Page 138 of In Plain Sight

“I’m good. Can we sit?” I pointed to the living room.

She nodded.

When we were settled on the couch, I turned to face her. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

She kept quiet, but her expression said she was listening.

“I have no idea how to start this conversation,” I admitted. “So instead of finding a subtle way to bring it up, I’m just going to say it.”

“Okay,” she encouraged when I fell silent.

“Actually, there’s two things. Both aren’t easy to talk about. Or bring up.”

“Luka,” she interrupted before I could start babbling. “Are you in trouble?”

“What? No.” I shook my head. “It’s nothing like that. It’s… I’m seeing someone. Like dating.”

She looked confused for a second but then smiled brightly. “You are?”

“Yeah.” I rubbed my hand against my jeans nervously.

“That’s wonderful. Tell me about her.”

My chest tightened. “That’s the thing. I’m not dating a woman.”

Confusion clouded her features again, but it quickly melted away, leaving a look of understanding. “You’re dating a man?”

I nodded, my breath catching and the world going a little shimmery as my nerves seemed to hit a crescendo.

“That’s wonderful,” she repeated, smiling just as brightly as before. “Tell me about him.”

“Really?” I blurted out.

That was it?

“What?” She looked confused.

“I just…” I shook my head as a mess of emotions came crashing down on me.

“Luka.” She reached over and put her hand over mine. “I didn’t know for sure, but I’ve suspected that you might be interested in men for a while now.”

My jaw dropped as the world shifted under me. She knew?

“How?”

“You had a friend when you were younger, Danny Swanson.”

I gaped at her. This was the second time hearing his name in as many days.

“I saw the way you used to look at him. And how devastated you were when he stopped coming around. You weren’t just sad or upset about losing a friend. You were heartbroken.”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

“It wasn’t my place. I wanted you to figure out who you are without any interference from me. All I could do was try to be supportive and wait until you were ready to tell me.”

“Jesus Christ.” I raked a hand through my hair to try and dispel some of my nervous energy. “First Jade, now you.” I paused as a thought dawned on me. “Did Dad know?”

“We both suspected it could be a possibility.”

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