the birds and bees talk, and you want me to have to start already?”
“Please. We don’t need the basic sex talk. We’ve got the Internet,” Lance informed him before making a face. “And we’ve got my dad, who I will tell you is way too blunt.”
Somehow that bit of information about Daniel made Travis extremely happy. And totally confused. “Then it’s not about sex?”
“Oh, no. It’s totally about sex.” Lance’s smirk faded a little. “Honest, it’s nothing terrible, and we kind of already know the answer, but I think it would be good if Jeremy told you what’s up.”
This had all sorts of trouble written all over it, but there wasn’t much that Travis wouldn’t do for his family, and that included his nephews.
Still, he was going to be careful. “You’re going to be there, yes?”
Lance peeled himself off the stall wall and tilted his head toward the east where the coulee lay. “Yep.”
Wandering outside and down the trail was a bit of a shock as they left the warmth of the barns and the sweet scent of the animals behind. And yet it was fresh, crisp, and clear. The path between the house where Blake and Jaxi were raising their family and the one where Travis, Cassidy, and Ashley were raising theirs was well-packed.
Not only was it the route he and Cassidy took to get to work most mornings, Ashley and Jaxi pranced back and forth most days as well with the kids. Which was all kinds of mental fuckery when he stopped to think about the history of it. His wife and Jaxi as damn near besties. The girl next door who he’d once thought might save him, and the woman who truly had.
It was pretty much the most perfect thing, truth be told.
Down at the bottom where a bridge crossed the frozen water, another tall, lanky youngster twisted toward them. Jeremy’s gaze skipped over Lance and landed on Travis. Worry and hope clung to his expression.
What the hell. He was a teenager. Travis could deal with this.
He lifted his chin at the kid. “Jeremy. Heard you helped Lance get through his chores.”
The kid was all arms and legs with a hint of muscle coming on. He dipped his chin and flashed a quick smile. “Chores at my house mean dishes. I like working with the animals better.”
Interesting. “Well, next time we need to hire some help, we’ll see if you’re available.”
His green eyes lit up like Travis had plugged him into a high-voltage battery. “Yes, sir.”
Lance laughed then moved into position next to his friend. He nudged him with a shoulder. “Okay. Uncle Travis is here, so spit it out.”
A soft swear rose from the kid—young man, considering he too was in grade twelve.
Jeremy looked Travis straight in the eyes. “I’m ace.”
Okay. Not the opener Travis had expected, considering he figured the kid was going to pull something out of his hat about liking both guys and girls. “That’s cool.”
Jeremy nodded. “It was a bit of relief to figure it out, actually. I thought for a while I was broken because nothing seemed to turn me on.”
A little tidbit Travis was looking forward to sharing with Ashley. “My wife teases that people get real hung up on naming stuff, but at the same time, if it makes things easier, having a label for how you feel is a good thing.”
“That’s not the part I need—” Jeremy glanced quickly at Lance.
His nephew sighed dramatically. “You want to finish this before summer? I already told you it was okay to share.”
“So, yeah. I figured out that I was ace, because it didn’t matter what the guys showed me on the Internet or in books, I didn’t get turned on by any of it. But then Lance and I got to be friends, and now…” Jeremy stared determinedly down at his feet. “And I know he doesn’t feel that way about me, but it sucks that the first time I actually get turned on is with somebody who doesn’t want me.”
Damn, this plot just got more and more tangled. Although, Travis caught himself smiling. “Dude. You’re getting all tangled in knots because you now feel sexually attracted to someone you can’t have?”
Lance frowned. “It’s not funny.”
“Nope,” Travis agreed. “But it is pretty much life.”
Jeremy’s eyes snapped up to meet his. “What?”
Travis shrugged. “I’m sure, with the Internet, you’ve probably figured out—if you want a label for this one—that you’re still ace, but you’re probably demi-sexual. You don’t get turned on