Page 86 of Stick By Me

I sank in next to Leo, setting my backpack on the floor and resting my hand over his on the arm rest, then gazed out the wall of windows facing the tarmac and the taxiing planes in the early afternoon sunshine. The rain from yesterday was long gone. “Yeah, it’s got to be a relief on some level, right?” My phone buzzed in the pocket of my puffy down jacket, and I slipped it out. Uncle Tad scrolled across the screen. “Shit.” I started the call. “Is Dad okay?”

“For now. They’re putting him into surgery in the morning. What time will you be here?”

“Uh,weshould be there around ten tonight. I’m bringing my boyfriend.” I held my breath. Dad would have told him about me, right?

Leo snatched my hand, his gaze affixed to me.

Uncle Tad huffed. “Oh, yeah. I heard you were queer, but I didn’t know?—”

“Yeah, I have a boyfriend now and I wanted him with me.” And I didn’t give a fuck what anyone thought about it. “Why hasn’t Dad called me?” I lifted my chin. It was time for answers, now that the initial shock had worn off.

“He’s on a ventilator. He can’t.” Uncle Tad scoffed. “Oh, sorry. I guess I thought I’d told you that already.”

“No, and I was too shocked to ask.” I leaned into Leo’s side and said, “Do you know he hasn’t spoken to me for months?” I clenched my jaw for a beat, my gut curling in on itself. Maybe it would be better to have this conversation in person, but I had to know what I was walking into.

“Yeah, I know. I also know about the message you left him.” He sucked in a quick breath. “Archer, we need to talk when you get here.”

I cut my gaze to the carpet under our chairs, then worried my lower lip. “Yeah, okay.” I gathered my strength. “Just tell me this. Is he really so angry at me for hanging up on him that he didn’t want to talk to me?”

Leo squeezed my hand and pressed my knuckles to his soft, warm mouth, his forehead creasing.

“No, why the hell would you think that?” He tutted. “Just…we’ll talk when you get here. I’m picking you up from the airport, so text me your flight info.”

“Yeah, sure.” Rubbing a groove into the armrest between me and Leo, I said, “See you soon, Unc.”

“Take care of yourself. Your Dad has a good doc who workedat Ceders Sinai before coming here to cold ass Minnesota. He’s in good hands.”

“Thanks. You take care of him, too, until I get there.” I glanced at Leo while I ended the call.

“And I’ll take care of you.” Leo pressed a quick kiss on the tip of my nose, then gave me a sweet grin.

We grabbedour luggage from the carousel at baggage claim under the stark lights and I gazed out the windows toward the pick-up lanes. It was late here, but there were still plenty of cars driving slowly by. “Let’s go. He’ll get us at the curb.” I tagged Leo’s arm.

“Sure. What sort of vehicle are we looking for?” Leo rolled his suitcase behind him as he strolled next to me over an old linoleum floor.

“A nice Ford truck. Uncle Tad owns a construction company, and he does pretty well for himself.” As I walked through the glass doors and into the cold night air, the scent of trees and home hit me full force. “Damn, haven’t been here since August.” Snowflakes floated in the air around us.

“Look, it’s snowing.” Leo stuck his tongue out. “Think I can catch one?” He gave me a swift side hug, then darted his head around trying to catch one.

“Stop it, you look like you’re from the desert.” I chuckled. He was cute and trying to take my mind off shit.

“I am from the desert. The only time I see snow is when I go up North to the mountains.” He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself and his black North Face jacket. “Fuck, it’s cold.”

Dipping my head with a grin, I said, “This is nothing. If it’s snowing, it’s actually warmer than it could be for this time of year.”He might freeze before I get him into Uncle Tad’s truck. Which, where is he?I scanned the line of cars headed our way andstopped on some headlights peeking out above the other cars. “I bet that’s him.” I pointed at the vehicle.

“Oh, good.” Leo’s teeth chattered. “It’s seriously cold out here.”

“Maybe we’ll see if we can find you a warmer jacket at the house.” Dad had fucking parkas tucked away in closets there that would make an Eskimo proud. I grabbed Leo’s cold hand. “And gloves.” I kissed his knuckles.

Uncle Tad pulled up in his massive white truck with the super extended cab and jumped out, then jogged to us, the collar of his thick winter coat hiked up to the bottom of his graying hair. “Archer, so good to see you.” He gave me a tight hug, then turned his gaze on Leo with a smile that wrinkled around his blue eyes. He held out his hand. “And you’re the boyfriend.”

“I am. Name’s Leo.” Leo shook his hand.

“Damn, son. You look like you’re freezing to death.” He patted Leo on the shoulder. “Get up into the truck and I’ll take your luggage. The heater’s on and even the seats are heated.” He snatched Leo’s suitcase and tossed it into the back of the truck.

I threw my suitcase in behind Leo’s, eyeing my uncle for any signs of intolerance.

He leaned in toward me. “Those Arizona boys are kinda fragile in the cold weather, huh?” With a cackle, he slapped my arm.

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