Three Is Just Enough by Jon Keys Page A

help took a lot of stitches to close up.”
    “Oh, hell. That’s terrible, Cole.”
    Cole shrugged and met Dalton’s gaze. “My dad said he wasn’t going to have a queer for a son and if I was going to do that, then he wasn’t my father. Then he said if I stepped in his house again, he’d shoot me like any other pervert.”
    Tara squeezed his shoulder and gave him a sad smile. “I have to work Friday and Saturday. We can keep each other company.”
    “Nope,” Dalton said.
    They both looked at Dalton. Cole felt more than a little vulnerable after sharing one of the most traumatic events in his life. He’d been dreading the holidays and as they got closer his family drama weighed heavy on him. If he dumps on me — well, he’s not the man I thought he was. “What do you mean, no?”
    “I mean no you’re not going to stay here. You’re coming with me. My folks live in St Peter, so we can spend the day. It’s only an hour or so away.”
    “What are your folks going to say about us?” asked Cole. He paused for a minute and then continued. “Or are you not telling them.”
    Dalton’s mouth twisted as he paused for a moment. “No, I’ll tell them. That’s part of the reason I want you there. I might need some help explaining.”
    “Oh, this doesn’t have disaster written all over it,” Cole said.
    “No, no. My folks are liberal. They took us kids to the Pride parade every year. They support same sex marriage.”
    “This is a little different…”
    “Yeah. I know.”
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Dalton leaned against the door of Cole’s pickup. The closer they got to his parent’s, the more frightened he became. He knew he would never make it through the meal without his mother dragging the information out of him. So he’d already told his parents he wanted to talk with them when he got there. Tara and Cole already knew he was coming out to his parents. The three of them hadn’t talked much more about it, but he was hopeful.
    “Okay. Spill it,” Tara said.
    Dread filled Dalton as he glanced at Tara. “This seemed like a good idea a week ago. Now that we’re only a few miles from the house…”
    The pickup suddenly decelerated and whipped into a strip mall. Cole downshifted and then turned off the truck. He looked up at Dalton and simply lifted an eyebrow.
    Dalton was quiet a few minutes before realizing they were waiting for him to speak. He took a deep breath and met their looks. “I told my folks I had something to talk to them about when I got home.”
    Tara’s lips drew together. “We knew that. Do they know Cole and I are coming?”
    “Yeah. Just not that you’re my…”
    “Lovers? You sounded like this wasn’t going to be a big deal with them. Did that change? If it’s going to be a family meltdown, maybe it would be best if we weren’t there,” Tara said, her expression unreadable.
    “I don’t mind bein’ with Dalton. It woulda been nice if someone had my back when I talked to my family,” Cole said.
    Tara’s lips formed a tight line. “What are you doing? Trying to make me look like the bad guy?”
    “You know that wasn’t what I meant. You haven’t talked to your folks yet, you don’t know what it’s like.” Cole turned to Tara. “Do you want me to drop you off at a Mickey D’s or something while we take care of telling Dalton’s parents?”
    Tara glared at him. “No, you asshole. I do not want to be dropped off somewhere. I’m going with you. I’m just saying this could go wrong.”
    Cole grabbed Dalton’s shoulder. “Looks like we’re with you on this.”
    Dalton nodded, still unwilling to meet their gazes. “Thanks. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
    Cole started the pickup and flexed his hands around the wheel for a moment before letting out a sigh. “I was so looking forward to homemade apple pie, too.”
    A few minutes later they turned down a tree-lined street to stop in front of a typical brick home. Traditional Thanksgiving decorations of