A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (Love Conquers All series) ORIGINAL VERSION

Chapter 7: "Weak and Heavy-Laden"

"He seems so lost." Brandon took the vegetable knife and began cutting up the lettuce. "I don't think he agrees with the stuff they preach. Even when he repeated some of it back to me, it felt mechanical, like he was just reciting what he'd been told...not what he really felt."

Over the years, it had become routine for Brandon and his dad to prepare dinner together. It was their time to talk and discuss whatever was on their minds. Today, Josh was the only thing on Brandon's mind.

"Well, son, all you can do is pray for him and show yourself friendly. If God brought him here for you to help, then God will open the proper doors at the appropriate times."

Cooper Nichols was younger than most of the fathers Brandon knew. He'd been seventeen when Brandon was born.

"I know." Brandon murmured, his mind miles away with Josh. "I just wish I could do something now. Make things better for him now."

His dad smiled. "Patience is a virtue. You have to trust that God knows what he's doing and that he's doing it at the right time. Even if, to us, it feels like it's taking forever."

"I know that, too. You should see him, though. He's like a lost little puppy you just want to pick up and take home."

His dad paused what he was doing and looked at Brandon, a smile quirking his lips. "Is there a little puppy love developing here?"

"Dad," Brandon groaned and laughed quietly, his cheeks warming. "I admit, he's definitely cute...and adorable."

Cooper chuckled. "I've never known you to get personally attracted to a straight boy."

I don't think he is, Brandon thought but kept it to himself. It didn't matter because his dad could read him like an open book.

"You don't think he's..."

"I don't know," Brandon murmured. "I've never been wrong about that when it came to other guys, and I'm just getting this very strong vibe from Josh. I mean, even the way he looked at me at times throughout the day. I think he might be in extreme denial. But who can blame him?"

"Wow," Cooper whispered. "That's got to be a tough reality for a kid in his situation."

Brandon nodded. "Yeah." He sighed and cleared his throat. "So...how goes things with your internet hunk?" He shot his dad a smirky smile. As Brandon understood it, his father had known he was bisexual since his preteens but hadn't yet figured out which way he leaned. Cooper had met Brandon's mom, Jillian Harper, in his sophomore year of high school and clicked with her from the start. By then, he'd been taking notice of more boys than girls, but hadn't yet met a boy who was as charming and interesting as Jillian. They began dating almost as soon as they met, and it was during the summer before their senior year that Jillian became pregnant with Brandon. It hadn't been planned—the pregnancy nor the sex. Both were devout Christians, but a moment of temptation had caused them to slip.

Cooper and Jillian had been married soon after—without regret. And Brandon was their unplanned blessing. Brandon didn't remember much about his mom. He was only five when she died in a car accident. Over the last eleven years, his dad had never fully recovered from the loss, only dating now and then—mostly men. But Cooper Nichols had yet to meet someone for whom he felt more than a surface attraction. Until Father_of_1 came into his life a month ago. Cooper had met the man in the Lost Loves chat room where folks who'd lost spouses went to talk openly about their grief and loss, and connect with others going through the same thing.

His dad chuckled quietly and went back to slicing potatoes. "It goes...fine."

"Have you exchanged photos yet? Or last names?"