Thad tried to distract himself by making small talk as they worked. “Too bad you won’t be able to drive this fancy car around town too much longer.”
“What do you mean?” Iggy asked, rubbing the newly waxed finish to a shine.
“Well, you and Danny Otis were gonna do a commercial for Grayling Ford, right?”
“Yeah. What about it?”
“Don’t you think they’d be a bit upset if you were driving a Lexus instead of a Ford?”
“Geez, I never thought of that,” Iggy said. “I better check that out. Thanks for the heads-up, Thad.”
Thad smiled, pleased he had done something to help Iggy out in some way.
When they were done, Iggy once more put his arm casually around the young man’s shoulders as he admired their work and complemented Thad on the fine job he had done. The batboy was both pleased and relieved.
“Let’s go around back,” Iggy said. “I’ll show you the stuff I want done around the pool. You did bring your trunks?”
Thad nodded that he had as the two walked around the side of the house to the backyard, Iggy’s hand on the back of Thad’s neck.
The pool was very nice. It was rectangular and seemed long enough to do a decent set of laps. At one end was a diving board. Around the cement deck were chaise lounges and a table with an umbrella and chairs. There were flower beds around the yard beyond the pool area. Iggy led Thad over to them. He went to a shed in the back of the property and came out with some tools and a couple of organic waste bags. Thad noted the entire yard was surrounded by a privacy fence.
“There ya go,” Iggy said, gesturing toward the beds. “I love the flowers, but it’s really a job to keep up with the frickin’ weeds. You think you can tell the difference between them? The flowers and the weeds I mean?” He followed the question with a chuckle, a wink, and a tousle of Thad’s hair.
“Yeah, I think so,” Thad said, warmed by the physical contact.
“Okay then. Have at it. If you need anything, water, a snack, anything, come on in. No need to knock,” Iggy said, pointing to the house. He punched Thad lightly on the arm. “Nice set of guns you got there, boy.”
In a state of confused anticipation, Thad watched his idol jog to the back door.
* * * *
Thad worked for over an hour pulling weeds. He had filled both waste sacks. Sitting back on his haunches, he surveyed his work. It seemed to him he had done a pretty fair job. The sun was high in the sky by this time and the afternoon heat was building He took off his shirt and looked at the pool. The water sure was inviting. His mind returned to Iggy’s invitation to swim and hang out. The time was at hand. Thad shivered despite the warmth of the sun.
He wasn’t sure where Iggy would want the bags of weeds to go and he was pretty thirsty. So he ran out to his car, got his swim shorts, and went around to the back door to let Iggy know he was finished. Remembering Iggy said not to bother knocking, Thad pushed the door open and went inside.
The back door led to a laundry area. Beyond that Thad could hear voices and running water. He cautiously walked toward the doorway. He came into the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks, staring open-mouthed. There, in front of him, was Iggy. He was pressed against Danny, who was barefoot, dressed only in a pair of sweatpants, and leaning against the sink, apparently trying to wash dishes. Iggy’s arms were around Danny, biting his ear.
“Stop. I’m never gonna get these dishes done if you don’t stop it! The kid’s outside, what if…” Danny said, laughing.
Thad bumped into a broom propped against the wall. It fell with a crash. The two men broke apart and turned to him.
“Shit,” Danny muttered.
“Hey, Thad,” Iggy said, adjusting himself. “You done already? Um, ready for our swim?”
Something clicked in Thad’s brain. What a fool he’d been. Danny lived here with Iggy. Iggy wasn’t interested in Thad. Danny was his lover. Of course—it was so obvious now. Why couldn’t he have figured it out when he had first seen them together in the training room? Feeling like a complete idiot, Thad turned and rushed out of the house, ran to his car and drove off.
When he got home, Thad hurried past his mother and up the stairs.
“Thad? Is something wrong?” she called after him.
Not answering, Thad ran to his room. Closing and locking his door, he stood panting in front of his dresser mirror.
