Chapter 31

“This isn’t home, Dad. I don’t want to stay here.”

There. I’d said it. So why had it felt like a lie?

“I don’t believe you.”

“Well, it’s true.”

“Marty, losing your mom shouldn’t have affected you this much.”

I nearly gasped at his words. As it was, my eyes flew open and my jaw dropped. Dad rushed on, despite my shock.

“Lots of people lose their mothers. Mine died when I was twenty. It hurts, the pain digs down deep and settles there, but it does heal. If you let it.”

“Dad,” I said warningly.

“I don’t want you to keep running from the pain. Face it and let it go.”

“You’ve got it all wrong.”

“Do I?”

“Yes! Mom’s death did affect me. Of course it did. But that was only one of the many factors leading to my decisions.”

“Bein’ gay was one, I’m assuming.”

“Naturally,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You think I could have been happy here with the way most folks look at my lifestyle?”

“You might have been. Colten’s doing okay.”