Page 54 of Captivated (Salvation #3)

Matt walked in, carrying the breakfast dishes. “Well, sure we did.”

What the fuck?

“Nate was scared, we knew that. But when he was around you he perked up.” Teague smiled. “I saw him reach for you, then drop his hand. He wanted to touch you so desperately, but something held him back. I guessed that was probably fear.”

Well, I’ll be….

“When did you grow up?” Zeeb gaped at him.

Teague shrugged. “I had a chat with Sol and told him I wanted to help the pair of you. The rest, as they say, is history.” He smirked again. “You may worship me now.”

“And while Nate wasn’t all that obvious, you ?” Matt grinned. “Fuck, you were about as obvious as a calf in heat.” He chuckled. “We kept asking ourselves how Nate could miss it.”

“Really?” Zeeb’s chest tightened. “But none of you said a word.”

“Why should we? You’re both big boys,” Walt drawled. “We’ve been around long enough to know that when it’s right, it’s right.”

Zeeb stared at him, then back at the others. All of them were standing around as if they were waiting for a damn round of applause.

He took a deep breath. “Look, I want you to watch your mouths when Nate’s around. He’s been through stuff you wouldn’t believe.”

Walt frowned. “Yeah, you’ve hinted at that. Sounds like the kid has issues, so fine, we’ll handle him with kid gloves.” Then he smiled. “But hell, you two are good together. Even I can see that.”

The group fell quiet for a moment, and Zeeb regarded them all with a full heart. He might not have asked for their approval, but it was nice to have it, all the same.

“So, you got this?” Butch asked, his tone more serious now.

Zeeb met his gaze, and for the first time in a long while, the weight on his shoulders didn’t feel so heavy. “Yeah. I think I do.”

Butch gave him an approving glance. “Good. Don’t screw it up.”

Zeeb took a deep breath. “Don’t you worry. I won’t.” Nate was the best thing to happen to him, and Zeeb wouldn’t do a thing to jeopardize that.

Behind him, the door opened again, and Zeeb caught Nate’s bright laughter. Just hearing it brought light into the room.

“I’m starved,” Nate declared.

Butch cleared his throat, and Zeeb fired him a warning glance.

His pout was almost comical.

“Good timing.” Matt pointed to the dishes. “Help yourselves, there’s more on the way.” Then he disappeared back into the kitchen.

Nate took the empty seat next to Zeeb. He helped himself to eggs and some bacon. Paul and the three guests joined them. The door opened once more, and Sol entered. He greeted everyone warmly, then sat next to Butch.

Zeeb gave him a hard stare. “I hear you’re the one I have to thank for yesterday’s… performance.”

Sol grinned. “You’re welcome. Sorry I’m a little late. Robert called from the hospital.”

“He’s there already?”

Sol nodded. “He went first thing. He just called to say Toby’s had a good night, and they’re getting him to move around a little.”

“Thank God for that,” Walt muttered, his face tight.

“How’s Butterscotch?” Zeeb asked Nate.

He let out a sigh. “Still as nervy as ever. I asked Paul if I could maybe work with him a while. That is, if you don’t mind sitting around while I do that.”

Zeeb chuckled. “It’s not as if I have a lot on my schedule, now is it? At least, not until everything heals an’ stops hurtin’.”

Conversation dried up a little while the hands and guests attacked the food. Zeeb was conscious of Nate next to him the whole time.

It feels different. A good different.

Then he realized he didn’t know a damn thing about the guests.

I might not be able to work with them, but I can sure make an effort to be friendly.

“So who are you, and where do you all come from?”

The youngest guy smiled. “I’m Tim. I’ve come all the way from Boston.”

Zeeb arched his eyebrows. “Wow. Our reputation is really getting out there.”

Tim laughed. “I took one look at your website, and I had to visit.”

Sol beamed, and Butch nudged him with his elbow. “Take a bow, Mr. Website Designer.” The others chuckled.

The second guy helped himself to more coffee. “I’m Leroy, and I’m from San Diego. I have to say, this is an amazing place. So many horses. And I can’t wait to ride out to see the cattle.”

Paul chuckled. “Let’s see how you’re doing after your first ride.”

Zeeb cackled. “You’re gonna feel it, that’s for sure.” He glanced at the final guest, the oldest of the three. “And what about you?”

“I’m Steve, and I hail from Portland.”

“Maine or Oregon?” Zeeb inquired.

“The latter.” He frowned. “I booked this trip eight months ago, but I’m regretting my choice of dates. I think I picked the wrong week to be out of state.”

Zeeb frowned. “Why?”

“I’m a political journalist.” Steve glanced around the table.

“I don’t expect any of you to follow what’s going on in Oregon.

I mean, why would you? But there’s a bill up before a committee right now, and it’s huge.

” He flushed. “And judging by what I already know about you guys, you might want to know.”

Teague leaned back. “How huge? And what’s the bill about?”

“Conversion therapy.” Steve gazed at them. “Have you all heard of this?”

