Page 80 of Outside Looking In

“The show’s starting.”

“It can’t wait.”

“Nathan?”

It couldn’t be.

“Nathan?” the firm voice said again.

Nathan assumed he’d gone into some catatonic state of shock, or perhaps this was all a dream he was about to wake up from, because staring back at him was his father, pissed the hell off.

Chapter 28

Nathan

His dad charged into the center of their conversation. It’d been a while since Nathan had seen him. He almost didn’t recognize his slimmer body and tanned face, which was scrunched and red at the moment.

“Nathan, what in sodding hell are you doing halfway around the world?”

“What areyoudoing here?” Nathan asked.

“You said ‘Catch me if you can,’ and I caught you. I want to know what is going on. Do I need to take you back to rehab?” His dad grabbed his arm.

“Excuse me.” Liam stepped in and took hold of his dad’s wrist. “Get your hands off him.”

“Who are you?”

“His boyfriend.” Liam tightened his grip around his dad’s wrist, making him buckle under the pain.

“Well, I’m his father, and it’s time for Nathan to come home.”

“What? No, you’re not.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“His father died of cancer years ago.”

Nathan’s dad slowly turned to his son, a mix of shock and hurt spreading on his face. “Is that what you’ve been telling people?”

That same mixed expression took over Liam’s face, like a virus that was quickly spreading. The few theatergoers still in the lobby formed a circle around them. They were getting two shows for the price of one.

“What is he talking about?” Liam asked.

“I’m not dead. I’m alive and kicking and here to bring my son back home to London before he causes anymore trouble.”

Liam went into a daze. “Your father’s alive?”

“I’ll do a sodding DNA test if I have to!” His booming, frustrated voice brought more people out from the theater.

“Liam, I can explain.”

“Why would you lie about something like that?”

“I…” It made sense in the moment, but like a drunken night, it made him cringe in the daylight.

“Did you come here and make up a whole new identity?” his father asked, instantly thinking the worst of him.

“Guys, the show’s about to start,” Mark said.