“Yep, you sure did, bro. I’m really, really, proud of you. That was amazing.”
Skyler smiled at him and shifted his head up. He rested his forehead against his brother’s and looked into CK’s eyes. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” he squeaked out.
CK grinned. “You’re welcome.”
Someone cleared their throat next to them. Tracy yipped and pushed CK out of the way. She jumped up and down as she hugged Skyler and exclaimed, “Congrats to my newest out-and-proudie!”
Aaron and Paul looked at each other and shrugged.
When Tracy released Skyler from her super hug, Tommy jumped in front of Kalin and gave Skyler a hug. “That was awesome! You have no idea how awesome that was. I’m so glad I’m your friend.” Skyler looked over at Cody, who winked at him and turned back to the grill to flip some burgers. Tommy let go and ran over to help Cody. Skyler chuckled and then felt a surge of warmth pulse through his body as his eyes connected with Kalin gaze.
“Hi,” Skyler said.
Kalin smiled and stepped closer to him. “So, you’ve met someone you really like and you’re not going to be afraid to be with him?”
Skyler smiled and grabbed Kalin’s hand. “Yes, and nope, not anymore.” He pulled Kalin close and kissed him.
Tracy whooped and hollered and his friends cheered him on.
“About freaking time,” CK said.
Skyler and Kalin burst out into laughter together.
“Now that you two are dating,” Tracy said, “We need some celebratory music. I’ll take care of that!” She grabbed her phone and started streaming music to the Sounddock CK brought down from his room.
“And food, I’m starving,” Paul said.
“You’re always starving,” Jessica said back.
For a moment, Skyler and Kalin stood, arms wrapped around each other, watching their friends gear up for the next phase of the party.
“We’re dating, huh?” Kalin asked.
Skyler looked at Kalin and grinned. “Apparently so. That okay with you?”
“Yup,” Kalin said as joy filled his face. “There’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?” Skyler said.
“If I let go, everyone’s going to know how happy I am.”
“What? Oh!” Oh my hot damn!
Kalin grinned and flashed his gaze downward for a moment. “Know what I mean?”
Skyler realized he was becoming aroused as well. “Oh…um…if we jump in the pool, no one will notice, right?”
“Um, sure,” Kalin said.
“On three, then.”
“Okay.”
“Three!” Skyler exclaimed. He surprised Kalin and picked him up with a bear hug and carried him to the pool’s edge. Laughing, they fell together into the cool water.
* * *
Later that night, Skyler, CK, Tracy, Tommy, and Cody hung out in the Kelley’s movie theater room. They had finished watching the first Transformers movie, or as Tracy put it, the boy movie with car-bots. Cody and Tommy sat together on the two-seater couch, while CK, Skyler, and Tracy sprawled out on the larger, three-seater couch.
“I can’t believe she ends up with him. I mean come on, isn’t it a bit stereotypical to think a girl is going to go out with a guy because he has a nice car?”
“Well, you wouldn’t,” Cody said, chuckling. “But some girls will, you know.”
“Uh, a car that transforms into an ass-kicking Autobot,” CK challenged. “Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?”
“Besides,” Tommy piped up. “It’s not about Bumblebee—the yellow car—it’s about the exciting adventure they shared together. They saved the planet from certain doom!”
“And two teenagers are okay after that? No post-traumatic stress disorder?”
“It’s a movie,” CK said flatly.
“Well, it’s silly.”
“Of course it is! But it’s no more silly than your girly rom-com’s and their completely unrealistic plots,” CK argued.
Tommy sat up. “There’s nothing wrong with a fun, romantic comedy!”
“I know,” CK said. “I’m not arguing there is a problem! I’m just saying, it’s a movie. They’re not always supposed to be real. They’re fun escapes into a fantastical place, whether it’s romance, science fiction, or something else.”
"Hey, would you guys go to the GSA open house barbecue thing with me?” Skyler asked. A moment of silence fell upon the room as everyone absorbed the question and processed the abrupt change of subject.
“Whoa,” Tracy exclaimed. “You’re taking on the world today. First Daren, then coming out, then Kalin, now GSA. What’s next?”
