alike, all to the same standards. The main mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God. Does that make sense?”
Abel’s face lit up. “Of course it makes sense. It makes perfect sense.” Abel glanced at his watch. “Damn! Where did the time go? I’m so sorry, Cullen. I’ve got ten minutes to get to the church to meet with a bride and groom about their upcoming wedding.”
Abel laid his hand on Cullen’s thigh and then nervously looked down at his hand like he wished he hadn’t done that. But to his credit, he didn’t yank it away. He raised his head until their eyes met. “I know we just met, and I have no idea why, but I haven’t opened up to anyone like this before. You’re just… nonjudgmental and so easy to talk to. Please, don’t go. I really wish you would stay on a little longer.”
Cullen broke their gaze and looked out over the water. He realized Abel had opened up a great deal today, but he was convinced there was more. Maybe, just maybe, if he continued to work with Abel, Cullen might get the entire story. His gut told him Abel was struggling with his sexuality and trying to fit into a church and a religion that had no tolerance for anyone who didn’t fit their predetermined image of a good Christian. And in Cullen’s opinion, if Abel was struggling with his sexuality, he was in a no-win situation. I can’t leave him high and dry.
When Cullen looked at Abel once more, Abel was watching him with hopeful eyes. The sweetest, most beautiful, hopeful emerald-green eyes he’d ever seen. Cullen didn’t have the heart to disappoint him. “Okay.”
“You’ll stay?”
“Sure. I’ll stay a little longer. Under one condition.”
Abel smiled. “Name it?”
“We continue to talk openly,” Cullen said. “If we’re going to be friends, you need to promise to be completely honest with me.”
Abel’s smile suddenly faded, and he started gnawing on his bottom lip. He appeared to be seriously contemplating Cullen’s condition and what the end result might be. Hesitantly, Abel smiled again and finally whispered, “I promise. But… it’s a two-way street. If I’m gonna be completely honest with you, then I expect the same in return. No more ‘it’s a long story’ as an answer.”
“Fair enough.” Cullen smiled. “Okay, I know you need to go, but why don’t you come to my boat tonight? I’ll prepare dinner, and we can talk more.”
“Okay,” Abel said.
“Dock C. Three-quarters of the way down on the right. The boat’s name is T-Time .”
“You a golfer or royalty?”
“Neither. In the T-shirt business.”
Abel stood. “Oh. Got it. What time?”
“Six thirtyish?”
“See you then. Bye, Cullen.”
Abel walked away with a little pep in his step.
“Abel!” Cullen yelled. “Anything you don’t eat?”
Abel looked back over his shoulder. “Nope.”
Chapter Five
CULLEN REMAINED on the park bench long after Abel had left, mesmerized by the way the sun shimmered off of the waves, making the Southport Inlet appear to be an ocean of sparkling Swarovski crystals. It was mildly blinding but beautiful at the same time.
Cullen was stretched out, hands linked behind his head, trying to enjoy the warmth of the fall sunshine, but the word stupid kept interrupting his relaxation. Then it hit him. What did I just agree to? I’m the one who’s supposed to be helping Abel with his life, and now I just agreed to be completely honest with him about mine. You know what that means. Telling him you’re gay, about why you left the church, and the hardest part, opening up about Cole.
“Stupid!” he cursed under his breath.
But in all fairness, how could he expect Abel to be honest with him if he wasn’t honest with Abel? Didn’t a friendship work both ways? Did they have a friendship? Maybe the beginnings of one. But if Cullen hadn’t opened up to anyone about Cole in the last year and a half—or why he’d left the church for that matter—why did
Abel’s face lit up. “Of course it makes sense. It makes perfect sense.” Abel glanced at his watch. “Damn! Where did the time go? I’m so sorry, Cullen. I’ve got ten minutes to get to the church to meet with a bride and groom about their upcoming wedding.”
Abel laid his hand on Cullen’s thigh and then nervously looked down at his hand like he wished he hadn’t done that. But to his credit, he didn’t yank it away. He raised his head until their eyes met. “I know we just met, and I have no idea why, but I haven’t opened up to anyone like this before. You’re just… nonjudgmental and so easy to talk to. Please, don’t go. I really wish you would stay on a little longer.”
Cullen broke their gaze and looked out over the water. He realized Abel had opened up a great deal today, but he was convinced there was more. Maybe, just maybe, if he continued to work with Abel, Cullen might get the entire story. His gut told him Abel was struggling with his sexuality and trying to fit into a church and a religion that had no tolerance for anyone who didn’t fit their predetermined image of a good Christian. And in Cullen’s opinion, if Abel was struggling with his sexuality, he was in a no-win situation. I can’t leave him high and dry.
When Cullen looked at Abel once more, Abel was watching him with hopeful eyes. The sweetest, most beautiful, hopeful emerald-green eyes he’d ever seen. Cullen didn’t have the heart to disappoint him. “Okay.”
“You’ll stay?”
“Sure. I’ll stay a little longer. Under one condition.”
Abel smiled. “Name it?”
“We continue to talk openly,” Cullen said. “If we’re going to be friends, you need to promise to be completely honest with me.”
Abel’s smile suddenly faded, and he started gnawing on his bottom lip. He appeared to be seriously contemplating Cullen’s condition and what the end result might be. Hesitantly, Abel smiled again and finally whispered, “I promise. But… it’s a two-way street. If I’m gonna be completely honest with you, then I expect the same in return. No more ‘it’s a long story’ as an answer.”
“Fair enough.” Cullen smiled. “Okay, I know you need to go, but why don’t you come to my boat tonight? I’ll prepare dinner, and we can talk more.”
“Okay,” Abel said.
“Dock C. Three-quarters of the way down on the right. The boat’s name is T-Time .”
“You a golfer or royalty?”
“Neither. In the T-shirt business.”
Abel stood. “Oh. Got it. What time?”
“Six thirtyish?”
“See you then. Bye, Cullen.”
Abel walked away with a little pep in his step.
“Abel!” Cullen yelled. “Anything you don’t eat?”
Abel looked back over his shoulder. “Nope.”
Chapter Five
CULLEN REMAINED on the park bench long after Abel had left, mesmerized by the way the sun shimmered off of the waves, making the Southport Inlet appear to be an ocean of sparkling Swarovski crystals. It was mildly blinding but beautiful at the same time.
Cullen was stretched out, hands linked behind his head, trying to enjoy the warmth of the fall sunshine, but the word stupid kept interrupting his relaxation. Then it hit him. What did I just agree to? I’m the one who’s supposed to be helping Abel with his life, and now I just agreed to be completely honest with him about mine. You know what that means. Telling him you’re gay, about why you left the church, and the hardest part, opening up about Cole.
“Stupid!” he cursed under his breath.
But in all fairness, how could he expect Abel to be honest with him if he wasn’t honest with Abel? Didn’t a friendship work both ways? Did they have a friendship? Maybe the beginnings of one. But if Cullen hadn’t opened up to anyone about Cole in the last year and a half—or why he’d left the church for that matter—why did
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