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“Okay.”

“I know this is going to sound a little…questionable. I felt safe with him. Like I knew him or something which, it turns out, I did. Or do. Or…” I ran my hand through my hair. “I didn’t recognize him…but was drawn to his…energy? Is that the right word?”

“Well, yes. I’m also incredibly curious how you didn’t recognize him. Again, none of my business.”

“Dark club, out of context…”Masks.

“Ah. That’s fair. I had a few ideas in mind, and I’ll admit that wasn’t one of them.” She grinned. “Okay…energy.”

“I didn’t intend for things to…”

“You’re worried about implicating him.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll reiterate this stays between us. And you only share what you’re comfortable with. We might not be in my office—but this space is just as sacred.”

Right. Which I’d known. Having it spelled out really helped. So did the gentle lapping of the lake against the shore in the light breeze. “I’m gay.” I held her gaze, even though I couldn’t see her eyes behind her dark glasses. “Which you’d probably already figured out.”

“I don’t make assumptions, Jai. And Cody didn’t provide a gender for the parent.”

“One of the dads. A great guy, and once I remembered…well, everything came back about that time—the good, the bad, the horrifically ugly… But I had the ill camper to get to. I really panicked.”

“Understandable. You feel responsible for these teenagers. That’s a lot to take on.”

“I felt guilty about having taken a night off.”

“I can see that. And I can suggest you’re not obliged to be monitoring the kids twenty-four hours a day. Cody, Grey, and Makenna all get time off. A dinner away wasn’t unreasonable.”

“Yes, but look what happened.” Panic again rose within me.

“Can you not admit it likely would’ve happened anyway?”

“Probably.” I gazed down at my running shoes. “But that’s not the point.”

“Could you have done anything better than what Cody did in that moment?”

“Well, no.”

“Do Smith or Alessandra blame you?”

“Not at all.”

“See?”

“But they only know I was out…not who I was with.”

“Ah.” She gazed skyward just as an eagle flew across the lake. “You think they’ll be upset?”

“I think I would be, if I were in their shoes.”

“And do you want to see the parent again? As more than a friend?”

“Uh…” I bit my lip. “I have nothing but incredibly fond memories of him. Would we be able to rekindle that relationship? I honestly don’t know. But I’m not going to risk the way things are now just for a shot.”

“A shot? At happiness?” She arched an eyebrow. “Life is full of regrets and missed connections. Maybe this is one worth taking.” She shrugged. “But that’s up to you. Let’s go back, eh?”

We walked back in silence as I mulled over her words.