Page 70 of Lost Boy
Like I thought, it wasn’t hard to convince Joel to let Fallon come. He always wants to do what’s best for his nephew, so I assured him that having Fallon on the camping excursion would be good for him.
He knows we’ve become fast friends and that I genuinely care about his well-being. It needs to stay that way for now. Because besides being unsure how coming out would affect my basketball career, college career, and a possible shot at the NBA, I’m unsure how Joel would feel about me dating his nephew, specifically.
“Hey. You didn’t want a pic with the sign, did you?” I say to Fallon.
“Funny,” he deadpans.
“My bad. I can go back? For our future scrapbook.”
“Stop it.” His lip twitches.
Score. My charm is fucking irresistible.
“Because as soon as Sofie finds out we’re dating, we are one-hundred-and-ten percent getting a ‘Sofie Shipped It Scrapbook.’ And dude, you don’t even wanna know what that is.” I shudder at the glittery monstrosities she creates for her favorite fictional couples. I cannot even imagine what she’d create for the two of us.
“I think I’d like to see that, actually. Let’s go back. Get a photo.”
Is he for real?
“You’re shitting me.”
“I’m not. Turn around. Go back to the sign. Maybe someone will be there, and we can get one together.”
“Who are you, and what the fucking hell did you do with my broody little boyfriend?”
Fallon snorts. “Do not call me that.”
“What? My broody little boyfriend?” I glance over at him and catch his narrowed-eye glare before checking behind me and making a quick, illegal U-turn.
I chuckle, already pulling into the small parking lot at the entrance to the Acadia Nature Preserve. The monument sign is taller than I am by at least a foot, but Fallon hops onto the base and hoists himself up. I give him a boost with a hand under his ass and a quick squeeze for good measure.
“Ryder!” he whisper-shouts, flicking his head toward the family piling out of the red minivan that parked next to my truck. “Stop. Before I pop a boner.”
I snort at his comment. One little ass squeeze, and he’s fighting a hard-on. I fucking love how responsive he is to my touch. “Be careful up there, Blue. I’m gonna see if they’ll take a pic of us.”
I jog over to the family and ask the woman if she’d take our picture. She’s friendly enough but a little preoccupied with two fussy toddlers. “Rhett, come here!” she hollers into the van.
A fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy climbs out of the back with a Nintendo Switch. “Yeah, Mom?”
“Take a photo for this nice boy, please. I need to get your sisters’ snacks.” She digs through a giant tote bag and pulls out all kinds of crackers, cookies, and fruit pouches, making me hungry. My stomach growls loudly, and I instinctively place my hand over it.
It catches the woman’s attention, and she eyes me speculatively. “You hungry?”
I smile politely and nod enthusiastically. “Always, ma’am. It takes a lot to fuel a body this size.”
“I bet it does. Here. Hold this out.” She hands me an empty grocery bag, and I listen, holding it open like a kid on Halloween.
“Trick or treat,” I say with a big smile, and she chuckles, tossing in bags of fruit snacks, chips, little packs of crackers, and even some mini powdered donuts. She goes back to her van and opens a cooler, pulling out four grape juice boxes.
My favorite.
She drops those in my bag as well.
“Thank you so much, ma’am! Wow.” These are some good fucking snacks.
“You’re welcome, hun. Hopefully it holds you over for a little while. Wouldn’t want to get lost in the redwoods without any supplies. We just went into town for a snack run while the hubby stayed back to guard the fort. But anyway, make sure you boys stay safe.”
“You too. And thanks again for all the snacks.” I hold the grocery bag up in silent cheers.
