Page 72 of True North

He took his phone from his pocket.Therapist Toronto, he typed into the search bar.

* * *

He kissed Misha in the mudroom before he left for his parents’ house and felt warmed all the way to his toes from kissing someone he was going to come home to later. He was getting old and boring and just wanted to fall asleep with the same person every night. He didn’t need novelty anymore. He needed someone to love and rely on.

As he pulled up outside his parents’ house, he saw Tyler’s car parked at the curb and Kendall’s in the driveway. Great—he’d have the whole clan to contend with.

Well, maybe itwasgreat. He could tell everyone the news at once, and then ideally make a quick exit and leave them to hash it out without him. He could get all of their roasting hot takes in the family group chat, which would be less painful than in person.

The dogs were barking inside the house as he climbed the front steps. He heard his mom yelling something, and then the door opened to reveal Tyler’s smug, smirking face. “You’re late!”

“I’m not actually late at all,” JT said. He had spent a few minutes kissing Misha, but that wasn’t enough to make himlate-late. He discreetly glanced at his watch. He wasn’t late.

“Okay, let’s go, dinner’s ready, I’m starving,” Tyler said, and headed down the hall toward the kitchen, leaving the door wide open so that the dogs ran out into the yard and JT had to chase after them and herd them back inside. Siblings weren’t worth the trouble.

The kitchen was a busy, noisy mess. Kendall and JT’s dad were having a cheerful argument about whatever was for dinner. The dogs, who had run ahead of JT, were frothing at his mom’s ankles. JT sat down at the table with his grandmother and said, “Good Thursday?”

“I made two hundred dollars playing poker, so I’d say so.” She held up her wine glass in a toast. “You need a drink?”

“I sure do,” he said. “I’ve had a hell of a week.”

“JT swore!” Tyler bellowed gleefully.

Dinners were always like this. JT started telling himself he could wait until later, maybe get his parents alone, maybe even invite them over for dinner so they could experience Misha in a familiar environment where he’d be more comfortable. But he didn’t want to chicken out. Nobody in his family ever shut up, but he could wait them out and choose his moment. He could be loud, too, when he needed to be.

A brief pause in the conversation presented itself, finally, when JT’s dad came out bearing the lasagna and set it down on the table for everyone to dig in. As Tyler and Kendall’s squabbling over the spatula gave way to satisfied chewing, JT set down his fork and said, “I’ve got something to share with you.”

His parents and grandmother looked at him expectantly. Tyler and Kendall kept eating.

“I’m dating Misha,” JT said, pitching his voice a little louder than he might normally, annoyed by his siblings’ indifference. “He’s my boyfriend.”

Tyler stared at him, still chewing. “Who’s Misha?”

“You’redatinghim?” JT’s dad said.

Good grief. “Misha is the bear shifter who’s been living with me.”

“He’slivingwith you?” JT’s dad said.

Out of sight beneath the table, JT balled his napkin in his fist. “Would you please let me finish? Yes, he’s living with me and has been since June. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this.”

He had known it would go like this, but he was irritated anyway and spitefully considered telling them Misha had been arrested last week just to throw another log on the fire. He hadn’t asked Misha’s permission to share that, though, and also didn’t think anyone needed to know. He didn’t have to share everything about his life with his family.

Look at that: personal growth. He didn’t need a shrink after all.

Okay, he probably still needed a shrink.

“They’re surprised, sweetheart, that’s all,” JT’s mom cut in.

JT shook his head. “No, let’s hear it, who else wants to react with incredulity and horror to this news?”

“Wow, a five-syllable word? Didn’t know you had it in you,” Tyler said.

Kendall reached over and smacked his arm. “Tyler, shut up. This is why JT never tells us anything.” She turned to JT. “Is this why you bailed on camping?”

“Well, yeah. I didn’t want to ditch him for that long.”

“Is this why you don’t have us over anymore?” Tyler asked. “I miss the hot tub.”