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But here I am.
“You’re gay?” his mom finally asks, and Chase nods.
“Apparently.”
“Oh, thank god,” she sighs and then laughs. “We’ve been waiting for you to tell us.”
Chase’s brows lower, and he shakes his head. “What?”
“We knew…we all knew for so long. Or had suspicions really.”
“Was it the flip-flops?” he asks, and his mother laughs.
“No, it was just you…and the way your eyes wandered.”
And then she’s moving past her son and right toward me, her gaze kind and accepting, and I don’t realize I’m crying until she pulls me into her chest.
“Welcome, Holden. It’s so nice to meet you.”
I cling to her for far longer than is appropriate, for far longer than I should. But I’ve never been hugged like this by a maternal figure. Never. Ever.
“I’m sorry, I’m just so damn tired,” I whisper, feeling ashamed for my tears but she just leans back and shakes her head.
“It’s okay, son, come on in. Let me make you something warm to drink while Ginny shows you to your room.
Dixon shakes my hand aggressively and then thumps Chase on the back. “About time, bro,” he says and moves into the house, like it’s no big deal.
Chase just swivels his head and looks at me while I swipe at my eyes.
“They knew?” he asks, and I manage a small, wobbly smile.
“Yeah, apparently. Sometimes we don’t see the entirety of ourselves but others do.” I move toward him and slip my hand into his. “You saw me.”
Those beautiful eyes meet mine and he blinks once. “I did. I do.”
He leans down and kisses me slowly, his tongue pressing between the seam of my lips, and I melt into him, needing this more than I need water, air, life. I need him. I bask in it, in him.
A throat clearing has the two of us moving away from each other quickly, and I see a man who must be Chase’s father at the bottom of the porch steps.
“Hello, son,” he says, and then his eyes swivel to mine. Chase and his dad are built the same, big and strong. I can see where Chase got his looks now that I’ve met both of his parents.
“Um, hi, Dad. This is Holden. My…boyfriend.” Chase’s words sound unsure but his father just freezes for a moment before nodding.
“Nice to meet you, Holden. You any good with repairing fences?”
The question is so out of left field that a shocked laugh escapes me.
“No, sir, but I can learn.”
He nods and then stomps up the steps to his son, pulling him into a hug. “Nice to see you again. Thanks for making the trip back for Ginny.”
“I wouldn’t miss it. I’m sorry I snuck away without telling you…”
It’s silent for a beat before his father utters, “Sometimes we need to do things in life that don’t make sense to other people. All that matters is that you come back when you’re needed.”
And with that, he moves into the house, the conversation clearly over.
A warm wind whips around us and Chase’s eyes meet mine once more.