“Ha ha,” Skyler said. “I’m serious.”
“I was already planning on going, Sky, with or without you.” CK said.
“If you go, I’ll go, too,” Cody said.
“Me three,” Tracy exclaimed, clapping her hands with giddy delight.
They all looked at Tommy, who nodded. “Of course! Why wouldn’t I go, especially after everything that’s happened? Besides…” His voice trailed off as he looked at Cody and grinned and paused.
Cody smiled and shook his head. “Come here, dude.” Tommy scooted closer to him on the couch and Cody wrapped his arm around Tommy’s shoulders. Tommy nestled into Cody’s body and his face beamed with happiness.
Skyler grinned and then looked at CK, and asked, “You were gonna go without me?”
“Yeah. You're my brother. Why wouldn't I go?”
"Uh, cuz you're straight?”
"And you're gay. It's the Gay-Straight Alliance, remember?"
"True. So why didn't you say anything?"
"I figured Tracy had badgered you enough about it."
Skyler laughed. “Oh, she totally did.”
“Um guys, I’m right here,” Tracy quipped.
“I checked out the GSA opening night online,” Skyler continued. “Apparently, it’s a really big barbecue?”
“Yep,” Tracy answered. “They have a big celebration to welcome everyone back the week before school and it’s pretty fun. The goal is to make the freshman class feel welcome and liked so they can be a part of something special and safe.”
“As safe as we can feel with Daren around, you mean,” Tommy said with annoyance in his voice.
“We’ll take care of you, little buddy,” Cody said, squeezing Tommy in his arm.
“Will he attend?” Skyler asked.
“Of course not,” CK said. “He wouldn’t be caught dead near the happy homos.”
Everyone laughed. “Well,” Skyler continued, “I’m going. I think it will be a lot of fun and I’m really glad you guys are going to come with me.”
Skyler’s cell phone vibrated on the coffee table. Tracy reached over and grabbed it. She smiled and thrust her hand toward Skyler. “It’s your Superman.”
Skyler grinned and grabbed the phone from her. “Thanks,” he said. He excused himself and stepped outside the room and closed the door. He could hear laughing on the other side. Skyler figured they were eavesdropping, but he didn’t care. He giggled with his own excitement.
He pressed the green button and answered the call. “Hi, Kal.”
“Hey, Sky, what’s up?” Kalin asked.
“Oh. Nothing much, just watched a movie with the gang.”
“Sounds like fun. What’d you guys watch?”
“Transformers.”
“That was a cool movie. I love Optimus Prime.”
“We thought so, too. Tracy wanted a rom-com, but, that wasn’t gonna happen tonight with her being outnumbered by the guys.”
“Ha. I bet. So, I have a very important question for you. What are you doing Friday night…tomorrow night? Say from about six o’clock on?”
“Um, I don’t know, I don’t think I’m doing anything. I don’t think the family’s doing anything, either.”
“Okay, so would you want to go out with me?”
“Uh, sure, I like hanging out with you. What do you wa
nt to do?”
“Skyler…”
“Yeah?”
“It’s a date. I’m asking you out on a date.”
“Oh…oh! Really?” Holy shit this has never happened to me before! I’m being asked out on a date!
“Yes, really. We’re dating now, right? I mean, at least since the pool party. I figured that we should probably have a first date to make it official.”
“Oh! Okay then. Yes. Definitely. A date? Seriously? Yes!” Skyler could barely contain the excitement in his voice. He heard Tracy laugh behind him in the theater room. He slowly opened the door. His friends were huddled up, giggling and trying to keep quiet. Skyler shook his head at them and smiled from ear to ear.
Kalin laughed on the other side of the phone call. “Okay, that’s great. I’m glad.”
“So, I’ll text you details tomorrow afternoon, but…I think I’ll pick you up around six.”
“Sweet. Okay, six o’clock. That sounds great.” Skyler wondered if Kalin could hear them giggling.
“Okay, see you then.”
“All right. Bye, handsome.”
“Bye, Kal-El.”
The telephone connection beeped off and Skyler screamed with joy. Then he drummed quickly on the door with his hands. “Holy shit, I’ve got a date. This feels awesome. I’ve got a date with Kalin!”
