Page 79 of Sass in the Grass

“I know. I’m really scared.”

Cherokee picked him up in his arms again and started for the cabin. “We need some of that talking you hate.”

Jovian’s tears were flowing freely by the time he was set on the sofa, and Cherokee kneeled in front of him. “Jovian, we’re datingright now, and that will not change when camp is over. I’ll come to see you, you come see me. I’ve no intention of losing you.”

“I’ll miss you so much. I’ll miss all of this.”

Maybe more than you know. They got the word, Jovian. The bank will not wait another month. They’re selling it to the church camp next week, if we don’t come up with the money. They’re being good enough to let us get our campers and stuff out before they take hold of it.”

Jovian’s tears ran faster. “No! That can’t be!”

“It is baby. I was going to tell you in the morning. I have some money, but it’s not enough. None of us have enough. I’m afraid, well, we’re done for. But that doesn’t mean that we are, you and me. We’re okay. I’ll be here. I’ll always be here.”

They lay on the bed together, and for once, neither of them had sex on their minds. He was the little spoon, and his daddy was holding him, talking to him sweetly, kissing his ear, his neck.

“Baby, being with you has made me happier than I may have ever been. You’ve done a lot for me, and you don’t even know it.”

Jovian couldn’t think about being with Cherokee. Not when they were losing their camp. “I was very mean to True and Bernie. I feel so bad for that now.”

“Well, you’ve turned it around, baby. They’ve seen it.”

“How? I mean, I’m not so mean anymore, even though I never even knew I was mean. How am I different?”

“For one thing, you’re paying attention to my class. You made a basket and only complained once.”

“Three times. I just didn’t complain really loudly.”

“Fine,” he said with a chuckle. “Three times. You’ve been naked in a lake and didn’t keel over dead from disgust.”

Jovian had to laugh. “Fine. I guess I’m better.”

“Yeah. You know, you don’t need a huge gesture, no fireworks to show you’re trying, Jovian. You just try.”

He hadn’t heard a thing after Cherokee said big gesture. His mind spun, and as soon as he heard Cherokee’s gentle snoring, he got out of the bed, left the bedroom and paced the cabin.

“Big gesture. From a big place to make big money,” he said to the quiet. “Saving the camp, it would make them all happy, including Alan, Mike and Kathy. Cherokee would be so happy, and True and Bernie would finally know they’d know I did well. That I do care.”

He checked the phone that he’d left on the coffee table, and there were enough bars to make a call. It was just before midnight, so he called Chaps and asked for Gary.

The noise in the background made it hard for Gary to hear, so Jovian sneaked out the back of the house to not wake Cherokee.

“Gary, I need to talk to the owner!”

“The owner? Why?” He was shouting, but it quieted, and Jovian figured he’d moved to the storage behind the bar. “You’re lucky I have help tonight in the main bar. What the hell, Jovian?”

“Gary, I don’t know if your brother has told you anything about the camp being in trouble, but…but I want to help. I think, maybe, if the owner would okay it, and if we could get some big names, maybe we could do a charity thing there.”

“Is this really Jovian I’m speaking to?”

“Yes, I know. I’m thinking of other people now, shocker, right?” he drawled. “You can faint later. For now, I really need to speak to him.”

“He’s out of town, Jovian, and he turns off his phone when he is. He’s with his boyfriends.”

His heart dropping, Jovian whined, “When will he be back?”

“Maybe in two weeks, if their vacation doesn’t run long. He’s not a hands-on owner.”

“The manager, maybe?”

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