Page 47 of Noah

"I'm a volunteer at the Rainbow LGBTQ Youth Centre."

"Oh, my … that is exciting."

"I'm going to help a boy on the spectrum. I lent him my emotion cards."

"I didn't know you still had those. That was very kind of you."

"It made me feel happy."

"That's all I've ever wanted for you."

Moving on. "I met a man."

"Oh?"

"His name is Noah … and he's incredible."

My mom was silent. I knew what she was thinking. "Are you taking it slow?"

"I've known him for weeks and we kissed for the first time last weekend."

"He knows you're on the spectrum?"

"Yes, and he accepts me for who I am. It's like he's known me for years. He knows when to back off and let me regroup. He never pushes me."

"So, he treats you well?"

"He's not like Ricky, Mom. Noah is different."

"I believe you. I'm sorry I'm so protective, Brody. I know you're a grown man."

"I don't mind you being protective."

"Do I get to meet him soon?"

"Not yet. He's not my boyfriend."

"Is that what you want? To be his boyfriend?"

That very thought had been gnawing at me. I didn't want to screw this up, what Noah and I were doing. Having a boyfriend meant sex and I wasn't ready for that with him yet. It wouldn't just be sex like all the men I'd been with. When Noah and I were intimate for the first time, it would mean something significant to both of us. I was sure of it.

"We're working toward it."

"I'm glad you're taking your time. You just jumped in with Ricky before you even knew him very well. I hated what that did to you, his deception and his cheating."

"It's not going to happen again."

"You're positive this Noah is a good man."

"The best. He's a bit hard on himself, though. Doesn't realize how special he is."

"If that's how you feel, you just keep on telling him."

"The words rarely get stuck when I'm with him."

"That's a good sign. It means you're starting to trust him."

I frowned. I didn't like to talk about trust with my mom. She and my dad had broken my trust in them many years ago. It had taken a long time to forgive them. My dad moreso. His lies were so much worse than my mom's. Trust had rebuilt with my mom but not him. Never him.

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