After sitting down with Dad and having a true heart-to-heart, my prison sentence was deferred. I was still in trouble for having made them worry but I’d get punished for it when we got home.

I was allowed to leave for dinner with Chase because he shouldn’t be on the property but I had a nine o’clock curfew... non-negotiable.

Obviously, I wasn’t going to waste that precious time on food and when we arrived at Chase’s place, my clothes were on the floor faster than he could put down his helmet.

A hot shower got both of us in the mood before we moved our explorations to the bed. This time, Chase was ready to “receive” and it gave the whole experience a brand new layer of ecstasy.

We were all hot and sweaty by the time we finished round two and we barely made it back to the hotel on time.

When Dad came to check that I was in my room, he gave my red face an odd look but said nothing. I hugged him really tight and thanked him for letting me have “dinner”.

Would he notice the room service bill because I didn’t actually eat?

The moment he was gone, I was on Chase’s old BlackBerry. I wrote him very explicit emails of all the things I wanted to do again, making even myself blush in the process.

When I finally managed to fall asleep, I dreaded the next day. A day when I had to say goodbye to Chase.

Chase and I spent Sunday morning like we’d spent most of our time together... him working behind the bar and me chatting away.

I made a game of dropping innuendo into almost every sentence making him gape at me over his shoulder in shock.

Duncan was probably spending his last day with his girl and Dad was raiding the gift shop with my stepmom.

When we had to check out of the hotel, I assumed that Chase couldn’t be there and that he’d say a quick goodbye at the entrance.

Never in my wildest dreams, could I have foreseen that he’d be waiting at the reception with his parents in tow.

“You must be Tanner,” Chase’s mother said, taking my hands in hers. “My son has told me all about you and I wish we had more time to get to know each other.”

Chase’s dad shook Dad’s hand and said, “I hope you enjoyed your stay. Would you consider coming again next year as our special guests?”

When Dad looked at me, I immediately knew what he was secretly thinking...

“Did we just get a free vacation?!”

Just before we had to get into the car, Chase pulled me into the men’s room and kissed me until my knees buckled.

I was on the verge of tears and I could tell that he was too, so we said our goodbyes quickly. I remember watching him wave in the rearview mirror until I couldn’t see him anymore.

That’s when the Blackberry that he’d snuck into my back pocket buzzed.

Who would have thought that my stepmother was a bigger ally than Duncan?

She was so excited that she finally had someone to gossip with and chat about fashion. I forgave her the stereotype and we finally bonded over her easy acceptance.

She took me to my first Pride parade and even Duncan came along. When a cute guy in a pink tank top tried to kiss him, he totally went for it but later admitted that it definitely wasn’t his thing.

My dad didn’t go along for the events but showed his love and support in other ways. He even took me to Mom’s grave with a large rainbow bouquet, so I could officially come out to her.

Chase flew out for my graduation and we danced together at my prom.

When a full year had passed, we were back in the hotel and I no longer had a curfew. Chase and I had managed to maintain a long-distance relationship but the moment we were together again, even the gods could see the fireworks.

Coincidentally, I ended up going to a college close to one of the hotels that Chase’s family owned further upstate.

Needless to say, he promptly put in for a transfer.

I knew that all the things I’d experienced were certainly not the norm and I often waited for the other shoe to drop.

Miraculously, it never really did.