Page 4 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)

Chapter Four

Demetrius

T he smells of a diner assailed me as I stepped into Fifties—frying meat, French fries, and…eau de ketchup? Whatever. I’d found my happy place.

“Hey, welcome to Fifties.” A bubbly blonde with beautiful blue eyes beamed. “Just you?”

“Yeah.”

She glanced around. “Uh…”

Every booth in the place was full. As was every stool at the counter.

“I don’t mind waiting.”

“Or he can join us. If he’s amenable, that is.” A strong voice came from behind me.

I pivoted to find a South Asian man sitting with a Black man in the closest booth.

The first guy patted the seat next to him. “I’m Arnav. This is my husband Foster. We were just commenting on how we hadn’t met anyone new recently. ”

Foster rolled his eyes. But a shy smile lit his face.

I judged him to be about my age or maybe a couple of years older. I’d wondered how many other Black folks I might meet while in Mission City. The apparent immediate answer was two—previously Aaron and now Foster.

And Foster was gay as well. And married to a cute guy.

“You’re sure?”

“He wouldn’t have invited you if he wasn’t sure.” Foster spoke quietly, but with some strength behind the words. “We’re friendly.”

I grinned. “Cool.” I turned to the server, but she was already at the back of the restaurant dealing with something. I eased into the booth.

“We can flag Sarabeth to get you a menu.” Foster glanced behind him, toward the counter. “Or I might be able to—”

“Fifties has the best burgers in Mission City, right?” My smile didn’t falter.

“Well, best in Cedar Valley.” Arnav beamed. “Those would be very good words.”

“I like White Spot as well.” Foster leaned forward conspiratorially. “But don’t tell Sarabeth.”

“I’ve had White Spot. They make delicious burgers. But we have White Spots in Vancouver. We do not have a Fifties.” I frowned. “That I know of.”

“Nope.” Arnav popped his p . “One of a kind. No franchise. So you’re from Vancouver?”

“I apologize.” Sarabeth magically appeared. “Do you need a menu?”

“No, I’m good. I’ll have a cheeseburger.”

“Great. And to drink?”

“Uh—”

“Do you like milkshakes?” Foster met my gaze .

I nodded.

“Ever have a blueberry milkshake?”

I shook my head.

“You’re in for a treat.” His soft brown eyes radiated amusement.

“Okay, Sarabeth. Blueberry milkshake, cheeseburger, and extra fries.”

“Brilliant. We’re busy, but I’ll see if the chef can make yours with theirs.” She pointed between Arnav and Foster.

“No rush. I’m not in a hurry. In fact, I’ve got all day.” I glanced around. “But I won’t hold up the table.”

She smiled. “I think I like you.” Then she was gone.

“Okay.” I gazed back and forth between Arnav and Foster. “You just randomly invite strangers to your table?”

Foster giggled.

Yes, giggled.

So at odds with the forty-something man before me.

Arnav wagged his finger. But his grin was just as wide.

“We had our second date here. And we’ve run into friends over the months we’ve been coming here.”

“Not to be too bold…” Foster ducked his head for a moment, then met my gaze. “You seemed like a nice person.”

“Uh…”

“Your smile.” Arnav shrugged. “We had a ten-second silent conversation and then we invited you. Perhaps impetuous.”

“Except our friend Ravi invited a stranger to join him along with his husband. And they wound up helping that stranger find a place to live with another friend of theirs—who wound marrying the stranger. By then, voilà, they all became friends, and then we met them, and they became our friends…” Foster shrugged.

“So, lots of friendly people in this small town? ”

“Yep.” He beamed.

“Apparently lots of friendly gay guys.” My head spun at his explanation, but I’d sort of figured out two gay couples.

For just a moment, Foster stilled.

I added, “I’m bi.” Because that seemed like the right thing to say and because I probably wouldn’t have sat here if I was homophobic or going to throw shade on gay people.

“Okay.” Foster ducked his head again. “Ravi and Maddox are married. That stranger, Dean, is married to Adam. Our friends Everett and Rayne just got married.”

“Rayne being a guy.” Arnav grinned. “And a bit of a…”

“Friendly.” Foster supplied that quickly.

I was supercurious what Arnav had been about to say.

“One blueberry milkshake.” Delivered with a grin, a straw, and a long spoon. Sarabeth nodded, then headed down toward the back of the diner.

“Is it always this busy?” I removed the wrapper from the straw.

“Saturdays generally are.” Arnav wrinkled his nose. “But with Canada Day tomorrow, there are likely tourists in town.”

“Mission City doesn’t have a huge tourism industry.” Foster nodded toward my milkshake as if to encourage me. “I work in construction. Always need more houses. We’re at the end of the commuter railway line, and although prices are expensive, they’re the cheapest around.”

“I don’t know much about real estate. I have a condo in Vancouver. Tight quarters with a teen and a pre-teen.”

“You’re a dad?” Arnav grinned. “That’s amazing. We’ve registered to become foster parents and are waiting. I mean, you never hope a kid needs a place to live—but we’ve got one in case they do. ”

“Big house with a dog and a backyard.” Foster said the words almost as if he felt he had to convince me.

“I love my kids.”

“Are they with you? I mean, not here obviously.” Foster winced.

I smiled. “Alaina’s doing some hiking over on Vancouver Island.” I considered my next words carefully. “My son, Keegan, is attending Pride Camp.”

“How old?” Arnav scratched his nose.

“Thirteen.”

“Rough age. No matter what.”

“I know. And I thought kids were…more accepting. Unfortunately, Keegan’s been picked on by a group of older kids—”

“Bullies?” Arnav held my gaze with concerned dark-brown eyes.

“Yeah.”

“Ouch.”

