Page 22 of Promised Secret
I was honestly surprised how often I’d get called out to settle a minor dispute between disgruntled people who were just too stubborn to compromise.
It wasn’t what I expected, but I didn’t hate it. I liked helping people solve issues before they spiraled out ofcontrol and a fight broke out. It was my way of keeping my town safe.
“I did,” I replied to my mom as I waved goodnight to my coworkers and left the station. “I figured I’d do my part for the community.”
“That’s lovely to hear, but make sure you’re not pushing yourself, okay?”
“I’ll take care of myself,” I assured her.
The worry was obvious in her voice. I wanted to hide the extent my so-called father used to abuse me, but Mom was a lot more intuitive than I gave her credit for.
She’d seen how I became more touch averse over the years, and I wondered if she knew it was because I couldn’t stop imagining the flash ofhishands coming toward me when someone reached out to me.
Mom tried getting me to go to therapy more than once, but I didn’t see the point in talking about my feelings. I’d rather use that time to hang out with Dan.
I turned the corner and bumped into a kid who was chasing a flyaway balloon. I scooped the kid up before he could fall on his ass and snatched the balloon string with my other hand and handed it to the kid. He giggled and threw his tiny arms around my neck to thank me.
See? I was fine. I didn’t even so much as flinch away from the kid.
A woman—his mom, probably—came running over and scolded the kid for running off without her. She took the kid back, thanking me as she continued to fret over her child.
“Is everything okay there, Clay?” Mom prompted.
The kid just giggled and waved at me as his mom carried them back to where the rest of their family waited for them. I waved back.
“Yeah, just some kid who was chasing after his balloon,” I told her, and continued my way to the clinic.
Mom went silent for a beat before saying, “You know, since you’re going to be at the fair already…”
“What?” I asked when she didn’t continue.
I could just imagine her chewing on her lip and stewing over her words. “You know I have a friend in the next town over whose neighbor has a daughter around your age.”
“Mom, no.”
I quickly shut that down, but she didn’t give up either.
“She’ll be working at one of the booths at the fair, Clay. Just a quick meeting is all I ask. You’ll both be at the fair anyway,” she pleaded.
“Not interested,” I said curtly.
I didn’t hear a sigh, but I knew she wanted to.
“But you can?—”
“Mom, we’re not having this conversation again. As I told you before, I’ll find someone when the time is right.”
“You don’t even date, Clay. Your stepbrother, I hear all about the people he’s seeing, but you? Nothing. I don’t hear about anyone by your side. No woman…or man…”
She said the last part probingly, the question clear in her voice.
“Jesus, Mom. Do you think I’m, what, gay? Bi? And I just never bothered to tell you about it?” I told her.
I’d never been attracted to a guy, but if that attraction ever appeared, I wouldn’t be afraid to admit it. I knew Mom and Victor wouldn’t care. They fully supported Dan when he came out as bi.
I just wasn’t attracted to men in that way.
My mind decided now was the right moment to bring up the memory of the time I got an erection kissing Dan. I blamed it on the alcohol, and Dan for being a damn good kisser.
