Chapter 20
The trail they chose led to a tree-lined clearing with a stream, some picnic tables, and a grassy area that Heath could tell Sheila was itching to run around in. She’d been a trouper, but she’d given up trotting along with them and had ended up in her little backpack long ago.
“Hey, this is pretty.” Heath dropped his own backpack on one of the tables.
“It is. It’s chilly, but not bitter cold. I like it.” Parker sat on the edge of the picnic table, glancing around. “It’s not as pretty as home, but it’s nice.”
“The sun is nice.” Heath took Sheila out of the backpack and strapped on her leash. “Let’s run, girl.”
“Oh my God. Aren’t you cute with her?” Parker beamed at them and hopped down.
He grinned at Parker and took off for the clearing at a brisk walk, Sheila trotting along with him. “Run, run, run!” He laughed, watching Sheila’s little legs go a mile a minute.
Parker was cackling, his joy ringing out.
This had been the right idea. The worried lines around Parker’s mouth had eased.
He hadn’t ever seen anything like what happened at Parker’s mother’s house. He’d never met anyone like that woman. That much hatred for someone she gave birth to was impossible for him to understand.
Especially talking about Parker, who was maybe the kindest person he’d ever been involved with. Parker made him smile without trying.
Parker knocked their shoulders together. “I hate being somewhere I can’t kiss you.”
Heath gave him a confused look and wandered back toward him. “Why can’t you kiss me? You won’t embarrass Sheila; she watched us fuck last night.”
“This isn’t a safe place, love. We’re not in gay-friendly territory.”
He hated that they had to consider things like that everywhere they went. He looked around and stepped in close to Parker. “There’s no one here but us, babe.”
“In that case.” Parker kissed him, the act soft and so sweet.
“Mm.” If it wasn’t so chilly he’d like to lay out a blanket in the grass and soak up some sun with his man. “See? We survived.”
“We did. I…thank you, huh? Seriously.”
He nodded. “We had to get out of our heads, you know? Breathe some good air. See some good sky.”
“Yes. I needed to…restart.”
“That’s what we’re doing. That’s what this whole trip is about. Restarting together. You, me and Sheila. We’re going home where people love you.” He grinned. “With added snow.”
“Bonus snow! My favorite!” Parker cackled, rolled his eyes. “So much more fun than making giant mudmen…”
“Oh, mudmen. Sounds like a blast.” He took a quick kiss, and Sheila started nipping at his heels. “Oh, she’s feeling left out.”
Parker scooped her up, nuzzling her as she wagged furiously, her entire backside wiggling.
He walked along the little brook that went through the area and crouched to feel the water. “Cold. Wow.”
“Yeah, it may not snow much, but that water’s got to be bitter.”
“Clear though. Nice.”
“There are decent things about this part of the country. It’s easy to demonize it.”
He wandered back to Parker, feeling free and daring. “I think I want to blow you up here. Pick a tree to duck behind.”
“What?” Parker shook his head, looking around. “No, lover, we can’t. We can get arrested or worse. Come to the trailer, and we can do it, but it’s not safe.”
“No? I’m a lawyer.” He winked. “There is no one here, babe. No one.”
“You’re my lawyer-jack.” Parker took his hand, squeezed it. “And I need to protect you.”
“We need to be back in Vermont. When no one is around up there, no one is going to be around.” He snorted. “Raincheck then.”
“We do.” Parker smiled at him, the expression wry. “This isn’t a friendly place, lover. I wish it was, but wishing doesn’t make it so.”
“It’s as beautiful as it is disappointing.” He rolled his eyes. “Granola bar?”
“Please. At least I’m not disappointing, right?”
“Never. Not one time since I met you.” He handed one over and got one out for himself, and a treat for Sheila.
“Thanks. I can’t imagine being disappointed in you.”
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll figure out some way eventually.” He grinned and took a big bite of his granola bar.
“No, I don’t think so. I think that we’re okay.” Parker looked down and looked up again, stopping, kind of waving his granola bar around. “I know it hasn’t been very long. I know that. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. You’re my person, and I’m gonna do right by you.”
Heath took a deep breath and nodded. That should probably scare him, but it didn’t. He probably should be getting slow-down vibes, but he wasn’t getting those either. “I’m going to take care of you, Parker. Like the precious, amazing, beautiful person you are. I know how lucky I am.”
Parker took his hand and squeezed it. “Know that our first New Year’s Eve isn’t going to be our last. I’m a cowboy. I’m a loyal man. And when I say in twenty years we’ll be having our twentieth Happy New Year kiss, I mean it.”
He stared into Parker’s eyes, feeling breathless, feeling like his heart was going to beat right out of chest. Or shake him to bits. Or just explode. There was really only one thing to say to that.
“Okay. I do.”