Page 85 of Making It Burn

“We’re fine.”The automatic response.“We talk.”

“Good.That’s good.”She sipped her tea.“He talks about you all the time, you know.How brilliant you are at the firm.”

“Does he?”The words came out more skeptical than I’d intended.

“Oh yes.Just the other day he was telling me about that medical thingy?He said you did something brilliant, like a merger.”

“MediCorp.”I’d texted Dad about it and all I got was “Good job.”

“He’s not always great at expressing it directly,” Caroline breathed.“But he really is proud of you, Mason.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to respond.

The server returned to take our orders.Caroline got the Szechuan shrimp, I ordered the General Tso’s chicken, and we made small talk about the weather, the holidays, and her plans for Christmas dinner.It was all very pleasant and superficial and exactly what I’d expected.

Then Caroline’s face lit up, and she waved toward the entrance.“Oh!Scott!”

I turned to see a man in his mid-fifties walking toward us, dressed in a gray sweater and jeans, his salt-and-pepper hair styled in a way that said he cared about his appearance without trying too hard.

“Caroline!”He bent to kiss her cheek.“I thought that was you.”

“Scott, this is Mason.Frank’s son.Mason, this is my best friend, Scott.”

“Nice to meet you.”I stood to shake his hand.

“You too.”Scott glanced at Caroline.“Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all.Actually—” Caroline looked at me hopefully.“Would you mind if Scott joined us?Unless this is a private conversation—”

“No, it’s fine,” I said, even though I’d been looking forward to getting this lunch over with.

Scott pulled up a chair, and the server appeared again to take his order.More small talk followed—Scott worked in marketing.He and Caroline had been friends since college, and he lived in Fulton Hill with his husband.

I was only half-listening until that word registered.

“Husband?”I said before I could stop myself.

“Keith.”Scott’s face softened, then he smiled.“We’ve been married for six years.Together for ten.”

“Oh.”I picked up my teacup, trying to process this.“That’s...great.Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”Scott smiled.“Do you have anyone special in your life?”

Yes, his name is Beau, and I’m in love with him.But I can’t tell anyone, and it’s killing me.

“No,” I said.“Too busy with work.”

“I remember those days.”Scott laughed.“Keith had to practically drag me away from my laptop for our first date.”

The food arrived, and we ate while Scott and Caroline chatted about holiday plans, a charity gala they were both attending.A mutual friend’s upcoming birthday party.It was all very normal, very comfortable, like Scott being gay and married was just...not a thing.Not something that needed to be commented on or made a big deal about.

“Has Dad met Scott and Keith?”I asked Caroline, trying to sound casual.

“Of course!We have dinner together all the time.”Caroline speared a shrimp.“Keith and your father bonded over football.They’re both huge Ravens fans.”

I nearly choked on my chicken.

“My father...and Keith...watch football together?”