Breaking Through The Blackout - 5. Chapter 5

5

 

Kevin chuckled, his blue eyes lingering a little longer than the average guys would have.

 

Andrew felt himself blushing deeply. “I…uhh…umm.”

 

Kevin raised his hand to silence him. “It happens to the best of us.” He waited until Andrew had his pants on to hand him the pills and the glass of water he was holding.

 

Andrew wanted to make some excuse, say something to make it less awkward. He knew he couldn’t, so he tossed the pills in his mouth and chugged the water, realizing just how thirsty he had been.

 

Might as well confront it head on.

 

“So…” he said with a sheepish grin. “I'm totally embarrassed now, for being drunk on the beach, for having a woody right in front of you, so yeah, I'm pretty much maxed out on the embarrassed scale.”

 

He began folding the blankets and stacking them neatly on the end of the couch.

 

“It’s ok. I don’t judge, I just hope if you ever find me wasted on the beach, you return the favor” He grinned again, easing a bit of Andrew’s anxiety.

 

The clock now read ten thirty, and Andrew had to go. It struck him that he had no idea where he was.

 

“Umm…”he said with a nervous giggle. “I'm not sure where my place is in relation to this.”

 

“Gimme five minutes to get ready, and I will drive you home.” He said running his hand through his hair. Andrew was having a hard time avoiding looking at his abs.

 

Andrew nodded, absentmindedly petting the dogs head. Kevin walked away, offering a perfect view of his gorgeous glutes. The top of his butt crack could be seen above the waistband of his pants, Andrew suspected that he had no underwear on.

 

While he got ready Andrew wondered about Kevin and his sexuality. He could be gay, but to Andrew it seemed too good to be true. He was fit, athletic, and oh-so sexy. Not to mention he’d carried him off the beach. Although he hated to admit it, his eyes reminded him a lot of David's. Andrew thought of David, his heart sinking again. Even if Kevin were gay, Andrew was still struggling with the ending of the relationship.

 

“Ugh…what am I going to do?” he whispered.

 

As if to answer him, Chaz jumped up onto the couch and laid his head in Andrews lap.

 

*******

 

The two of them rode back to Diane’s in Kevin’s blue pickup truck, thankfully, Diane wasn’t home. Knowing her, she would probably encourage him to dive deeper into the Kevin situation, and he just wasn’t ready for that sort of conversation.

 

“Come on up.” Andrew said as he stepped out of the truck. Kevin hadn't even removed his seatbelt.

 

“I can wait here.” He said smiling. Andrew had to avert his eyes, knowing that he could get lost in them quite easily.

 

“Just come on. I'm gonna be a few minutes anyways. And besides, if my aunt comes back and sees you, you are bound to get the interrogation of your life” He may have been exaggerating a bit, but it did the trick.

 

Andrew led him up the stairs and inside.

 

“Make yourself comfortable, and sorry about the mess, I just got here a few days ago.”

 

“No problem” he said as he took a seat on one of the maroon armchairs.

 

“I’ll be quick I swear.” Not that it was a choice, time was ticking and he didn’t really want to have to pay a late fee.

 

“Take your time. I'm in no hurry.” He said as he picked up a stray magazine.

 

Andrew got ready quickly, showering in record time. As he got out, he realized he had left his clothes in the bedroom.

 

Nice. You don’t look like you’re trying to seduce him or anything, he thought sarcastically.

 

You’re such an idiot sometimes.

 

He wrapped the towel tightly around his midriff, crossing his arm over his chest, trying to hide as much as he could. As he quickly crossed the living room to his bedroom, Kevin peered over the magazine and raised an eyebrow. Andrew could feel Kevin’s eyes on him up until he closed the bedroom door.

 

He quickly dressed, choosing something casual, so as not to appear desperate or eager.

 

Back in the living room Andrew laughed when Kevin wiggled his eyebrows,

 

He’s so gay. So what if he hasn’t said it, he’s so gay.

 

“Ready Freddy?” he asked.

 

“Lets go.” Andrew said as he grabbed the U-Haul keys and held the door for Kevin.

 

*******

 

Andrew spent the entire drive glancing in his side mirror, ensuring that Kevin was still behind him. He remained close, but not so close as to make Andrew nervous.

 

He couldn’t discern for sure whether or not Kevin was gay. It seemed that he could be, the looks, the boner situation, but Andrew couldn’t be certain.

 

Of course you could just ask.

 

“I don’t want to scare him away.” He muttered.

 

Oh yeah, cuz I'm sure finding a drunk on the beach and seeing him pop a bone in your living room is totally normal.

 

He resolved that he would somehow reveal he was gay, which in theory would cause Kevin to disclose his sexuality. Hopefully it would turn out to be as easy as it seemed.

 

They arrived at the drop off location and Andrew was pleased that Kevin accompanied him into the building, even holding the door for him.

 

They were greeted by a short elderly woman dressed in jeans and a wool sweater.

 

“I just need to drop off a U-Haul.” He said.

