Page 102 of All Roads Lead to You

“Hey, Dad.”

“Are you alright, son?”

“I’m doing okay. I thought I’d call before you and Mia hit the road. We’re on schedule.”

“It’s just me going. Mia and Hannah are staying behind. She’s over at the McKnights, feeding them and making sure they’re cared for.”

God, she was so fucking nice. Mia barely knew them and went out of her way for Hunter and his family. “Will you tell her thank you for me?”

“I will. I’m so glad you called because I’m leaving first thing in the morning, and I’ll be staying at the Holiday Inn in Stanford. Just meet me over there when you arrive.”

“Sounds good.”

“Are you and Nick still doing okay? Getting along?”

“Yeah, we’re doing really good.”

“Excellent. I know I don’t say this enough, but I’m so proud of you. Getting into Berkeley is hard to do, and doing right by your stepbrother is good for you both. You’re an amazing young man.”

My stomach fluttered with unease. Would he still be saying that when he learned about Nick and me? Would I get the guts to even come out to my dad?

Fuck, I almost blurted it right there that I was gay, but it was disrespectful to tell him over the phone. Maybe when we saw each other.

“Thanks, Dad. I gotta run if we want to make it to Lake Tahoe before it gets dark.”

“Okay, be safe, and I love you.”

“Love you.”

I hung up, headed back to Nick, and climbed into the car where he was waiting for me, still filling up.

“Everything good?” he asked.

“Yeah, but we’re just meeting Dad. Your mom stayed behind to help out with Hunter and his family.”

“Mom’s awesome like that.”

“She really is. I wish I appreciated her more.”

Nick nudged me with his elbow. “Hey, none of that. You’ll make it up to her when you see her again. She loves you.”

I nodded. “I know.”

I yawned as I drove onto the campgrounds at D.L. Bliss State Park on the California side of Lake Tahoe. The area was thick with the tallest pines I’d ever seen.

“No skinny dipping,” I said while I looked for our lot number.

“You’re no fun at all, Logan Conrad.”

I chuckled. “Seriously, this place has way too many campers, plus there’s a busy, sandy beach. We’re going to shock them.”

“Let them be shocked. They’ll have a story for when they get home.”

“Think of the children, Nick.”

“Fine! I’ll behave for the kids.”

“Maybe we can find a secluded spot to swim, but we’ll lose our nuts in the cold water.”

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