or bed and breakfasts wouldn’t provide the privacy we sought. Everyone knew everyone in town, and Tomi was a known resident, despite having been gone for almost two decades. His father ran the local electronics store, and his brother was a recognizable public figure, representing Jasper on social media with his crazy stunts.
If people saw Tomi in town, word would get around.
If people saw Tomi in town and noticed me sneaking into his room on occasion, the gig would be up. Twice, I’d put some real consideration into letting him stay with me. The house was small and on a relatively quiet street, but I had far too many nosy neighbors. All it would take was one person to see I had company, and in a flash, they’d be camped outside my door, looking for gossip.
My single life was a favorite topic of discussion with some folks. I could only imagine what might happen if they learned I had someone staying with me and that someone was a man.
I needed somewhere remote where Tomi wouldn’t be stuck inside all summer, and I could safely come and go without the risk of being seen.
As I turned down a new street, a thought struck me, and I pulled off to the side of the road to examine it at all angles, unsure if it was safe or not. A group of teens wandering down the sidewalk startled at my presence, and their panic was clear as day as they picked up their pace and continued in the other direction. Nothing like a police presence to keep them on their toes.
I watched them for a minute to determine if they were trying to hide something. They rounded a bend toward the center of town. Deciding they weren’t causing a problem, I refocused on my idea.
Easton Campbell had built log cabins in remote locations on his property that he rented out to vacationers year-round. There were six in total if I remembered correctly. He’d taken me on a tour of one when they’d first been built last year. They were impressive and far from prying eyes and listening ears.
I wondered if he had any available over the summer months.
I tugged my phone out and connected a call to Easton. He was one of the few people with a spot on my speed dial since we’d had an ever-growing problem with young Percy and his drunk of a father before child services had removed him from the home. Percy used to show up at Easton’s place at random, enjoying the company of the cowboy and his horses. Since that time, Easton and his husband, Lachlan, had adopted Percy.
Easton answered on the third ring. “Hey, Chief. Long time no talk. How’s it goin’?”
The lazy drawl and mumbled words were an Easton trait that I’d grown used to long ago. He was a country boy at heart and one of Jasper’s finest men. Hard-working, kind, and openly gay, something I couldn’t fathom but respected.
“I was wondering if you were around. I have something I’d like to talk about if you have time.”
“I’m out at the stables right now, but I told Lachlan I’d be home for lunch in ’bout an hour. Wanna swing by and join us? Percy’d be thrilled to see ya.”
“I’ll be there.”
We hung up, and I checked the time on my phone before scanning the street. No one was around—not that they would know what I was doing—so I pulled up my texting conversation with Tomi. I was lousy at this texting business, but I’d been giving it my all since it was a means of communication.
Windsor: I might have an idea. Can you talk tonight?
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel as I waited for a response.
Tomi: Yup. I’ll be home. Call anytime.
There was nothing outrageous about those few simple words, but I couldn’t help smiling like a fool when I saw them.
We’d only talked a few times, but I couldn’t explain to Tomi what our conversations did to me. If I could get him to concede to coming to Jasper, it would be a big step. What happened when he got here was more than a little unnerving, but I wasn’t going to let my anxieties or limited experience get in the way. I’d spent my whole life denying this part of myself. No more.
An hour later, I took the isolated road off the county highway that led toward Easton and Lachlan’s newly built cabin in the mountains.
The two had a