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“We’ll talk about that later. For the record…I’m glad of that.”

Jovian smiled against his neck and Cherokee began walking again but abruptly stopped again when they were close to the cabin. “Shhh, don’t make a sound, but look, baby.”

Scared, Jovian didn’t want to, but when he did, he found there was nothing to be afraid of.

About twenty feet in front of them, walking slowly across the trail, were a mother doe and her baby.

The spotted baby deer was grazing along behind her mother, who was sniffing the air, careful of predators while her daughter ate.

“They’re so pretty,” Jovian whispered.

“Very pretty. I always throw lettuce and cabbage seeds around in the grass over near the trees. They grow well there.”

“For the animals?”

He nodded while smiling at the deer. “It’s good to give back.”

Jovian forgot all about the deer, as he saw Cherokee in yet another wonderful light.

There, in the darkness of the woods, Cherokee glowed with his goodness.

Amazed that he could attract a guy like Cherokee, he was glad for whatever good thing he’d ever done, not that he remembered one that gave him the best guy in the entire world.

Cherokee looked over to see him staring. “What?”

“You’re so…good. I really don’t deserve you.”

“Maybe let me be the judge of that, baby boy.”

Jovian nodded a little, but when the deer were gone, Cherokee held his hands and kissed him right there on the trail. “You’re not as terrible as you think you are, Jovian.”

“I hope not.”

“I think you’re about to get in trouble, talking about my baby like that.”

Jovian’s head lifted to look into his eyes, feeling that very familiar and comfortable chill down his back. “I’m your baby?”

“Yeah, Jovian. You’re my baby. I thought we covered this.”

His insides were churning with worry. “I know.”

“Then what’s up?”

“Let’s just go to the cabin. I’m just being stupid.”

“Jovian,” he said in a strict voice. Jovian immediately looked back into his eyes. “Stop it. I get it, I’m scared too, but you know I care about you. You know that…we’re together.”

“I know. I’m really scared.”

Cherokee picked him up in his arms again and started for the cabin. “We need some of that talking you hate.”

Jovian’s tears were flowing freely by the time he was set on the sofa, and Cherokee kneeled in front of him. “Jovian, we’re dating right now, and that will not change when camp is over. I’ll come to see you, you come see me. I’ve no intention of losing you.”

“I’ll miss you so much. I’ll miss all of this.”

Maybe more than you know. They got the word, Jovian. The bank will not wait another month. They’re selling it to the church camp next week, if we don’t come up with the money. They’re being good enough to let us get our campers and stuff out before they take hold of it.”

Jovian’s tears ran faster. “No! That can’t be!”

“It is baby. I was going to tell you in the morning. I have some money, but it’s not enough. None of us have enough. I’m afraid, well, we’re done for. But that doesn’t mean that we are, you and me. We’re okay. I’ll be here. I’ll always be here.”

They lay on the bed together, and for once, neither of them had sex on their minds. He was the little spoon, and his daddy was holding him, talking to him sweetly, kissing his ear, his neck.

“Baby, being with you has made me happier than I may have ever been. You’ve done a lot for me, and you don’t even know it.”

Jovian couldn’t think about being with Cherokee. Not when they were losing their camp. “I was very mean to True and Bernie. I feel so bad for that now.”

“Well, you’ve turned it around, baby. They’ve seen it.”

“How? I mean, I’m not so mean anymore, even though I never even knew I was mean. How am I different?”

“For one thing, you’re paying attention to my class. You made a basket and only complained once.”

“Three times. I just didn’t complain really loudly.”

“Fine,” he said with a chuckle. “Three times. You’ve been naked in a lake and didn’t keel over dead from disgust.”

Jovian had to laugh. “Fine. I guess I’m better.”

“Yeah. You know, you don’t need a huge gesture, no fireworks to show you’re trying, Jovian. You just try.”

He hadn’t heard a thing after Cherokee said big gesture. His mind spun, and as soon as he heard Cherokee’s gentle snoring, he got out of the bed, left the bedroom and paced the cabin.

“Big gesture. From a big place to make big money,” he said to the quiet. “Saving the camp, it would make them all happy, including Alan, Mike and Kathy. Cherokee would be so happy, and True and Bernie would finally know they’d know I did well. That I do care.”

He checked the phone that he’d left on the coffee table, and there were enough bars to make a call. It was just before midnight, so he called Chaps and asked for Gary.

The noise in the background made it hard for Gary to hear, so Jovian sneaked out the back of the house to not wake Cherokee.

“Gary, I need to talk to the owner!”

“The owner? Why?” He was shouting, but it quieted, and Jovian figured he’d moved to the storage behind the bar. “You’re lucky I have help tonight in the main bar. What the hell, Jovian?”

“Gary, I don’t know if your brother has told you anything about the camp being in trouble, but…but I want to help. I think, maybe, if the owner would okay it, and if we could get some big names, maybe we could do a charity thing there.”

“Is this really Jovian I’m speaking to?”

“Yes, I know. I’m thinking of other people now, shocker, right?” he drawled. “You can faint later. For now, I really need to speak to him.”

“He’s out of town, Jovian, and he turns off his phone when he is. He’s with his boyfriends.”

His heart dropping, Jovian whined, “When will he be back?”

“Maybe in two weeks, if their vacation doesn’t run long. He’s not a hands-on owner.”

“The manager, maybe?”

“He’s not here either. For something like a charity event, you’d have to speak to them both. It would mean they lose money in their own pockets, and it’s not like they’re opposed to that, but…it’s still a big ask.”

“It is a big ask, Gary. It’s a big need. I could do bake sales for months and not get what one night in Chaps could.”

“I get it. Listen, I’ll try to get ahold of some people. Are you gonna be available?”

“For this, yes. Anything I need to do. I’ll borrow money from my mom for the promotion, I’ll post on all my socials, and I have two club promoters on speed dial. We could pack the place, and if they want some of it, they can have anything over what we need to save the camp.”

“They’d go for that. How much are they behind?”

“True really doesn’t talk to you about this stuff?”

“My brother is stubborn and won’t accept help from me, not that I would have any money to give him. I mean, I can help promote.”

That was a bonus. Everyone liked Gary. “Okay, see what you can do on your end, and not to pressure you, but we only have a week.”

“A. Week. Jovian…”

“I know! I just found out. Do what you can and call or text me as soon as you find them. Please!”

“Okay, okay. Jovian, I like this side of you.”

“Me too. Oh, and I have a man now, so I can’t flirt with you anymore. Don’t take it personally, but he’s big and tough and would definitely kick your ass. You missed out on this perfect ass.”

“There’s the old Jovian I almost missed.”