 

“Alright, all I need is the key and you to sign some forms and you will be all set.” She said in a pleasant voice.

 

“Am I going to be charged a late fee?” he asked worriedly.

 

She glanced at her watch, “Of course not dear, its only twenty minutes. Don’t you worry about it.” She kept glancing between he and Kevin.

 

“Are you guys new here?” she asked as Andrew was signing.

 

“Yeah.” He answered absentmindedly, not expecting what came next.

 

“You guys will like it here, it’s a beautiful place, and gay friendly so a cute couple like you two will definitely be welcomed.” She said, looking pleased with herself.

 

Before Andrew could recant her statement, Kevin stepped closer and wrapped his hand around Andrew’s waist.

 

“Well that’s good to know, isn’t it baby-doll?” he said as he looked into Andrews eyes.

 

He felt his face grow hot again.

 

“Ugh…yeah.” He choked out barely above a whisper.

 

Just play along with it, he thought, highly aware of the warm arm around his waist. Several of Kevin’s fingers had brushed his shirt hem aside, and they now lay warm on Andrew’s bare hip.

 

“You two are just adorable.” the woman said beaming.

 

All Andrew could do was offer a halfhearted grin.

 

“Well we better get going.” He said, giving Kevin a sharp look.

 

They turned together, but Kevin’s arm didn’t move. He didn’t let Andrew go until they had reached the door.

 

Once outside, Andrew turned to ask him what that had been about, but when he looked at Kevins grin he decided against it.

 

“What!?” he asked innocently. “Is it wrong to play with the old ladies?”

 

“No...but…”

 

But it’s not cool to play with me.

 

They got in the truck, Andrew just shook his head.

 

“You’re a goof.” He said.

 

Kevin laughed, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

 

“Now I'm worried.” Andrew laughed.

 

“Maybe you should be” he replied.

 

Oh my goodness.

 

They rode for a while, an awkward silence weighing down the air. Andrew cracked the window, feeling anxious. He felt short of breath, probably from the nervousness. Several times he attempted to say something, but decided it best to just keep his mouth shut. Thankfully, Kevin was the one who broke the silence.

 

“So I just need to pick up some paperwork from a family member, stuff for the house. It will only take a minute and then we will go to lunch.”

 

Andrew just nodded, peering at Kevin from the corner of his eye. He couldn’t help but admire the masculine coolness with which Kevin conducted himself. He sat in the seat, leaned back a bit, with one arm resting on the window frame, the other holding onto the steering wheel. He drove with no effort, glancing at things around him before turning his attention back to the road. The sun made his hair shine, making him appear even more angelic than he already was.

 

It was amidst Andrew’s fantasy that Kevin totally dropped a bombshell.

 

“So tell me, who is David?” he asked nonchalantly.

 

Andrew’s heart thudded heavily in his chest.

 

I never mentioned David.

 

He attempted to reply, but his breath caught in his throat.

 

Kevin looked over at him curiously.

 

“Where did that come from?” Andrew managed to choke out.

 

“Listen, I'm sorry, I just was curious. You kept calling me David while I was carrying you back from the beach.” He explained. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I'm totally fine with that.”

 

Maybe it was guilt, or maybe it was Andrew rebelling against the notion that ‘he didn’t want to talk about it’, but he chose to answer anyways.

 

Besides, he thought, this may be the chance to find out if he’s gay. Not that the last twenty minutes haven't been insightful.

 

“David Slater is my ex-boyfriend.”

 

You drop a bomb, I drop a bomb. All is fair in love and war.

 

“I see.” Kevin replied simply. He appeared to wrestle with his thoughts for a moment.

 

“Any more questions?” Andrew asked, a little tersely. Kevin looked stung, and for that Andrew felt bad.

 

“I'm sorry. Just a sore subject.” He blurted, trying to undo a little of the damage.

 

“It’s alright, I know it’s not cool to pry. I was just curious ya know?” he said apologetically.

 

“Yeah, it’s alright. Like I said, it’s just a sore topic right now.”

 

Oh my god, now I'm saying his name while drunk. Get a fuckin grip already.

 

“Dumb question, I know, but…like…” Kevin chewed the side of his thumbnail, “so does that...”

 

Andrew knew where he was going. He sighed before answering.

 

“Yes, that makes me gay.” he finished. He made it a point to stare out the window, not wanting to see Kevin’s reaction, for fear that it would be negative.

 

It was Kevin’s turn to sigh. “Well, looks like the U-Haul lady had us both pegged”

 

Andrew flushed scarlet.

 

‘Had US pegged’? You were right!

 

“So you mean…you are too?” he asked tentatively.

 

“Yeah, I am.” He replied flatly.

 

“Cool,” Andrew stated, trying to make it as flat as Kevin had, no use in appearing eager.

 

“So where should we eat?” Andrew asked, changing topics quickly.

 

“I don’t know, what do you like? I'm up for anything but seafood,” he replied, drumming his thumb on the steering wheel.

