Page 33 of Captivated

“Then what the fuck are we doin’ out here? Let’s get you inside.”

Nate opened the front door, and Zeeb followed him, carrying the art equipment.

“I know there’s hot chocolate in the kitchen. Want a cup?”

Nate gave a grateful nod and Zeeb went about his task. Lightning illuminated the cabin’s interior, and Nate curled up on the couch, his arms wrapped around his knees. The aroma of hot chocolate wafted from the kitchen.

Zeeb rejoined him, placing two cups on the coffee table. He gazed toward the window with a hint of a smile.

Nate frowned. “You like storms?”

Zeeb leaned back, his legs stretched out. “They don’t bother me none.” He sighed. “Matter of fact, it was during a storm like this one that something pretty momentous happened.” He fell silent for a moment, than glanced at Nate. “Something no one here knows about.”

The air was charged with electricity, and Nate was certain it had nothing to do with the storm. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. It’s not as if I’m going to tell anyone, right? You and Paul are the only people I’ve met here.” He cocked his head. “You were smiling, so it wasn’t an unhappy memory.”

Zeeb picked up his cup. “Nope, it wasn’t. And it could’ve been life-changing.” He scowled. “But what followed a while after it sure changed everything.”

Nate forgot about the thunder, the lightning, and focused on the lean man beside him.

“Canyou tell me?”

Zeeb studied the dark brown liquid in his cup, and goosebumps erupted on Nate’s arms.

“The storm had just hit, I was soaked to the skin, and I was behind my daddy’s barn.” He swallowed. “And I kissed my best friend.”

Nate couldn’t help feeling there was a lot more to Zeeb’s story than a simple kiss. Despite his roiling stomach, his nervous jumps every time the thunder rolled, Nate wanted to hear more.

Whatever this is, it’s important.

“Did this friend have a name?”

Zeeb said nothing, and the seconds ticked by. Finally, he raised his chin and looked Nate in the eye.

“Yeah. His name was Lucas.”

Just saying the name sent a shudder through him.

How many years has it been? Twenty-five years? Almost twenty-six?

Zeeb could still recall the pain that had speared through him when Lucas blanked him, crossed the street to avoid him, and in fact distanced himself altogether.

Nate’s breathing caught. “Oh.”

Zeeb peered through the window. “Storm’s passing. I should leave.”

“You don’t have to go,” Nate blurted. “I… I want to hear about Lucas.” He paused. “If you can talk about it.”

Zeeb forced a smile. “It was a long time ago. Lotta water under the bridge since then.”

“You said it changed everything. I want to hear how.”

He took a deep breath. “I guess it all started when I was about thirteen, maybe fourteen. I had this sense of bein’… I dunno…different. My friends were dating girls, and my mom was always askin’ me if there was a girl I especially liked.” Zeeb sipped his hot chocolate. “What I couldn’t tell her was that while therewerea few girls I liked… there were also a few boys.”

There. I said it.Words he’d never uttered since the day he left his daddy’s farm.

Zeeb felt giddy as fuck.

“Why couldn’t you tell her?”