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“Pride Camp sounds like the right place for him.” Foster hesitated, fork poised over his meatloaf. “Him? I hate to make assumptions.”

“Keegan goes by he/him. We had that discussion, and I made it clear we live in a judgement-free household. He’s said, at least for now, he identifies that way. The camp has a group of teenagers from a variety of backgrounds. I have my phone close, even though I know he’s safe.”

“Does Pride Camp have a website? Might Jai’s photo be on it? Or some other social media?” Arnav took a bite of his syrup-drenched French toast.

Inwardly, I smiled. “Uh, his photo isn’t on the website. I don’t think the camp has social media—might attract unwanted attention.”

“True that.” Foster cut another piece. “Not everyone is accepting around here. We still get looks sometimes.”

“Like by Jai’s parents.” Arnav poked his food again. “You remember? That benefit we went to?”

“Oh, that couple? The ones Samara put in their place when they made that comment?” Foster met my gaze. “Samara is Arnav’s protective older sister—”

“—one of six—”

“Eldest of six,” Foster continued smoothly, all the while grinning. “And this older couple were going on about how gay couples shouldn’t be allowed to have children.”

Arnav grunted.

“Right? Whether she realized Arnav and I were together, I can’t be certain. Or if she was just spouting off.”

Another grunt.

“Before either of us could speak, Samara launched into a litany about all the straight couples who abused their children.”

“Did she know this couple?” I dipped another fry in ketchup, popped it into my mouth, then eyed my burger.

“I don’t think so. I can honestly say that wouldn’t have made any difference to Samara. She’ll tell anyone off—especially if she thinks they’re discriminating or hurting other people.” Foster dipped his meatloaf in the thick gravy. “So they were your friend’s parents. I didn’t realize.”

“If he’d ever come out as gay, there would’ve been hell to pay. They knew I was out back then.” He poised his fork in the air. “Which means they probably figured out you and I were together—matching weddings bands and all—and made the comment anyway.”

“Likely because of us.” Foster ate the slice and moaned in bliss.

I picked up my burger. “So if Jai was gay…?” I bit, letting the succulent juices hit my tongue.

“Today? I’d like to think he’d be able to stand up to them. Backthen? No way. They held way too much power over him. He got a scholarship, but the Sauder School of Business at UBC is damn expensive. He lived on campus—partly to get away from them. We…drifted apart. I regret that.”

I swallowed the delicious mouthful. “I suppose you could call the camp and see if he’s the same guy.” Because I certainly wasn’t going to out the man—if he was gay. Or explain where I knew him from before. Likely, given the timing, it had been just after he finished university when we’d encountered each other.

Although I had zero doubt the guy was my pup friend, he didn’t appear to remember me. I had no idea how to remind him.

Or, conversely, if he remembered and was just putting on a good act, did I have the right to approach him?

I just didn’t know.

Arnav snagged his second piece of bacon. “I’ll give him a shout. I’d rather go down there, but I don’t want to spook anyone, and if he’s not my friend, then it would look super weird.”

“Sounds sensible.” I bit into my burger.

“And how are things here?”

Naturally, Sarabeth managed to arrive while all three of us had food in our mouths.

We all gave her a thumbs-up.

An hour later, with a slice of lemon merengue pie in a to-go box—and an invitation to join Arnav and Foster on Monday night—I headed back to the hotel.

Chapter Five