Page 118 of Role Model

“Raise your hand if you think Harris did it,” Anna said.

Anna, Mike, Margot, Dad, Mom, and, reluctantly, Margot’s quiet husband, Josh, raised their hands. Harris turned his head to share a can you believe these people look with Troy, and saw that he’d raised his hand too. Harris shoved him, which made Troy and everyone else laugh.

“The way you’re all willing to gang up on a young man with a heart condition,” Harris said with mock affront. “Unbelievable.”

“You can’t play the heart card this time, buddy,” Anna said. “Your heart was working fine when you shoved a skunk in the truck.”

Harris laughed. He’d always appreciated the way Anna, especially, was able to joke about his condition. He was happy to see, when he glanced around the table, that his parents were laughing too.

“So, back to work tomorrow, boys?” Dad asked.

“Yep,” Troy said. “Kind of a brutal schedule this month.”

“You guys head to St. Louis tomorrow, don’t you?” Mike asked.

“Yeah.”

“Is getting on a plane hard?” Margot asked. “After the whole...thing?”

“It’s getting easier. Just have to keep doing it until we feel normal about it again, I guess.”

Harris was certainly glad he didn’t have to get on a plane again for a while, but he would miss Troy when he was gone. The Centaurs had three road trips this month.

“Well,” Mom said, leaning back in her chair, “that was an excellent pie, Harris.”

There were murmurs of agreement all around. Troy said, “I still can’t believe you made that.”

“Dude, you watched me make it.”

“I know. Still seems like magic.”

“Aw,” Anna said. “He thinks every little thing you do is magic, Harris.”

Troy turned redder than any apple Harris had ever seen.

They stayed long enough to help clean up, and then Troy loaded a few gifted cases of cider and a giant bag of apples into Harris’s truck. When Harris walked outside, he found Troy staring into the rear part of the cab.

“What’s up?” Harris asked.

“I’m checking for skunks.”

Harris laughed. “I do that every time.”

Troy knew he was being quiet during the drive back into the city, but he had too many things in his head. Being at the farm, among Harris’s warm, loving family, had been almost too much. Especially since they had all known that Troy was dating their son. They’d been so welcoming, treating him like he was part of the family. Troy had never experienced anything like it.

“So,” Harris asked. “Did you have an okay time?”

He sounded nervous, so Troy shook himself out of his thoughts. “Your family is awesome. I had a great time. Thank you for inviting me.”

Harris smiled and looked relieved. “You’re welcome anytime. We have dinner together most Sundays. They loved you.”

“You think?”

“Definitely.”

The other thing Troy was contemplating was what it would take to keep this thing with Harris. What he would need to give up in exchange for unlimited Sunday dinners and cozy mornings. Unlimited kisses and sex that was both hot and fun. He needed to stop hiding.

“I want to come out,” Troy said. “Like, all the way out. Maybe on Instagram or something.”

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