“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 who that boy is I always see you with.”

“Hmmm…” I glanced over 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 peered over at me with a raised eyebrow.

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

“That’s all government owned land, Aden. No private citizen has land anywhere near Beaver Lake, or any of the other campgrounds around these parts,” he stated. “The place you’re talking about is a game preserve. When I first got hired on, 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 faced the forward. “I must have heard him wrong. He just briefly mentioned it one time.”

With a smile, my dad reached over and ruffling 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 we had broken the law on multiple occasions. My dad had lectured me all 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 I saw the lights in the hall turn off.

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

“I won’t. Good night.” I gathered up my things and dropped them on the floor before going over to turn 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.

He came over and sat beside me. Lifting my chin, he gave me a quick kiss. I kept my eyes close until he removed his hand, then slowly opened them.

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

I shook my head. “It just something my dad said today.”

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

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

He relaxed a little and leaned back 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.”

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

Titus rubbed his forehead. “What now?”

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

Titus clenched his jaw and won’t look at me. “It’s not true. That’s my land. It’s our territory.”

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

“We weren’t trespassing!” he snapped.

The room fell quiet, and I listened to see if he had woke 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’re just going to have to believe me. I’m not trying to get you in trouble.”

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

Titus grabbed me and pulled me onto him, so I was straddling his hips. My heart fluttered for a moment as my hand touched his chest.

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

I nodded. “Okay.”

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

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

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

“You’re ruining it,” I muttered.

“I could go, if you want.”

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

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

“You can be a real jerk sometimes.”

Titus moved closer but stayed an inch above me.

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