Page 63 of Awakening the Sheriff

I studied him, this man that had once been my baby brother, a bonus brother after being an only child until I was a teenager. His blue eyes were happy and bright under his carefully applied eyeliner. He was my opposite in almost every way, though we bore some resemblance in our eyes and faces. But he was as sparkling and fabulous as I was serious and sober, and I loved how comfortable he felt in his body and his identity. Maybe he was one reason I had no issues facing my new identity. After all, he’d shown me how to be yourself all his life.

I hugged him from behind, putting my head on his. “I’m proud of you. Just wanted you to know that. You’re an inspiration.”

He froze for a moment, then leaned into my embrace. “Thank you. Are you okay? You sound a little off.”

I sighed, then kissed his head and let go. “More okay than I’ve been in a long time, but you’ll find out in a few minutes.”

My mom and dad were setting the dining room table, their movements in sync from years of practice. The love radiated between them, and it warmed my heart to see them so content together. Technically, Cora was my stepmom. She hadn’t come into my life until I’d been a teenager, having lost my mom to cancer when I was only ten. But she was an amazing woman, and she’d stepped into the role of my mom. After Ennio was born, I’d started calling her mom too, and it had felt right. I had been blessed enough to have two moms, and if they’d ever met each other, they would’ve been best friends.

“Hi, Dad.” I hugged my father, maybe a little more tightly than I’d have otherwise. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you, son. You okay?”

This man saw so much, his instincts finely honed after a lifetime of being a sheriff. “Yeah, Dad. Better than ever.”

I kissed my mom on her cheek. “You look pretty today, Mom. New dress?”

“It is, and thank you. Ennio got it for me.”

“Dinner’s ready!” Ennio called from the kitchen, and I helped him bring everything to the table, including his homemade garlic bread. My breath would reek for days, but it would be worth it.

“What’s your big news?” Ennis asked as soon as we’d all filled our plates. My sweet brother had never possessed an ounce of patience.

And here we went again. Round three. “I wanted to tell you all something. I’ve started seeing Keaton Perry, the new English teacher at the high school. He’s a single dad with two teenage sons, and we’ve really connected over the last few weeks. It’s all new, but we’re very serious.”

My parents exchanged surprised glances but quickly recovered, smiling warmly.

“Congratulations, son. We’re happy for you.” Dad reached out and gave me a firm pat on the shoulder.

“Keaton, huh? He sounds lovely.” Mom hugged me tightly. “We look forward to meeting him.”

Ennio beamed, clapping his hands. “This is fantastic, Auden! You deserve to be happy again. When do we get to meet this mysterious Mr. Perry?”

“Hopefully soon.” Excitement fluttered in my chest at the thought of introducing Keaton to my family. They would love him, I had no doubt. And during the entire meal, as they peppered me with questions about Keaton, how we’d met, and what we’d done together so far, they never, ever asked how I had ended up with a man after a lifetime of being straight.

When I got ready for bed that night, my girls asleep on the couch after watching movies all night, gratitude filled my heart. Everyone had been so supportive, but I hadn’t expected to be this emotional. I hadn’t realized how many people had noticed my unhappiness until today. It was both humbling and terrifying to see I’d been fooling myself for so long. But now that I’d confronted my demons, I felt freer than ever. I’d texted Keaton with an enthusiastic update, and he’d replied how happy he was for me.

As I lay in bed, all I could think of was him, the man who had unwittingly turned my world upside down. I couldn’t wait to see where our journey would take us. Just before I fell asleep, a thought hit me. Keaton had never told me how his conversations had gone.

And I hadn’t asked.

22

KEATON

Ihadn’t been offended that Auden hadn’t asked me how my talk with my boys had gone. I’d been relieved. It had given me a reprieve, a postponement of the inevitable pity I would see on his face.

His family had all reacted well. Even though I had expected that, it still stung. Not for him. Gosh, no. I was beyond happy that he didn’t have to deal with the same kind of vitriol I had…and that coming from my son, of all people. But it put things into perspective so sharply. He was a lucky man, and I hoped he knew it.

He had asked the day after, and I’d given him a watered-down summary of my fight with Byron, though I hadn’t fooled him. Auden saw much more than I preferred under certain circumstances, though that was also one of the things that attracted me to him. A true dichotomy.

But he’d offered empathy, not pity, and for that, I had been grateful. He and I had worked through enough heavy conversations already. We deserved to have some fun as well. And that was on the schedule for tonight.

Milton was at a sleepover with his new best friend, Jay, and Auden’s kids were with Tricia, so it was him and me at his place. Byron was home alone. I should probably be worried about that, about all the trouble he could get into, but I didn’t have the spoons for it. I needed some time alone with Auden, and if I’d interpreted the signals correctly, he and I were on the same page for later.

Sex.

On the drive back from our date, we’d discussed how precious few moments we’d have to ourselves. I wasn’t inclined to postpone having sex anyway, as sexual compatibility mattered a lot to me, and I didn’t care much about that whole “waiting with sex till you know each other better” concept. Sex was to be enjoyed, whether with someone you’d never see again or with your lifetime partner. In neither case should it be something to feel dirty about.

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