“Right? So I’ve considered pulling him out of that school and sending him somewhere else. Or even picking up stakes and leaving. The neighborhood isn’t the best, and maybe a fresh start…” I contemplated my drink. “But does that give him the message that it’s okay to run away from your problems?”

“Sometimes it is.” Foster spoke quietly.

I met his gaze.

“I don’t tend to tell folks this often. But something tells me you might need to hear it.

I was in an emotionally abusive relationship for almost ten years.

Maybe if someone had taught me that it’s okay to walk away, I might have.

I had a rough childhood, and I thought I’d found someone to take care of me.

That ended disastrously, and I didn’t think I’d ever pick up the pieces.

” He reached for Arnav’s hand. “Yet, I did. And, eventually, I met this handsome man.”

Arnav chuckled.

“I gave love another shot. Put my heart on the line. That wasn’t easy.”

“So you’re saying it’s okay for us to try something new?” I considered his words. And how hard it must’ve been for him to be honest with me.

“I’m saying that although the unknown can be scary—especially for a kid—staying where you’re miserable and being bullied isn’t an answer either.”

“Thanks. We’ll see how things work out at Pride Camp. They’ve got such an amazing staff. Cody, Grey, Makenna, and Jai—”

“Jai?” Arnav perked.

“Got your food.” Sarabeth arrived with a tray of the most heavenly smelling grub.

We thanked her profusely before she headed away.

I sipped my milkshake, waiting for my burger to cool just a smidge.

“Jai, you say?” Arnav clearly was picking up where we left off. He poked his French toast with a fork and then dumped a lake of syrup on it.

“Yes. Do you know him?”

“Well, my friend from childhood was Jai Prasad. He moved away years ago. I hadn’t heard he was back. We lost touch…” He snagged a piece of bacon. “So even if it’s not the same guy, I should really find my Jai and touch base with him.” He bit into the bacon.

I poured some ketchup on my plate and dunked a fry. What were the odds the name was identical? “About thirty? Slender? Kind of looks like you?” Because that wasn’t rude…right?

Arnav laughed. “Yeah, lots of Indian guys named Jai. He was shorter than me, but that doesn’t mean anything.

Plenty of young men get taller. He did head off to UBC.

He was, I think, doing a business degree.

I studied law.” He contemplated his bacon.

“He was my friend despite the fact I was out and proud. Not a lot of kids were back then. Seventeen years is a long time and yeah, I’d hoped things were changing.

I’m sorry your son is going through that. ”

“Pride Camp sounds like the right place for him.” Foster hesitated, fork poised over his meatloaf. “Him? I hate to make assumptions.”

“Keegan goes by he/him. We had that discussion, and I made it clear we live in a judgement-free household. He’s said, at least for now, he identifies that way. The camp has a group of teenagers from a variety of backgrounds. I have my phone close, even though I know he’s safe.”

“Does Pride Camp have a website? Might Jai’s photo be on it? Or some other social media?” Arnav took a bite of his syrup-drenched French toast.

Inwardly, I smiled. “Uh, his photo isn’t on the website. I don’t think the camp has social media—might attract unwanted attention.”

“True that.” Foster cut another piece. “Not everyone is accepting around here. We still get looks sometimes.”

“Like by Jai’s parents.” Arnav poked his food again. “You remember? That benefit we went to?”

“Oh, that couple? The ones Samara put in their place when they made that comment?” Foster met my gaze. “Samara is Arnav’s protective older sister—”

“—one of six—”

“Eldest of six,” Foster continued smoothly, all the while grinning. “And this older couple were going on about how gay couples shouldn’t be allowed to have children.”

Arnav grunted.

“Right? Whether she realized Arnav and I were together, I can’t be certain. Or if she was just spouting off.”

Another grunt .

“Before either of us could speak, Samara launched into a litany about all the straight couples who abused their children.”

“Did she know this couple?” I dipped another fry in ketchup, popped it into my mouth, then eyed my burger.

“I don’t think so. I can honestly say that wouldn’t have made any difference to Samara. She’ll tell anyone off—especially if she thinks they’re discriminating or hurting other people.” Foster dipped his meatloaf in the thick gravy. “So they were your friend’s parents. I didn’t realize.”

“If he’d ever come out as gay, there would’ve been hell to pay. They knew I was out back then.” He poised his fork in the air. “Which means they probably figured out you and I were together—matching weddings bands and all—and made the comment anyway.”

“Likely because of us.” Foster ate the slice and moaned in bliss.

I picked up my burger. “So if Jai was gay…?” I bit, letting the succulent juices hit my tongue.

“Today? I’d like to think he’d be able to stand up to them. Back then? No way. They held way too much power over him. He got a scholarship, but the Sauder School of Business at UBC is damn expensive. He lived on campus—partly to get away from them. We…drifted apart. I regret that.”

I swallowed the delicious mouthful. “I suppose you could call the camp and see if he’s the same guy.

” Because I certainly wasn’t going to out the man—if he was gay.

Or explain where I knew him from before.

Likely, given the timing, it had been just after he finished university when we’d encountered each other.

Although I had zero doubt the guy was my pup friend, he didn’t appear to remember me. I had no idea how to remind him.

Or, conversely, if he remembered and was just putting on a good act, did I have the right to approach him?

I just didn’t know.

Arnav snagged his second piece of bacon. “I’ll give him a shout. I’d rather go down there, but I don’t want to spook anyone, and if he’s not my friend, then it would look super weird.”

“Sounds sensible.” I bit into my burger.

“And how are things here?”

Naturally, Sarabeth managed to arrive while all three of us had food in our mouths.

We all gave her a thumbs-up.

An hour later, with a slice of lemon merengue pie in a to-go box—and an invitation to join Arnav and Foster on Monday night—I headed back to the hotel.