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His heart skipped “Uh, no Your mom was irlfriend We were curious, so we had sex to see what it was like” When Maggie had started asking a myriad of questions earlier that year, he’d bitten the bullet and borrowed a few books froether He didn’t want her to have any hang-ups, so he tried to discuss it as openly as possible using straightforward language

“Why don’t you have a girlfriend? Or even go out on any dates? Ever?”

His ht…person”

She echoed, “‘The right person’ Dad, are you gay?”

“I…” He had to be honest He had to tell her the truth, but no words squeezed out through his closed throat

“I saw you and Ben kissing at the hospital I was supposed to be asleep, but I woke up and I could see you in the mirror”

“Oh” Say so!

“I still love you just as much if you like boys” She stared at hiht?”

A weight lifted froay I didn’t actually realize it for a long time, or I would have told you sooner”

“Is Ben your boyfriend?”

“Uh…” Trust Maggie to cut right to the chase “I’m not sure”

She frowned “Why not? Ben’s awesome What’s there not to be sure about?”

“It’s just not that easy”

“You like each other, right? Why does it have to be hard?”

“We live thousands of ure out”

“Are we never going to see hioodbye to ie’s plaintive whine “Why didn’t he come see me before ent to the airport? Is he mad?”

“No, baby It all just happened quickly e left, and Ben had to get back to work”

“But he was there, and he didn’t say goodbye What if I never get to see hiain? Don’t you want to see him?”

Mehter echoed, the sensation of his rough stubble on Jason’s skin, the caress of lips and hands A tangle of contradiction suffocated Jason One minute he was firm—he didn’t need anyone to take care of hith of Ben’s arms Ben had seen Jason with every defense stripped away and wanted him nonetheless

Maggie asked, “Do you still like him?”