Page 67 of Captivated (Salvation #3)

“People are going to have opinions,” Dad continued. “And not all of them are going to be kind.”

Nate rolled his beer bottle between his palms, then met Dad’s gaze.

“I know. I’ve thought about it a lot. But that’s exactly why I have to do it.

If my dad—if Caleb —is out there telling everyone that conversion therapy ‘worked’ on me, that it saved me, how could I let that stand?

How could I let him paint this picture of me that’s so…

wrong?” He swallowed. “I have to set the record straight. Not for him, but for me. For all the other kids who are going to go through what I did.”

Dad nodded. “I get why this feels like the right thing to do. But Nate… I know how much you’ve struggled with all of this.

How hard it’s been for you to even talk about it.

Writing it all down, putting it out there…

It’s going to stir up a lot of stuff. I’m just worried it’ll pull you back into some of that darkness. ”

“I don’t think it will, Dad. I think it’ll set me free.

I’ve carried this thing around for so long, trying to bury it, trying to pretend it didn’t happen.

But it did. And if he gets to tell his story to the whole world, I deserve the chance to tell mine too.

” He scowled. “My story isn’t his to tell. It’s mine.”

Dad sighed. “I’m not trying to talk you out of it.

I want to be supportive, Nate. I really do.

But I just need to be sure you’re not doing this because you feel like it’s the only way to fight back.

Because that’s a hell of a burden to carry, you know?

I just want to make sure you’re doing this for the right reasons. ”

Nate took his dad’s hand in his.

“I’m not doing it for revenge, or to hurt him, or to make a point to anyone.

I’m doing it for me, because I need to. Because every time I see him on TV with that fake Nathaniel, talking about me like that, it feels as though I’m being erased.

As if everything I went through, everything I’ve fought for, means nothing.

” He squeezed Dad’s hand. “But it does mean something, and this is my way of saying that.”

Another sigh rolled out of him. “I’m just not sure the world is ready for this story. People can be harsh. I don’t want to see you hurt again. You’ve been through enough.”

“I won’t be.” Nate smiled. “I’m not scared anymore. And I’ll have you by my side, right? And Zeeb. I’m not doing this alone.”

Dad didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he expelled a breath. “All right, I’ll support you. I will. But just promise me you’ll take care of yourself, okay? Don’t dive into this headfirst without thinking it through. Let me help. We’ll make sure you’re ready for whatever comes next.”

Relief flooded through him. “I promise.”

Dad smiled. “And if you ever need someone to help you organize your thoughts, I’m a pretty good editor.”

Nate laughed. “I might take you up on that. You’ll be my first reader, no matter what.”

Dad grinned. “Deal. Only, let’s do this the right way, one step at a time.”

Nate felt lighter. “One step at a time.”

The rain began as a whisper, a gentle patter against the earth, but soon it grew into a torrential downpour that soaked the world. Zeeb stood by the patio doors, watching the raindrops hit the slabs. It wasn’t long, however, before the rain lessened.

“It smells so good out there,” Nate murmured beside him. He leaned into Zeeb. “How’s Toby doing?”

“He’s sleeping right now. I think today was too much. He’s gotta take it easy.” Zeeb sighed. “It just takes time.”

Then his breath caught as Nate opened the doors and stepped outside.

“What are you doing? You’ll get soaked.”

Nate stood in the middle of the patio his face turned upward, his eyes closed, his arms stretched wide as he spun slowly.

Derek joined him. “When he first came to live with me, I bought posters for his bedroom walls. One of them said ‘Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

’” He pointed to Nate. “That isn’t the boy who came to stay, broken by others’ beliefs.

” He smiled. “That’s a man who has learned to dance in the rain. ”

Zeeb watched from the porch, his heart swelling with pride and admiration.

Look at him.

He’d witnessed only a part of Nate’s journey, but that right there was the culmination of it all, a man unafraid to embrace the storm, to find joy in the chaos.

I wanted someone to come home to.

Instead, Zeeb had found his home.

Nate’s laughter rang out, pure and unburdened. He glanced toward Zeeb, his eyes bright, his hair slicked down. He held his hand out. “You coming?”

He makes the rain feel like a celebration.

Zeeb stepped forward, his heart racing, not caring about the fat drops of water that soaked into his clothes. He pulled Nate close and kissed him, Nate’s arms around his neck.

“’Bout time I learned how to dance in the rain too.”