“You might say that,” Zeeb muttered. Then Nate cleared his throat, and Zeeb couldn’t breathe.

“I have.” Nate’s voice came out steady. “I underwent conversion therapy for a number of years. In Oregon, as a matter of fact.”

The hands stared at him in silence. Sol’s eyes shone.

Zeeb was so fucking proud of Nate.

Steve widened his eyes. “Really? How old were you, if it’s not too impolite a question.”

“From the age of nine until I was fifteen.”

“Oh God.” Steve leaned forward. “I’d love to talk to you about this later, if I may.”

“Hey.” Zeeb glared at him. “You ain’t here to write an article.”

Nate laid his hand on Zeeb’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay,” he said in a low voice. He returned his attention to Steve, and gave him a polite smile. “Possibly. Tell us about this bill.”

“There’s a hearing taking place this week. Lawmakers are proposing a bill to ban counselors and therapists from practicing conversion therapy on patients of all ages. There’s already a ban on CT for minors, but Oregon would be the first state to ban it completely.”

“I’ve heard about this,” Nate told him.

How he spoke so calmly, Zeeb would never know.

“I’m not surprised. It’s attracting widespread attention, even from outside Oregon,” Steve announced.

“Does it have a lot of support?” Sol asked.

Steve nodded. “Most lawmakers support it.” He smiled. “There’s one guy who said during the hearing that he was grateful he’d never been exposed to CT. Then he said he was going home to have dinner with his boyfriend.”

That raised a few chuckles.

“The chief sponsor of the bill is a gay Congressman, Rob Nosse, from Portland. He said while he’s never gone through it, he’s heard stories from those who have, people who thought they were changed, but then discovered it hadn’t worked.”

“Yeah, they knew it hadn’t worked, all right, but then they blamed themselves,” Sol commented.

“They figured if they tried harder, lived a life of a straight person, then things would eventually click. They didn’t.

Many of them cheated on their spouse, ended up getting a divorce, fractured the family…

” He scowled. “And all because some people can’t stand to see gay folks be happy. ”

Nate said nothing, but poured coffee into his cup.

Steve pulled his phone from his pocket. “He said something in an interview. Let me see if I can find it.” He scrolled for a minute.

“You really went through that?” Walt appeared aghast. “Damn, Nate. I mean, fuck .”

“Not only did Nate go through it, he came out the other side.” Sol’s voice was warm. “That shows an awful lot of resilience and strength.”

Zeeb took Nate’s hand in his. “You’re damn right it does.”

Nate gave him a grateful smile.

“Got it.” Steve read aloud. “I don’t think our current law prevents exploration of people’s identity, what they think or don’t think about their sexuality or their gender.

I do think it prevents a therapy that says I can make you straight.

” He gazed at Nate. “Sounds like a man with his head screwed on right.”

Nate swallowed. “Amen to that.”

Steve nodded, his face tight. “There are only twenty states in the U.S. that ban CT for minors. Five hundred people have submitted testimony, and so far, the bill has three hundred supporters, with about one hundred seventy-five opposed. The committee will vote this week to move the bill forward.”

“Wait a sec.” Butch stared at Steven, his eyes wide. “You’re tellin’ me there are people who don’t want this bill to pass? Who the fuck would do that? Don’t they know about the kinda things that go on in this so-called therapy? Hell, even I know, an’ I ain’t no lawmaker.”

“Unfortunately, they exist. There’s one guy who’s running for office.

He’s always spouting crap about it, saying he keeps hearing from frustrated parents of children who are affected by the ban on CT.

What did he say?” Steve scrolled again. “Yeah, here it is.” He peered at his phone.

“It would make the situation worse by depriving vulnerable adults as well as minors of comprehensive treatment for underlying issues such as sexual trauma.” Steve shook his head.

“I tell you, that man is on a mission. Every chance he gets, he’s in the news or on social media, talking about how misunderstood CT is.

How it gets a bad rap. How it’s helped so many.

Blah blah blah. I mean, listen to this.” He read aloud, “Conversion therapy saved my son’s life.

It gave him back to God, and to me. I will always fight for the right of parents to do what’s best for their children. ”

“What a prick,” Walt muttered.

Steve’s face darkened. “You said it. Well, when it comes to election time, I can guarantee Caleb Streeting won’t be getting my vote.”

Zeeb froze. I know that name . Then it came to him.

Oh my fucking God.

“No,” Nate whispered. He stood up, his face pale, his chair scraping violently against the wooden floor. His coffee cup dropped to the boards with a sharp crack.

Sol rose. “Nate, are you all right?”

Nate swallowed. “Steve, is there a photo of this guy?”

Steve scrolled. “Yeah. Here it is, the time-honored family photo. The would-be senator with his wife and three kids.” He turned his phone toward Nate.

Zeeb stared at the image. “ Is it? Is it him?”

Nate’s voice was hollow.

“Yeah, that’s him. That’s my dad.”