Page 113 of Role Model

Troy’s smile returned. He kissed Harris quickly and said, “I hope they have salmon.”

They did have salmon, and Troy ate his with gusto because he’d realized, as soon as their dinner had been delivered, that he was famished.

“Still not as good as chocolate cake,” Harris said, setting his empty plate on the end table. They were sitting on the sofa together, still wearing only bathrobes, and still enjoying the fire.

The champagne was gone.

“You’re wrong,” Troy said, “but good thing we got chocolate cake too.”

Troy let Harris feed him cake off his fork, which was something he would find revolting in other couples, but no one could see them now so he didn’t care. Besides, he had a pretty good buzz on from the champagne.

When they finished their dessert, Harris snuggled against him, and they watched the fire together. “What are you doing Sunday?” Harris asked.

“I have a practice in the morning, but nothing after that,” Troy said.

“Wanna come to the farm for dinner?”

Troy tensed. “With your family, you mean?”

“Of course,” Harris said, as if it wasn’t the biggest deal in the world. “They’d love you.”

This was...a lot. “What would we tell them? About us?”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with. They certainly won’t judge if we tell them we’re...whatever we are.”

“Really?” Troy couldn’t even imagine.

“They’ve always loved and accepted me. The worst they’ll do is embarrass me by being so thrilled that I’ve brought someone home.”

Troy relaxed a bit. “You don’t bring people home very often?”

“I invite friends for dinner sometimes, but not men I’m dating. Or, y’know. Whatever.”

They were both quiet a moment, and then Troy said, bravely, “Are we dating?”

Harris glanced up at him. “Kinda feels like it maybe.”

Troy smiled. “It does.” He was so wonderfully happy in that moment. If this was what dating Harris felt like, he wanted to keep doing it. Whatever it took. “You should tell your parents,” he said.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. But maybe tell them before Sunday? I’d rather it not be a whole thing.”

“I can do that. And it won’t be a big deal. Not to them. I promise. And they’ll keep it a secret, if I ask.”

Troy shifted so he could pull Harris more onto his lap. He wanted to see his face properly. “Maybe just for a bit. I said I wouldn’t make you hide, and I won’t. I need a little time to figure some stuff out, though.”

Harris studied his face, then smiled. “I need a little time to believe this is even real.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

The Drover family farm was even more absurdly picturesque and charming than Troy had imagined. The long road took them past snow-laden apple trees until they reached a perfect white farmhouse.

“Are you nervous?” Harris asked as they parked the truck.

“No,” Troy lied.

“Good. They’ll love you. Just wait.”

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