Nate claimed his mouth in a lingering kiss, and Zeeb lost himself in it, captivated by the man who’d brought Zeeb some of the most precious gifts he’d ever received: joy, hope, peace…

Love. And maybe some Salvation.

The End

Thank you for reading about Zeeb and Nate’s journey. And if you liked it, you know what to do, right?

The next book in the Salvation series will belong to Teague, and I already have the title—and the plot: Switched. (And if your mind takes you in a certain direction? It’s probably the right one. LOL )

If you loved Captivated, you’ll love Truth & Betrayal .

Jake Greenwood thought losing his older brother Caleb in a traffic accident was enough to change him forever.

But when the driver turns up at the funeral, Jake now has a target for all the rage inside him.

Because the man responsible for stealing Caleb’s light from the world has no right to intrude on their grief.

Jake’s right about one thing—Caleb’s death changes everything, but not in a way he expects. When he goes to Atlanta to collect Caleb’s things, Jake’s world is turned upside down as he makes a shocking discovery.

Caleb had a secret. The same secret Jake is hiding from everyone who knows him.

Well—almost everyone.

But now he wants answers, and there’s only one person who can provide them.

Liam Miller knew deep down he’d get a hostile reception at Caleb’s funeral—Caleb had told him more than once that a black man in that town was always going to stand out—but he can’t stay away.

He has to say goodbye. Caleb’s family know nothing about his life in Atlanta, so maybe it’s better that his secrets die with him.

What he hadn’t counted on was Caleb’s brother Jake, turning up in Atlanta—and asking for Caleb’ s laptop. Because Liam has a good idea what Jake will find.

Maybe it’s time Jake learns he’s not the only one who’s hurting.

Jake’s not sure how it happened, but he’s gained a friend, a link to Caleb’s other life. What he hadn’t counted on was just how much he’d come to rely on Liam—how much Jake is attracted to him.

Liam can see where things are leading and he fights it.

Because any way he looks at it, this is wrong.

Except he’s about to learn Jake is as stubborn as his brother, and then some.

Suddenly they’re way past the point of no return, and Liam knows in his gut they are heading for a shitstorm of epic proportions.

Truth & Betrayal is a slow-burn, painful, yet inspirational story of love, loss, and coming of age that will have you crying, laughing, and rooting for two men whose romance has potential pitfalls in every direction.

It’s a story of grief and goodbyes, loss and restoration, discovery, firsts, lasts, and above all, a love that’s bewildering, unexpected, and so very strong and true.

May 5, 2017

Jake Greenwood pulled off the thick gloves he’d worn to protect his hands from the lumber, and threw them into the back of his daddy’s truck.

Right then he could almost hear the hot shower that was practically hollering at him, promising to ease away his aches.

It had been a long day, but thank God, the weekend had arrived at long last. Not that it brought the prospect of anything new, but the thought of hanging out with Pete, Dan and the rest of his little group of friends made him smile.

Of course, the one person he wanted—needed—to hang out with was about two hundred fifty miles, or a four-hour drive, away.

Maybe he’ll visit soon.

Even as the thought left him, Jake began his habitual process of denying the possibility. It made for less hurt in the long run.

Maybe I jus’ need to accept that this is how things are now.

Yeah. Like that was gonna happen.

“Don’t you wanna go home?”

His daddy’s amused tone pierced through the multiple layers of Jake’s hopes, fears and internal turmoil. Jake arched his eyebrows. “Are you in such a hurry to get home to Mama’s fried catfish, slaw an’ hush puppies? Because it is Friday, right?” He snickered. Mama sure loved her routines.

His daddy narrowed his gaze. “Your mama is goin’ to go to her grave believin’ I love her fried catfish just as much as her hot chicken an’ biscuits an’ her banana pudding.

Just ’cause you know different does not mean you’re gonna be sharin’ that piece of information.

Do that, an’ I’ll tan your hide, nineteen or not. ”

Jake crossed his heart. “Mama will be happier than a pig in mud, I swear.”

His daddy bit his lip, his eyes gleaming. “An’ don’t think you can get around me by using one of my sayin’s.” He climbed behind the wheel of the truck. “But please, Jacob, take your own sweet time. I’m sure your mama won’t mind if we’re late.” He gave Jake an innocent smile.

That was enough to have Jake dive into the passenger seat. Mama in a mood was not something he wanted to contemplate. It would screw his whole weekend.