A Different Road - 9. Chapter 9

I awoke the next morning with Adrian spooning me from behind. I could feel his hard cock pressed up against my back. The sun was just beginning to shine into the window, so I figured it must still be early.

I lay awake feeling Adrian’s warm body. He was breathing gently, and I could feel his chest rise and fall against me. Each time he breathed, his cock would nudge me slightly. I was starting to get hard. It felt strange being in bed with someone other than Brett. It sounds odd, but in a way, I felt like I was cheating on him.

Soon, Adrian began to stir. He must have awakened and felt the position we were in, because he quickly moved away and lay on his stomach. I giggled to myself because I knew he was hiding his erection. I rolled over, propped myself on my elbow and stared into his face. He was facing me with his eyes closed. Slowly, they opened and he looked into my smiling face.

“Hey, you,” I said. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah,” he replied timidly. “Better than I have in a while, actually.”

When he rolled over to face me, he winced in pain.

“You all right?”

“My arm hurts.” His face expressed the pain he was in.

“Let me go get your pain killers.” When I climbed out of bed, my cock was poking out through the opening in my boxers. Adrian’s eyes widened as he stared at it.

“Oops!” I laughed. “The horse is trying to get out of the barn.” I arranged myself, trying to stuff my hard cock back in. Adrian blushed and looked away. I walked out and headed to the kitchen to get the pills the doctor had given him for his pain. I took two out of the vial, got a bottle of water from the refrigerator and then trotted back to the bedroom. Adrian was sitting up waiting for me.

I handed him the pills and water and then crawled back into bed. He took the pills, drank some water and then looked over at me.

“Thanks, Corey,” he said. “You’re a good friend.”

“It’s all right,” I responded. “Glad I can help.” We sat and stared into each other’s eyes. Again, I had a strong urge to kiss him. I leaned forward, but he turned his head and leaned away.

“About yesterday,” he said. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to act the way I did.”

“No,” I said. “I shouldn’t have violated your privacy.”

“It’s just my dad.” His eyes expressed so much sadness. “He’ll kill me if he thinks I’m gay. What he did to you was nothing compared to what he would do to me.”

I was speechless. I knew what he was saying was true, and sadness overwhelmed me. It must be horrible living in fear that your own father would hurt you if he thought you were gay. At least my mother hadn’t done anything to me, other than walk out of my life.

I reached over, put my hand around his shoulder and pulled him into me. He put his head against my chest and let out a deep sigh. I took my other hand, put it on his chest and rubbed it gently. It was smooth, not covered with hair like Brett.

He looked up at me and our eyes met. I dropped my head and pressed my lips against his. He stiffened at first, but then he relaxed and gently returned the kiss. After a few seconds, he pulled away and looked into my face. There was such sadness behind his soft brown eyes.

“I can’t do this Corey,” he said, pulling away from me and sitting back up against the bed. “I really can’t.” He gave me another sad look as he pulled back the covers and climbed out of bed. His cock was protruding from his underwear. He adjusted himself and then pulled on his shorts.

“Sorry.” He put his head down and walked out of the bedroom.

A deep depression overwhelmed me. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. First, Brett didn’t want me, and now Adrian walked out on me. I began to think that God was probably looking down on me and laughing at the situations he had been placed before me.

I got up, walked to the bathroom and took a long, hot shower. The warm water felt good cascading down my face. I must have stood under it for a long time because Charlie pounded on the door and told me that there wouldn’t be any hot water for anyone else. I dried off and walked back into the room with the towel wrapped around me. Charlie was sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for me.

“Everything all right?” she asked worriedly.

“No, not really,” I replied with a frown.

“What happened? Adrian came downstairs crying. He and Uncle Cornelius are out on the back deck talking.”

“I kissed him,” I said.

“Oh.” She looked over at me worriedly. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. I was still standing in front of her with the towel wrapped around my waist. She kept staring at the bulge that was outlined by the towel. She saw me looking at her and began to blush.

“Do you mind?” I laughed.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, “but I’ve just never seen one before.” I have known Charlie for several years and I had never seen her embarrassed. She always seemed unconcerned with anything going on around her. Playfully, I dropped the towel from around my waist. Her eyes widened when she saw me standing naked before her.

I started laughing, then quickly grabbed my clothing and ran into the bathroom to get dressed. I couldn’t stop giggling as I remembered the startled look on her face. When I finished, I walked back into the bedroom where she was still seated on the bed.

“Damn, Corey,” she said admiringly. “You sure you’re a catcher? With a dick like that you should be a pitcher.” It was my turn to blush. I suddenly realized that I had actually stood naked in front of Charlie. I couldn’t believe I had done that.

“Come on Charlie.” I took her hand and pulled her off the bed. “The show’s over for today.” We both started laughing.

We walked down the hall and into the kitchen. John was sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper. He looked up when we entered.

“Hey, Kids,” he said cheerfully.

