Chapter 54

It wasn’t about being gay at all.

I’ve loved that kid since before he was even born. Nothing’s going to change that—but everyone’s acting like I’ve got to be some kind of monster and…

He flinches when I walk in the room, Ness.

Shane swallowed against a sudden pain in his throat, and brushed the back of his nail down the last email as he read it.

Jesus, Ness. Help me. Or tell me someone who can because I feel like I’m losing my son here, and I don’t know how to stop it.

The stairs creaked.

Shane slid the emails across the table and stared blindly at them for a minute before taking a deep breath and getting up, needing precious seconds to compose himself. By the time the shadow fell in the open doorway, he was pouring himself a glass of orange juice, and the pain in his throat had subsided a little.

“You, uh,” Dad said, “read those?”

“Yeah,” Shane said.