Tracy squealed with happiness and clapped her hands. Tommy pretended to faint and dramatically said, “That Kalin of yours is so dreamy!”
“Cheater,” Cody said, teasing Tommy, who smiled and rolled his eyes at him. “Way to go, Skyler. But let’s face it, we all knew this day was coming.”
“You guys more than me, but that’s kinda the best part, right? I don’t mind being the slow one here.”
They returned to the comfortable couches of the theater room and enjoyed the rest of their night together.
Tracy piped up first. “So, where are you going, what are you doing, I want details, Skyler Phoenix!”
“Here we go,” CK said.
“I don’t know,” Skyler answered. “All I know is that Kalin will text details tomorrow afternoon, and then he’ll pick me up at six o’clock.”
“You must be going to dinner. I bet you’re going to a really fancy restaurant!” Tracy said, swooning. “The kind that needs reservations!”
“How romantic,” Tommy added.
“Guys, I don’t know any details! I have no idea what we’re doing.”
“A girl can dream,” Tommy said, staring at the ceiling, clearly lost in his thoughts.
“What he said,” Tracy echoed. “All this romance makes me want to watch a rom-com, boys!”
“Ugh, fine,” CK said.
“How about a gay romance film?” Tommy asked.
Everyone stared at Tommy with surprise.
“What? They make them, you know. We should watch Boys. It’s from the Netherlands, though, so it’s subtitled. It’s about two guys our age on a track team falling in love. I can find it on Netflix.”
“Oh, if the guys are cute, I’m in,” Tracy said.
“Do it,” Cody said. “I can handle a little guy-on-guy action.”
CK burst out laughing as Tracy and Skyler rolled their eyes.
“Yes,” Tommy said, barely able to contain his excitement. He grabbed the remote and started searching through the movie listings.
“I need Skyler snuggles,” Tracy said. She nestled herself on the couch next to Skyler and leaned on his left side. CK smiled and leaned against him on his right.
Skyler wrapped his arms around them both and planted a kiss on each of their heads. “You guys are awesome.”
“We know,” they answered simultaneously.
Tommy looked at them and then looked back at Cody, who smiled at him knowingly. “I’m good for snuggles, bud. Hit play and get over here.” Tommy smiled and hit play. Then he sat comfortably next to Cody, who wrapped his arm around him again as the opening scenes of the movie started playing.
PART FOUR
22 | Perseid Kisses
FRIDAY EVENING FINALLY ARRIVED. THE day seemed to drag, but Skyler knew it was because he was preoccupied with his first date. Tracy and CK had taken him for a run in the morning, which helped distract him. In the middle of the afternoon, Kalin had texted him with a simple message: I’m wearing dark jeans, shoes, a button-down shirt, and a tie tonight. You should, too, so you’ll look extra handsome. Skyler pictured Kalin dressed up and the image in his mind made his heart flutter.
Skyler stood at the sink in his boxer shorts and carefully shaved as he danced to the music coming from the computer in his room. Downstairs, his excited foster parents were picking up the living room for Kalin’s arrival. Skyler suspected they were very happy he and Kalin had started dating.
CK knocked on the door.
“Yeah?” Skyler said, rinsing the razor blade.
CK put two condoms on the shelf under the mirror in front of Skyler. Skyler shook his head and gave him the side-eye. “You really think it’s going to happen tonight, don’t you?”
“I have no idea,” CK said. “But I’m pretty sure you don’t own any condoms.”
“Um, Dale gave us each a box, remember?”
“Yeah, okay, you have a point there. Just keep one in your wallet at all times. It’s the smart thing to do.”
“Okay, okay.”
“And have fun. This is not me pressuring you to have sex. Only do that when you’re ready. I hope that’s obvious to you.”
“Yes, dear,” Skyler teased.
CK shook his head and slapped Skyler’s ass. “It’s 5:35. You’ve got twenty-five minutes to finish getting ready. Twenty if you want to be ready when he gets here.”
“Shit,” Skyler said, noting the time. “Thanks.”