“Hi, Uncle John,” replied Charlie. “Where’s Adrian?” He pointed out the back window. I looked out and could see Adrian and Cornelius sitting on a porch swing. It was obvious that Adrian had been crying.

Charlie walked over to the counter and poured coffee into two cups. She walked back over and handed me a cup. I sat and watched outside as Adrian and Cornelius continued to talk. Occasionally, Cornelius would look inside at me. After about fifteen minutes he got up and came inside, leaving Adrian alone on the deck.

He walked over to me and began rubbing my shoulders. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Go talk to him.” I hesitantly rose and walked outside. I could feel three pairs of eyes watching me as I walked over to the swing.

I sat down, and we swung for several minutes without speaking. I really didn’t know what to say. The entire situation seemed to be getting out of hand. I had only wanted Adrian as a friend, and it seemed that things were spiraling out of control. I had no intention of pushing him into a relationship. It was just that when I was with him I found myself being drawn closer.

“I’m sorry.” I finally broke the silence. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He just sat quietly looking at his hands.

“Look Adrian,” I explained. “I’m just getting over a relationship with Brett. I’ve been really going through some things, and I shouldn’t be involving you in my problems.” He still didn’t reply. I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

“I’ve been in love with him for a long time,” I continued. “He doesn’t want me anymore, and I’m trying to deal with it. I’m just not looking for a boyfriend right now. I’m sorry if I led you on.” He still didn’t say anything. I looked over at him as he continued to study his hands.

“I think I better go,” he said sadly. He started to get up, but I gently took his arm and pulled him back down. He looked over at me with tears in his eyes.

“I said right now, I didn’t say never.” I gave him a slight smile. “I really like you Adrian. I just need a little time more time, okay?”

“Okay,” he replied as he took my hand and squeezed it. I gently rubbed his knuckles with my fingers. He looked into my eyes and smiled. His eyes were twinkling from the earlier tears.

I leaned in and gave him another kiss. He closed his eyes and responded with a tenderness that I had never experienced with Brett. After a minute, we pulled away and smiled at one another. Adrian looked over my shoulder and began to laugh. I turned around to see what he found so funny. Charlie, Cornelius and John had their faces pressed against the window smiling at us.

We went back inside and ate some breakfast. Later, John wanted to play Monopoly, so we sat around the coffee table. Adrian sat pressed up against me most of the time. Charlie made sure of it. She sat on my left, and every time I would move away from Adrian, she would use her shoulder to push me back against him. It’s too bad they don’t give merit badges to matchmakers, because she was surely trying to earn one.

My father stopped by in the afternoon. Charlie, Adrian and I went downstairs to the den and played pool, leaving my father upstairs with Cornelius and John. Dad and Cornelius came down a little later. Cornelius had his arm wrapped around my father’s, and he was talking animatedly about something. My father looked over at me and mouthed the words, “Help.” Charlie saw him, and we both began to laugh. Poor Cornelius seemed to be smitten by my father’s charm.

John prepared a wonderful dinner and insisted that my father and I stay. It was a delicious meal of roast beef, rice pilaf and steamed carrots. My father had two large helpings. After dinner, he asked John to marry him, which sent Cornelius into a rampage. He told John that he had seen my father first. They spent fifteen minutes arguing over who would have my father. Dad was eating up the attention. I was so happy that he was comfortable with two old queens fighting over him. When we left, he even gave both a kiss on their cheeks. Cornelius insisted he would never wash his face again.

“I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun,” he said on the ride home. “Nothing like those boring dinners your mother would drag me to.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I was so happy that my father was so understanding. Not only did he accept me, he accepted my friends as well.

We drove in silence for a few minutes. Finally, he spoke. “Adrian’s a nice kid. Cute, too.” He reached over and shoved my shoulder.

“Dad!” I said loudly. “You’re worse than Charlie.”

“I knew I liked that girl for some reason,” he laughed. “Seriously, anything going on? I saw how you kept looking at him all night. You two hardly left each other’s side.”

I tried to explain to him the conflicting feelings I was having. I was still trying to deal with losing Brett, and I didn’t feel I was ready to just jump into another relationship so soon.

“You’re a smart boy, Corey.” He ruffled my hair. “I can’t tell you enough how proud I am that you’re my son.” I looked out the window and wiped away some tears that were forming in my eyes.

“I love you, Dad.” My voice cracked as I took his hand and squeezed it. He returned the squeeze. I started giggling and pulled my hand away. “This is sooooooooo gay!” We both began to laugh.

“Hey, you never know,” he laughed. “Cornelius seemed really interested.” I shoved his shoulder.

“After nineteen years with that cold woman,” he continued, “a man might be just the thing I need.” I started laughing hysterically.

“You wouldn’t have the balls,” I laughed.

