for me at the time.”

“Well, I’m sorry it didn’t work out. Sounds like he was also an asshole if he cheated on you.”

“I suppose.”

“But you’re back now and single, and I’m sure we know some other single guys. Honey …”

“Oh, God,” Mom whispered, then she rounded the corner and circled back to the family room. What else was there for me to do but follow?

“Pizza should be here soon,” was my lame attempt at changing the subject.

“Hun, we must know some other gay guys. Single gay guys besides Turner from the boardwalk. Oh, there’s Preston, who works for me, but Pres is even younger than Turner. What do you think, Aus, are either of those guys hot?”

“Dad!”

My gaze finally returned to Randall’s, and he looked absolutely miserable, his eyes as wide as mine felt. I hadn’t thought much about what our week with my parents might look like, but I sure as shit hadn’t pictured my Dad trying to set Randall up. I wanted my look to convey that to Randall, but when I saw the way he was squirming behind those Clark Kent glasses, my own feelings and concerns vanished. It was time to shut the conversation down.

“Dad, Randall just moved to Mount Pheasant. He doesn’t want to date someone from New Jersey.”

“This kid, always disparaging Jersey.” I’d never minded dad calling me kid, or kiddo before, but hearing it in that moment just added a current of tension that I hoped my parents weren’t picking up on. A glance at my mom told me she absolutely was. Time to shift the focus again.

“I’m not disparaging Jersey. You know I loved growing up at the beach. But I love the mountains too. And I love Hampstead Valley. But this isn’t about me! I’m just saying it might be challenging for Randall to date someone who lives five hours away!”

“Well, your mom still works in the city. That’s closer to you guys. I know everyone works from home nowadays, but if you had a reason to go to your New York office, Randy, that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, would it? What do you say, honey? Any of the guys in your office single? What about …”

“Dad!” I interrupted, but Randall took up the conversation, responding slowly.

“I haven’t thought much about dating, with all the other changes in my life over these past few months.” I was leaning over the coffee table to offload my plates and tipped my head up to peek at a charmingly blushing Randall.

My father was undeterred. “I’ve been out of the dating game for a long time, but as I understand it, there are apps for that sort of thing these days. Isn’t that right, Aus?”

My eyes went wide, and I couldn’t help but allow them to laugh along with Randall’s. “Dad!” I could feel myself blushing, and I swear Randall’s blush was darkening at the same speed, up his cheeks. I just knew that if I could see the back of his neck, he’d have a little red splotch there.

“Well, we’ve certainly been out of the game ourselves since back in the day when you and I were still roomies. Jeez, Randy, how did I not figure this out back then?”

“I’m from a small town in the Midwest, Marty,” he stated matter-of-factly. “I was very good at hiding.”

“So, Aus. You’ll have to clue all us old-timers in on these apps.” I dropped to the couch with a plop that had Dad bouncing up next to me as he said it.

I caught Randall’s eye again and watched as his blush got deeper, fighting not to lean back and check that perfectly chiseled hairline at the back of his neck.