There was a knock at the door. “Thad? What’s the matter? Are you okay?”
He took a deep breath. “I’m fine,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Uh, had a busy morning working with Iggy. Need a little nap.” He hoped he sounded normal.
“Well, all right. Dinner’s at six.”
“Okay.”
Thad heard his mother’s footsteps retreating. He turned and looked at the pictures of Iggy on the wall. He felt totally embarrassed. Not that he’d seen the men together, but that he’d let himself entertain the fantasy that somehow he and Iggy…Now that it seemed so obviously lame, he couldn’t even bring himself to think about it.
Thad lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling, hands behind his head. Not only was he a dork for thinking Iggy was interested in him, he’d made a total ass of himself by bolting out of the house when he’d seen them together.
Crap! If only I’d known Danny was there, if I’d seen another car in the drive or parked on the street. Then I’d have figured it out and wouldn’t have acted like such a moron.
He heard the phone ring. A few moments later there was a knock on his door.
“Thad, it’s for you. It’s Iggy Hernandez,” came his father’s voice through the door.
No, no, no, Thad thought. I can’t talk to him. What’ll I say?
“Thad?” his dad called again.
Trembling, Thad got up and walked to the door and opened it.
“What’s going on, son? Iggy said it was important that he talk to you. Did you do something at his house when you were working there today?”
Thad didn’t know how to answer his father, so just shrugged and said, “Haven’t a clue.” He hoped his dad didn’t hear the strain in his voice.
Mr. Stevens handed Thad the cordless handset and said, “it’s on hold.”
Thad took the phone. His father stood as if he were expecting to be allowed to listen to the conversation. Thad inclined his head and gave a palms-up gesture as if to say, What? You gonna stand there and eavesdrop?
The man pursed his lips, shook his head slightly, and left.
Thad stared at the phone for a minute, closed the door, took a steadying breath, and pressed the hold button.
“Hello.” He heard his voice crack.
Iggy’s voice was urgent. “Thad! I’m so sorry. Hey, look, man, we need to talk…in person. Can you come back over to our place?”
Our place. So, I was right. Danny does live there.
When Thad didn’t answer right away, Iggy continued, “Don’t worry, nothing’s gonna happen. You don’t have to be scared. We just need to talk to you.”
“I’m not scared,” Thad said, sounding defensive but not really feeling that way.
“Okay. But can you come over? It’s really important that you understand.”
I think I understand pretty well, Thad thought but said, “Fine, I’ll be right over.”
“Thanks, Thad. I appreciate it,” Iggy said, his voice reflecting his relief.
* * * *
For the second time that day Thad’s Toyota drove down Iggy’s street. And for the second time he felt a wave of anxiety sweep over him as the car came to a stop outside Iggy’s house. Iggy and Danny’s house, his thoughts reminded him. He closed his eyes for a moment and breathed deeply. Then he got out of the car, walked to the door, and rang the bell.
Iggy opened the door. “Thanks for coming back, Thad,” he said, swinging the door open and stepping aside to let him pass.
Thad walked through the foyer into the living room onto a plush white carpet. He looked around and saw Danny get
up from a black leather couch. In the corner was a huge flat screen TV. Glass end tables, a matching coffee table, and other black chairs furnished the room. On the white walls were black-and-white photos of sports scenes.
Danny rubbed his hands on his jeans. Clearly he was as nervous as Thad.
“Come on in and sit down. Can I get you a Coke or Dew or something?” Danny asked.
“No, I’m good, thanks,” Thad answered as he walked to one of the black leather armchairs, sat down, and began to intently study his shoes.
Danny sat back down on the couch and Iggy came and sat next to him. There was an awkward silence.
“Look, Thad,” Danny began, “I’m really sorry you saw what you did in the kitchen. Um, I, I…”
Iggy took up when Danny faltered, “What Danny is trying to say is we hope that you aren’t too upset finding out about us like that. I know it probably was quite a shock for you.”
