“Yeah. I’ll be here.”

“If I go to bed early, I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.” The comfortable way they spoke about spending their nights together, Bryce leaving the door open for Nick to come and go as though he belonged there, made a warmth spread through him.

“Okay.” Nick twisted the doorknob. He opened the door just a crack when Bryce grabbed for him.

“Come here.” Nick came without hesitation. “I’m going to go to Mom’s this weekend and talk to her about Christi. I need to tell her. I’m not going to lie and pretend it won’t be a big deal for her.”

He saw Nick’s throat move as he swallowed nervously. “Yeah...yeah, okay. Are you going to tell her about us?”

Fuck. He didn’t know. “I’m not sure it’s the best time. It’s not because I’m embarrassed of you or anything. I just don’t know if I should throw all of that at her at once—hey, Mom, I haven’t been seeing the girl you love like a daughter in months—oh and Nick’s my boyfriend. I’m serious about him. I know you thought I’d marry Christi, but surprise!”

Nick smiled as he shook his head. “You’re crazy.”

“You like it.”

“I do...and you’re right. I don’t think it’s the right time.”

Bryce leaned forward and took possession of Nick’s mouth. He kissed him deep, wanting to keep Nick’s taste on his tongue all day. He grabbed his ass as Nick wrapped his arms around him.

“Bryce, you left the door open—What in the hell?” Bryce jerked away from Nick at the sound of his father’s voice. His heart beat so loud, he thought everyone in the room could hear it. He felt the tension rolling off Nick, but he didn’t have it in him to look at his lover. He couldn’t take his eyes off his dad.

His dad looked down, sort of covered his face like Bryce and Nick were still kissing. “Your mom...she wanted me to drop this off so you could see it before she gave it to Christi, but I can see...Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you?”

His dad didn’t hand him the scrapbook as he turned and walked out.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Fuck!” Bryce pushed around Nick and went out the door after his father. His pulse got faster and faster as the weight in his chest multiplied. This wasn’t how he wanted them to find out. “Dad, wait.”

His dad stopped when he reached his car, angry eyes shooting daggers. He didn’t think they would care—not really. He thought it would be an adjustment, but the fury on his father’s face was more than an adjustment.

“Will you ever take anything seriously? You’re thirty-two years old! You’re too old for shit like this, Bryce. Christi loves you. She’s a good goddamned girl and you’re cheating on her with...with a man? I didn’t raise you like this, son.” The anger in his expression slowly started to melt...into disappointment, which was even worse.

“I’m not cheating on Christi with him, pop.” Him. It was still something he had to get used to saying. Bryce was with a him now.

“It looked like it to me. You can’t tell me that you weren’t kissing that man. You can’t tell me that Christi would be okay with that.”

Looking at his father, the guilt began choking him, and it would only get worse. He hadn’t even confessed to his mom yet. That would be the most painful blow. “We’re not...Christi and I aren’t together anymore. We haven’t been together for months.”

As his normally calm father crossed his arms, he could see the anger was back. “What do you mean?”

“Can we go inside and talk?”

“No, Bryce. I’m not sure that we can. I need to know what the hell is going on here.”

Bryce took a deep breath and turned back toward the house. Nick stood there, waiting for him. He’d come over if Bryce wanted him to, would have his back and they’d stand together in this, but Bryce shook his head. Understanding, Nick nodded and went into his own house, disappointment clear in the slouch of his shoulders.

“Christi and I broke up a few months ago. I planned to tell you this weekend. I love her, but I’m not in love with her. She’s not in love with me, either. We both know we’re better as friends. But I didn’t want...hell, I didn’t want to disappoint you guys—Mom especially, so I haven’t said anything yet. And then Nick...”

“Is this something you’ve done before? Be with men?”

“No.” Bryce shook his head. “Just him. It just happened.”