when he and Carrie had divorced, but at least Nate and Laura still had a relationship with their grandparents. “So Levi’s grandmother raised him?”
Finn nodded. “She became the mom he needed. Which got tougher when his grandfather died, not long after Levi was born. Levi said it was his grandfather’s heart condition that killed him. I’m not so sure.”
“No wonder you hold her in such high regard. It sounds like you saw a lot of her when you were growing up.”
Finn smiled. “I spent most of my time at Levi’s house. I guess we’re more like brothers than friends. Except… I’d never take my brother to a gay bar.” He chuckled. “You should have seen us. Our first time… We were so nervous.”
“It couldn’t have been that long ago. How old are you now?”
“Twenty-five, almost twenty-six. And yeah, we waited until we were twenty-one.”
“Does Grammy know? That Levi is gay, I mean.”
Finn laughed. “Try keeping anything secret from Grammy. He came out to her when he was sixteen—he’d known for much longer, but it took him that long to get up enough courage. Grammy just took it in stride, like she did with everything.”
Joel stroked Bramble’s head. “I envy him that. There was no way I could ever have shared that with my parents. Or even gone to a gay bar.”
“But I bet you’ve made up for it since,” Finn said with a smile.
“Actually? I’ve never been to one.” He nodded when Finn gaped at him. “I would never have gone to one while I was married, and since I moved out, I just haven’t found the time.”
“Haven’t found the—what you really mean is, you’re nervous about it.”
“You don’t miss much, do you?”
Finn’s eyes were warm. “I guess I’m getting to know you.”
Joel liked the sound of that. “You’re right, of course. It’s been on my to-do list, but to be honest, I put all my efforts into finding a place to live, keeping up with my clients, finding new ones… I kind of pushed it onto the backburner.”
Finn leaned back in his chair, his legs stretched out in front of him, his hands clasped on his stomach. “I have an idea,” he said slowly.
Joel chuckled. “Ooh, why do I not like the sound of this?”
Finn’s eyes gleamed. “There’s a gay bar—except it’s really a nightclub—in Ogunquit that I think you’ll like. It’s called MaineStreet.”
Joel’s heartbeat raced. “I’ve driven past it a few times.” Yeah, more like a dozen.
“Then I think it’s high time you went inside.” That gleam was still evident. “What are you doing this Saturday night? Are the kids coming over again?”
Joel shook his head. “Not this weekend.”
Finn gave a satisfied smile. “In that case, how about you and I pay a visit to Ogunquit? It’s only a half-hour drive along route one, give or take.”
Joel’s heartbeat quickened.
“It’s one of a couple of gay bars in Ogunquit, but the other one is more of a restaurant. MaineStreet is where I go when I want to dance and have a good time.” He cocked his head to one side. “Do you dance, Joel?”
Joel swallowed. “Not for years. And I’m not sure how I’d feel about getting down on a dance floor surrounded by a bunch of guys in their twenties.”
Finn blinked. “How old are you? Forty-one, forty-two?”
Joel let out a wry chuckle. “I’m forty-two, but right now I feel like I’m eighteen all over again. And just as nervous.”
Finn beamed. “Trust me, you’ll see a whole range of guys at MaineStreet. Some are my age, true, but there are also guys your age.”
There was a lightness in his chest that Joel hadn’t experienced for a long time, not to mention a rush of adrenaline.
“I’m guessing you like the idea.”
Joel chuckled. “That obvious, huh? Right now I’m torn between two emotions. There’s an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach that I know is down to nerves. But there’s also impatience to discover something I’ve waited so long for.” Bramble let out a soft whine, and Joel rubbed his ears. “That was you saying, ‘I thought we were going on a walk, Daddy.’”
Finn laughed. “So you like my plan?”
“I love it—that doesn’t mean I’m not scared to death too.”
Finn reached across the table and laid his hand on Joel’s arm. “I’ll take care of you. Trust me.”
The sweet gesture almost undid him. “I believe you.” Joel took a deep breath. “Okay. Saturday night.” He shivered. “Jesus, I am so nervous. I don’t have a clue what I’m going