“Oh, I’ve got the balls,” he replied. “But I don’t think I’m really a butt guy.” Tears were rolling down my face with laughter. It’s a good thing I wasn’t driving or I would have wrecked the car.

When we got home, I took a long shower and then lay in bed working on some homework that I been putting off. I called Adrian once to see how he was feeling. We talked for a few minutes, and I assured him I’d see him at school the next day.

As I was reading my lit assignment, I heard the doorbell ring. I looked at the clock. It was after 9:30. I couldn’t figure out who would be coming by this late at night. Several minutes later, there was a light knocking at my door.

“Come in!” I shouted. The door slowly opened, and Mrs. Weaver, Brett’s mom, peeked inside.

“May I come in, Corey?” she asked timidly. I got off the bed, walked over and gave her a hug. Mrs. Weaver was my second mom. Well, actually my first. My own mother had never been around that often, and she had filled the void all these years. I loved her more than I did my own mother.

She walked over to the bed and sat down. She patted the bed beside her, indicating she wanted me to sit beside her.

“How have you been, Sweetheart?” She reached up and rested her hand on my cheek. I was trying to fight back the tears, but it was useless. I leaned in and started crying while she held me tightly. She kept rubbing my back gently and softly telling me everything was going to be all right.

“Brett told me everything,” she said. “He really didn’t mean to hurt you.” I continued to cry. I had been holding things in for several days, and now I was releasing all the pain and frustration I was feeling. For some reason, I felt that she understood.

“I don’t know what to do anymore,” I cried. “Everything seems so out of control.”

“He still loves you, Honey,” she said softly. “You have to believe that.”

“He doesn’t act like it,” I mumbled into her shoulder.

“Have you given him a chance to explain?” She pulled back and looked at my wet eyes. She had been crying as well.

“What’s to explain?” I asked angrily. “He said he didn’t want me anymore.”

“But did he tell you he didn’t want to be your friend anymore?” I thought for a minute and then shook my head. He had been trying to talk to me, but I had stubbornly refused to listen to him.

We sat quietly for a few minutes while she continued to hold me. It suddenly dawned on me that she seemed to know quite a bit about what had been going on. I was embarrassed thinking that she might have known that Brett and I had been having sex.

“You know, don’t you?” I leaned back and looked into her eyes. She nodded her head and smiled.

“How long?” I asked. My face was beginning to redden.

“About three years,” she said. “I came home early from work one day and saw you in bed together. I left the house and came back an hour later. By then you were in the driveway shooting basketball.” My face was beet red thinking that she’d seen us having sex on Brett’s bed.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked. I couldn’t understand how a mother could catch her son having sex with another boy and not get angry.

“I knew you two loved each other,” she said. “I just didn’t know how much. I knew if I reacted negatively, I could lose you both. You two had something special, and I couldn’t come between you.”

“Does his dad know?”

“No,” she replied. “I never told him, although I’m sure he suspects something.”

“Brett came to me about three months ago and told me what was going on,” she said. “He said he was confused. He told me he loved you, but that he wanted to have a girlfriend and he didn’t know how to tell you.”

When I hung my head, she pulled me into her once again and held me.

“I’m sorry, Baby,” she whispered. “I should have talked to you. I just figured if he wanted a girlfriend, maybe you did too.” I began to chuckle.

“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’m gay.”

“I know that now.” She held me tightly and kissed me on my forehead.

“But Brett isn’t,” I said sadly.

“Brett’s confused right now,” she replied. “He doesn’t know what he wants at the moment.” I sat back and looked hopefully into her face.

“But I do know one thing,” she smiled. “He needs his best friend back. He’s been moping around the house for a week. I‘ve gone in his room at night and caught him crying.”

Hearing her say that again brought tears to my eyes. All this time I thought that I was the only one hurting. I had thought that he had moved on with Cindy and had forgotten about me. Maybe I had been wrong.

“I can’t tell you what to do, Corey,” she said. “But Brett needs you.” We rose off the bed, and she gave me a long hug.

She pulled away and said, “Don’t tell him I came by.” I nodded my head. I walked her to the front door, and she gave me another hug. After she left, I went into my father’s office where he was working at his drawing table.

“Everything all right?” He asked as I walked in and sat in his large leather chair.

“I think I’m an ass,” I replied.

“No, Corey,” he insisted. “You’re not an ass. I don’t know what Jennifer said to you, but Brett did hurt you. You’re both very young, and perhaps this was handled all wrong. However, you can’t blame yourself.”

“So what do I do now?” I had so much going on inside my head. It really wasn’t my entire fault. Perhaps I had been immature by not talking to Brett, but I still felt that he should have been more truthful. If he could talk to his mother months ago, why couldn’t he have said something to me?

“You are going to have to talk to him sometime,” Dad said. “I guess that is why Jennifer came by.” I nodded my head.

“Yeah,” I replied. “I guess I do. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Good.” He smiled and continued working at his table while I sat quietly thinking about facing Brett again.