CK backed out of the bathroom and swung the door closed. Skyler spun around and reached into the shower. He turned on the water and then turned back to the sink, double checking his face for any hairs he might have missed. He touched up the corners of his mouth and then set the razor down on the shelf. He paused when he saw the condoms. He grabbed them and ran to his dresser where his wallet was. He stuffed one into the wallet and then tossed one into his nightstand. Then he pulled off his boxers and tossed them into the hamper. Finally, he stepped into the shower and let the hot water run over his face and body.
He finished showering and toweled off. He applied deodorant to his armpits, after-shave lotion to his face and neck, and squirted cologne on to the back of his neck, the center of his chest, and his wrists. He opted for boxer briefs and then dressed as Kalin had suggested, wearing dark jeans, dress socks and shoes, a blue and white gingham button-down shirt, and a solid yellow tie. He finished styling his hair and rinsed his mouth out with Listerine. He grabbed his wallet and phone, stuffed them into his pockets, and then knocked on and opened the door to CK’s room.
CK turned from his computer and checked Skyler out with a wide smile.
“What do you think?” Skyler asked.
“I think Kalin’s gonna have one sexy date tonight.”
Skyler blushed. “Thanks.”
“Mom wants a picture, by the way.”
“Huh?” Skyler asked, surprised.
“Her boy’s first date, Sky. Mom wants a picture for the memories!”
She’s awesome. She really wants to save the memory of my first date?
“Okay, let’s do this.” Skyler headed downstairs with CK and walked into the kitchen. Liara took one look at him and smiled.
“Oh, bellissimo!” she exclaimed. Skyler blushed again and walked over to her. “Let me look at you,” She said, faking an Italian accent. “Oh, molto bene” she exclaimed.
“Mom’s lost it,” CK said.
“You look so handsome,” she said.
“What’s with the Italian?” Skyler asked.
“I might have told her I was taking you to Fangiolo’s,” Kalin said.
Skyler spun around and saw Kalin standing in a doorway, recording the moment with his
phone.
Nope, Liara’s phone. The pink case gives it away.
“Oh hey,” Skyler said, blushing. Wow. You look hot. Kalin had paired a black skinny tie with a fitted silver shirt. Dark skinny jeans and black dress shoes finished the look. Skyler swooned at Kalin’s smile and the messy-styled hair that made his boyfriend seem extra handsome that night
A familiar squeal dragged Skyler’s eyes to Tracy, who stood behind Kalin. She clapped her hands. “My boys look so handsome tonight!”
“Molto bene, Italiano,” Liara said again, dramatizing the words and gesturing with her hands for great emphasis. Then she dropped her hands and extended one toward Kalin. “Okay,” she said, in unaffected English, “Enough video. I want pictures.”
Kalin smiled and tapped a button on the phone. He handed it off to Liara and stepped over to Skyler. “Hey, Sky. I was right. You look extra handsome tonight.”
Skyler blushed. “So do you, Kal.” I want to kiss him but everybody’s watching us.
Kalin winked at Skyler. “Picture time.”
“Okay, let’s go in the living room, in front of the fireplace.” Liara instructed.
Skyler and Kalin walked to the living room and stood awkwardly in front of the fireplace, staring at the different phone cameras everyone else was holding up at them. Skyler could tell CK was doing it just to be funny.
“Sheesh, boys,” Tracy said. “Pretend you like each other. Hold hands or something.”
Skyler couldn’t stop the smile that commandeered his face as he looked at Kalin and offered his right hand to him. Kalin accepted with his left hand and met Skyler’s gaze with a grin. The chatter of his family around them fell into the distance as Skyler felt his heart connect with Kalin’s soul.
Wow. What is this? What is this feeling? I’ve never felt this before. I never felt this with…
Kalin smiled and squeezed his hand. Skyler blinked and the noise in the room filled his ears again. Kalin winked at him and pulled him closer.
Oh, so we’re gonna…
Skyler leaned forward and kissed Kalin. Warmth spread through his body. The sound of camera clicks filled the air as they separated and started laughing. Skyler inhaled Kalin’s subtle cologne and noted its familiar scent. He appreciated how it mixed with Kalin’s skin that night.
The Climb Page 33