Thad looked up at his idol and Danny. He hadn’t just discovered it. He’d known for a week or more, ever since he’d seen them by the hot tub. Not only that, he hadn’t run because he was shocked; he ran because he was ashamed, embarrassed, and felt like an idiotic fool because he had thought he and Iggy were going to…It even embarrassed him now to think about what an ass he’d been to have been thinking like that. But the real question was, should I tell them all this?
Instead of disclosing what was going on in his head, he said, “It’s okay. I’m cool with you guys being, um…”
“Gay.” Iggy finished the sentence.
“Yeah. Gay,” Thad said.
“We need to ask you a huge favor,” Iggy said, turning to his partner, who nodded.
“Okay,” Thad said, looking from one man to the other.
“We’re not out to many people,” Iggy said, taking Danny’s hand.
Thad smiled slightly at the gesture of solidarity.
“Yeah. The guys on the team know we live together and maybe some suspect, but we don’t make a big deal out of it, and neither do they,” Danny added.
“If someone asked, we’d probably be up front and admit we were more than housemates saving some coin by living together, but we’d rather keep it under the radar if we could,” Iggy said.
Thad nodded again and said, “I understand. I won’t say anything to anyone, I promise.”
“Thanks, Thad. We appreciate that,” Danny said, looking relieved.
“We’d like to come out,” Iggy went on. “We’ve seen the It Gets Better stuff on YouTube and how it talks about it being a good thing for young gay kids to see that guys like us are gay. We thought about someday maybe doing one ourselves, but for right now we feel we need to keep a low profile.”
Thad made a mental note of the YouTube videos. He’d check them out when he got a chance.
“So we’re cool, right?” Danny seemed to be the one who needed the most reassurance.
Iggy smiled at his lover and said, “Thad’s a man of his word. I trust he’ll do the right thing by us.” Then he turned his smile to Thad.
Thad knew he’d do anything the man asked. Their secret was safe with him. “I gave my word,” the young man said.
* * * *
Thad lay in bed. A lot had happened that day. He felt a bond with Iggy and Danny. But he hadn’t come out to them. He wasn’t sure he was ready to share what he suspected about himself with anyone just yet, not even these gay men. But he felt good knowing they were there. He knew he could go to them when he felt comfortable enough to open up about it. There would be someone there to listen to him and give him advice.
He’d looked up the It Gets Better site on the computer. The videos he’d seen had made him feel a lot better about his situation. He was in a better place than many gay kids. He was grateful for that and to Iggy and Danny for mentioning the site.
He looked forward to his next shift as batboy for the Buzzards. He looked forward to seeing his two new friends and allies who would support him when he needed it.
Thad remembered how awkward it had been when he had left that afternoon. Iggy had always been so physical with him, but now that his secret was out, the athlete seemed hesitant. At the door to their house Iggy and Danny had asked Thad if he’d be comfortable with a hug. Thad, wanting to put his idol at ease, had immediately answered by hugging first Danny then Iggy, making sure the second hug lasted just a bit longer.
In his bedroom, Thad smiled and rubbed the pilfered jock under his shorts. It still woulda been cool if Iggy and I…Well, someday I’ll find someone, he thought as he fell into a peaceful sleep filled with dreams of what might be.
THE END
ABOUT TERRY O’REILLY
Terry O’Reilly is a retired school teacher living a quiet life in the Midwest with his three dogs and his horse. He began writing several years ago at the urging of a friend and fellow author. He has books available through several publishers, including Amber Allure Press, Aspen Mountain Press, eXcessica Publishing, and JMS Books LLC. Writing has become an important part of his life, allowing him to explore his own thoughts, needs, and feelings, as well as learn about other cultures and eras as he researches his stories.
ABOUT QUEERTEEN PRESS
Queerteen Press is the young adult imprint of JMS Books LLC, a small press specializing in queer fiction, non-fiction, and poetry owned and operated by author J.M. Snyder. Visit us at queerteen-press.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!
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