Page 52 of Tide Over

And my heart thunders.

Fuck.I hate that I feel nervous and on edge in front of my own family. This is exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid by ignoring my own needs and pushing everything down. The fear that they won’t accept me, and that I’ll never be able to be myself around them if they knew I was gay.

Even though Iknowthat’s not true, and I know that won’t happen. But I can’t stop those thoughts from creeping in, whisperingwhat if. What if I lose everything I love?

“Hi!” Mom greets us brightly, placing rolls into a basket. “You’re just in time. Dinner’s almost ready. Busy day?”

“Yeah,” I say, trying to shake off those feelings as I sit on the couch across from Grandpa and Isla. “Just some storm cleanup around town.”

Liam sits beside me, his posture stiff as he nods a greeting at Grandpa.

“I was talking to Marie today,” Grandpa says, his gaze flicking between Liam and me. “She mentioned you two were out there clearing that old dead tree that fell on her fence. The windreally did a number on it.” He smirks at Liam. “Theo’s putting you to work now, eh?”

I scoff, shaking my head, while Liam chuckles softly. “He offered,” I say.

Grandpa smiles and winks at Liam. “Good man.”

Heather looks up from the salad she’s making in the kitchen. “Mason still outside?”

“Yeah,” I say, glancing out the window at him as he fills his bucket with dirt. “Hope you brought extra clothes.”

She sighs loudly. “Always,” she mutters.

Chris appears before us, handing us each a beer.

“How was the rig?” he asks Liam.

Liam takes the bottle and looks up at him. “It was good. A lot of work.”

“I bet,” Chris says, sitting down on the couch next to Isla. “You must do a lot of gas tungsten arc welding out there.”

Liam perks up and eyes him curiously. “Yeah, I do. Are you…?”

Chris chuckles. “Not a welder, no. My uncle is, though. He’s retired now, but he worked in the mines. He’s a talker, so while I don’t know much, I’ve picked up more about welding than any accountant probably should.”

Liam smiles, his tension immediately easing. “Welding in the mines, that’s quite a job.”

Chris nods and takes a sip of his beer, relaxing into the couch as Isla dramatically flips the page in her book. She gives him a pointed look and they share a silent exchange before he sighs, shifting further down the couch.

“Yeah,” Chris continues, nodding at Liam. “He’s got some crazy stories. I don't think I could ever work underground.” He pauses, eyeing Liam with a smirk. “Or underwater.”

Liam chuckles. “Luckily I don’t have to dive too often.”

Chris cocks an eyebrow at him. “Once would be too many times for me.”

I sit back, letting them settle into their conversation about welding, feeling a quiet relief as Liam visibly relaxes. He looks comfortable and at ease talking with Chris, and Grandpa whenever Isla allows him to take a break from their reading.

Eventually, I slip away to the kitchen to join Mom and Heather as they begin setting the table.

Mom smiles as I grab a stack of plates. “Did you manage to get everything done today?”

I shrug. “Kind of. I have a lot of jobs piled up that I need to get to. But I got to everyone that needed help today.”

She reaches out and squeezes my arm. “Thanks for doing that. I know they all appreciate it.”

I grab a cherry tomato off the counter and pop it into my mouth. “They better.”

She chuckles and swats me with her dish towel, pulling a laugh out of me as well.

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