The Brightest Star

76. Leo

Leo's POV

The pictures Jake took of King and me turned out stunning. I felt so uneasy at first when we found him taking our picture, but after seeing them and talking with him for a while longer, I felt more and more relaxed about the whole thing. He was straightforward and planned to be an LGBTQ photographer after college.

I never felt so comfortable being open like this in front of anyone other than King. We even hung around as Jake took the pictures he planned on taking before walking back to the cars together. King couldn't believe Jake hiked alone with how expensive his equipment looked. It made me laugh because King showed his kind heart without realizing it.

But all my laughter and warmed heart were gone as I stared at the tall chain-linked fence outside the prison the next day. Turning back to King, my heart was racing. "Are you sure it's okay for me to be here too? I don't want to take your time away with your dad."

"I told you he wanted you to be here today, and I want you to meet him as well." King smiled at me as other people walked past us to the gate.

Still unsure about it, I nodded before walking inside with the others. They searched us after we signed in, which was a thing I shouldn't have been surprised about, but after around twenty minutes, we walked into a large room filled with tables and chairs bolted to the floor. It took everything in me not to pick at the skin around my fingernails as we waited while King told me that sometimes they brought the prisoners in beforehand. A few times in the past, they were nearly a half hour late getting there, but finally, the door opened in the back of the room, and most of the waiting guests stood up with me and King.

I had never seen pictures of King's dad before, but as a man with short red hair buzzed on each side and darker red facial hair came through the door, I knew it was him. No one could mistake that red color. It was unique in its own way, and before today, I had never seen that color on anyone else before. They looked so much alike, with the same sharp jawline and slightly pointed nose. The exact shape of his eyes, though his father's, looked blue. Both are larger built than most.

The man, Miles, walked over and gave King a quick hug before they smiled at one another, eyes locked and filled with love for each other as a son and father should, the same kind of look my father would give me before our world came crashing down after my mom became sicker.

"Dad," King nodded in greeting at him before turning to look at me. "This is Leo. Leo, this is my dad, Miles."

Miles turned to me, but his smile dropped as he looked me up and down, making me shift on my feet.

"Pleased to meet you," I said, holding my hand out for him. "King's told me a lot about you."

"Same goes for you," Miles replied before taking my hand. "King and Benji have talked highly of you." He let go of my hand so we could sit down. Me and King sat together while his dad sat across the table. "So Leo, my brother told me this vacation you two are taking was your idea. Thank you for bringing my son to visit."

"Of course," I answered, rubbing my sweaty hands on my pants leg. "King told me so many stories of you both, and when we talked about going somewhere, I thought this would be the best place."

"You've been talking about me?" Miles smiled at his son in a taunting kind of way. "All good ones, I hope?"

"Yes, he told me you were the one who taught him how to cook." I looked at King, giving him a proud smile.

"A good thing I did, too. I'm sure the boy would have starved after I came here."

"Dad." King's voice had a bite to it, making me tense next to him. "Don't start."