“How was your day?” asked my dad as soon as we pulled onto the paved road.

“Same old, same old.” I continued to stare out the window.

“So are you ever going to tell me who that boy I always see you with is?”

“Hmm…” I glanced at him.

“The tall boy, he never sticks around long enough for you to introduce us.”

“Oh, Titus.” I gave him a forced smile. “He’s just a guy I met. We sometimes hang out when I’m done cleaning. He’s nice.” 

“His family must be big campers.” My dad clicked his blinker on as he stopped to turn onto the highway.

“They own land up there.”

“Around Beaver Lake?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” I said. “On the other side of the mountains.”

“That’s all government-owned land. No private citizen has land near Beaver Lake or any other campgrounds around these parts,” he stated. “The place you’re talking about is a game preserve. When I first got hired, I had to hike all over those mountains, checking the fences. I even helped put some up.” He gave me a stern look. “I know, for a fact, no one owns any land up there, and you better stay away from that fence.”

“I will. We don’t go near it.” I turned forward. “I must have heard him wrong. He briefly mentioned it once.”

With a smile, my dad reached over and ruffled my hair. “Good to know I’m not the only one you don’t listen to.”

“Yeah,” I laughed. “Yeah…”

***

As soon as dinner was over, I retreated to my room. After opening the window, I sat down on the bed. My head hurt from trying to figure out why Titus had lied to me. Better yet, why had we broken the law on multiple occasions? My dad had lectured me during dinner about the fines and even jail time for going there.

I pulled out my sketchbook and started to doodle. I had scribbled through around ten pages when the lights in the hall turned off. 

“Goodnight, Aden,” said my dad from the hallway. “Don’t stay up too late.”

“I won’t. Goodnight.” I gathered my things and dropped them on the floor before turning off the light. Returning to the bed, I sat cross-legged to wait for Titus. 

I remained in that position for half an hour, thinking, before a familiar face appeared. 

He slipped inside. “Hi.”

“Hey.” I scooted over so there was room for him on the bed. 

Lifting my chin, he gave me a quick kiss. I kept my eyes closed until he removed his hand. 

“Is something wrong?” He tilted his head to the side. 

“It’s just something my dad said today.”

Titus froze and clutched my knee. “What about?”

“It’s nothing serious, Titus. He wanted to know your name.”

He relaxed a little and leaned against the headboard. 

“Are you scared of my dad?” I teased.

“Yes,” he stated plainly. “All he has to say is no, and we’re over.”

“That’s not true. My dad doesn’t get to decide who I date.”

“I’m not so sure.” He chewed on his fingernail.

I sucked in my lips. “He mentioned something else.”

Titus rubbed his forehead. “Now, what?”

“I told him that your family owns land up there, and he said that’s all government property. We’re not supposed to cross the fence, Titus. I told you we weren’t.”

Clenching his jaw, he wouldn’t look at me. “It’s not true. That’s my land. It’s our territory.”

“My dad has been a ranger for almost twenty years. We could’ve gotten into a lot of trouble if someone had caught us trespassing.”

“We weren’t trespassing!”

The room fell quiet. I listened to see if he had woken up my parents. I didn’t hear anyone coming up the stairs, and the lights didn’t turn on. 

I nodded. “‘kay.”

He shook his head. “Aden, you’ll just have to believe me. I’m not trying to get you in trouble.”

“I know.” I smoothed out the bedspread beneath me. “It would cause problems for my dad if someone found us on private land.”

Titus lifted me onto him so I was straddling his hips. My heart fluttered when my hand touched his chest. 

“I promise I will not get you into trouble. Alright?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“The last thing I want to do is hurt you. So don’t worry about it.”

“I won’t.” My eyes lingered on his lips. 

He smiled and cupped the back of my neck. “For someone who doesn’t know if they like guys, you sure love kissing me.”

“You’re ruining it.”

“I could leave if you want.”

“Shut up.” I leaned forward and kissed him.

Titus rolled us over and pinned me to the bed. We parted for a moment and peered into each other’s eyes.

“You can be such a jackass sometimes,” I said with a sigh.

Titus moved closer but stayed an inch above me.

I shook my head. “And a tease.” Grabbing his chin, I pulled him to me.