 

Andrew could tell he had made him nervous, and he delighted in the fact, but his attention was steered elsewhere.

 

I hate seafood. Common denominator?

 

“Why not seafood? This is Maine after all,” he asked, scared and intrigued by the answer.

 

Kevin made a disgusted face, sticking his tongue out. “Bleh. Seafood is so nasty. Anything that lives in the water for more than ten minutes is just gross. There’s a funny flavor to all of it.”

 

Andrew laughed. “It’s cool, I'm the same way.”

 

As much as their similarities unnerved him, Andrew was glad that the awkward feeling had evaporated.

 

“There’s a pretty good buffet I know of that we could check out if you want.”

 

“Sounds like a plan.” Andrew peered from the corner of his eye, checking the guy out.

 

I bet he has a big one, he thought, taking a quick glance at Kevin’s crotch of his jeans. From the way it looked, he was right.

 

That could always just be the material. Or a sock, you know how some boys are.

 

Kevin must have felt the visual molestation because he turned his head and gave a look of incredulousness.

 

“Are you checking me out?” he asked.

 

About to say no, Andrew decided against it, opting instead to be a badass.

 

“I might have been. What's it to you?” he retorted as snidely as possible.

 

He laughed, “You are so tense. Lighten up. I'm just trying to poke at you a bit, make you squirm to see how you handle it. “Besides, I got to check you out pretty thoroughly last night when I bathed you.”

 

“You what?!” he demanded, glaring at Kevin.

 

“You threw up all over yourself. What was I supposed to do, wrap you in a trash bag and pray you didn’t stink up my living room?”

 

Andrew was upset now. “You were supposed to leave me on the beach.” He spoke through gritted teeth, enunciating each word.

 

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Are you serious? Or just nuts?” he asked, sounding shocked.

 

“Do you want to see the papers?” he asked, which caused Kevin to soften a bit.

 

“By the way, just so you know, I was too busy fearing that you might not wake up to even think about checking you out. Not to mention that I kept your boxers on you the entire time.”

 

At this, Andrew was silent, touched by the caring that was so obviously to blame for this.

 

He saved you from freezing. He cleaned the puke off of you, which means he had to have done your laundry, seeing as you didn’t have puke on any of your clothes.

 

Bullshit. People don’t do stuff like that.

 

“So let me get this straight,” he said after a moment, “you find some random guy drunk on the beach. What makes you take that person home, rather than calling the police?”

 

Kevin shrugged in reply, “Maybe the fact that you hardly look old enough to hold a bottle of wine let alone drink one. The police don’t play nice with the underage drinkers, not up here. And excuse me for helping you, I didn’t know what the hell to do. It’s not every day that I come across some kid passed out on the beach in a fucking snow bank.” He had an edge to his voice that sounded like anger.

 

He feels cornered. He did what he thought was best, and you being confrontational is making him doubt his choice. I bet he’s a Leo, that whole pride complex he has going on.

 

Suddenly, something occurred to him, something that didn’t quite add up.

 

“And how come I didn’t wake up with wet underwear? If you say you bathed me with them on, they would have at least been damp when I woke up,” he asked.

 

“You woke up with dry underwear because I dried them with a hair dryer. Thanks for making me feel like a total creep,” he muttered, sounding hurt.

 

Andrew was flabbergasted, thinking of someone holding a drunk version of himself up long enough to blow-dry his boxers.

 

“People really do stuff like that?” he asked in astonishment.

 

“I don’t know. I just did,” he said. “I'm sorry. I didn’t know you’d take it like this. Shit, if I had I wouldn’t even have mentioned doing it.”

 

Now it was Andrews turn to feel horrible. Here he was being completely ungrateful, when realistically he could currently be an ice sculpture on the beach. Instinctively he reached out and placed his hand on Kevin’s elbow, causing the boy to look him in the eye.

 

“Thank you for doing what you did. You obviously went above and beyond what most people would do.”

 

Kevin gave him half a grin. “I didn’t know what else to do. I felt so bad seeing you like that, and then when I set you down on my porch so I could open the door you got sick on yourself.”

 

Will the embarrassment never end?

 

“I'm really sorry we had to meet on these terms. I don’t usually do stuff like that,” Andrew told him truthfully. He wasn’t the type to get so inebriated as to need someone to save him. “You probably think I'm totally nuts, and I can’t say I blame you.”

 

“I don’t think you’re crazy Andrew. I just think you are hurt big time and you aren’t dealing with it too well. I'm not a judgmental guy, because I have faults too.”

 

“It just makes me feel like a freak,” Andrew replied bitterly.

 

“I don’t think you’re a freak. If you weren’t so embarrassed by these things, then maybe I would, but you don’t seem like a person who does this often. If it makes you feel any better, we don’t have to talk about this anymore. We can just pretend an angel dropped you on my couch, and we can start our friendship from there.”

 

Andrew nodded his agreement.

 

An angel dropped me on your couch? Yeah, right pal. If there was any angel last night it was you Kevin.