“I can’t believe you live on a farm. Do you get up early and feed the animals?”
“No, they’re not my animals.”
“You should get a cowboy hat. Every good farmer has one.” Vince grinned, and Holden did too.
“Shut up, asshole.”
“Why would I do that when it’s so fun to give you shit?” Vince’s gaze flittered toward the cabin. “There’s your sister. Oh shit, she looks like you.”
They looked like their dad. Holden had always hated that.
“Come on. She’s excited to meet you.” They climbed out of the car and went for the cabin as Marilee was making her way down the porch stairs.
Vince was great with people, great in social situations. He always had been. He never met a stranger. “Ms. Marilee, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He took her hand, and damned if his own sister didn’t blush over his friend—boyfriend. He frowned at himself.
“Oh, you’re a charmer, I see, but we hug around these parts.”
They laughed, and the two of them did just that.
“Where’s Sean?” Holden asked, prompting a grimace from his sister.
“He’s in a mood. I swear it changes from second to second with teenagers.”
Worry tugged at Holden’s insides. Yeah, teenagers were like that, but Sean had been so happy lately. “Well, let’s go inside. I’ll grab him.”
They went into the cabin, where Marilee poured glasses of sweet tea. She and Vince were already chatting up a storm, so Holden sneaked away, went to Sean’s room, and knocked softly. When he heard a grumbled, “Come in,” he did.
“Hey, man. What’s up?”
“Nothin’.” He was sitting on his bed with his football again.
“Vince is here. He’d like to meet you.”
“Well, no one asked me what I wanted. No one ever asks me what I want. Maybe I don’t want to meet him, or maybe I didn’t want Dad to leave, or for you to come stay with us.”
The words didn’t fully hit their target because Holden knew Sean was angry. It was easy to say things you didn’t mean when you were, but he also knew Sean did want his daddy around, and he remembered how much he hated feeling helpless as a kid—like nothing he said mattered.
“If you don’t want to meet him, I won’t make you. I know it seems like everything is out of your control, but there are many things you’ll always have a choice in. Just know that I’d like you to meet him. You’re one of the most important people in my life, and Vince is a very good friend of mine.” He didn’t plan the words to come out the way they had.
“He’s your boyfriend.”
Holden went over and sat on the bed. “Is that what this is about? Me being gay?” Holden didn’t hide his sexuality, and Marilee had said Sean knew even before they reconnected, but maybe it was one of those things like the folks in Harmony and how Roe said they sometimes conveniently forgot he was gay.
“What? No! I’m not a homophobe. I just…never mind. I’ll meet him.” He moved to get out of the bed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, fine. Whatever. I mean, he means a lot to you if he’s here.” Sean went over to the door and tugged it open.
With a sigh, Holden rose to his feet. This teenager business was hard as fuck. He had no idea what was going on half the time. Luckily, Vince worked his magic, and it didn’t take Sean long to warm up to him.
They spent the evening laughing and chatting. Holden ordered pizza, and they had dinner together. Around eight they said their goodbyes, he and Vince leaving for the hotel.
Roe’s truck still wasn’t there.
“They’re great, your family. I really like them.”
“Thanks. They liked you too, and yeah, they’re the best.”
“You wanna grab a drink somewhere?” Vince asked.
“Sure. I haven’t been to any bars yet. Can you look some up?”
They went to Boots and Brews, which was the only small bar in Harmony. It wasn’t really their style. They should have driven to Chelsea or Everett, which were both a little bigger, but they didn’t. They ordered beers, found a table in the corner, and caught up. The good part was, it wasn’t far from the hotel, so that’s where they’d parked.
Vince gave him updates on mutual friends and his work. Something was off about him, though Holden couldn’t put his finger exactly on what it was. Vince was a little quieter…a little more unsure than was typical for him.
They had a couple of beers, then went for a walk around Harmony before making their way back to the hotel.
“I’m going to take a shower. I feel gross after traveling. What time are we heading back to your sister’s tomorrow?”
“Depends on us. Roe said the plan is to have an early dinner, around five or so. We can do our own thing, or spend the day with Marilee and Sean. It’s up to you.”