Between the Lines - 7. Chapter 7

The restaurant had a cozy vibe, warm lighting, and the faint smell of garlic and herbs hanging in the air. The hostess seated us quickly, and soon we were flipping through menus while a waiter poured water for the table.

“Know what you want, or should I pick for you?” Cal asked, glancing over his menu.

“I think I’ve got it,” I replied, trying to focus but still buzzing from his earlier comment about starting fresh.

“Good. This place is great. It’s kind of a family tradition—first dates happen here,” Cal said with a smirk. “At least in my family.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Noted,” I said, my voice dry but my heart racing.

After placing our orders, the conversation shifted to family. I’d been curious about when he started calling Roger “Dad,” and he opened up without hesitation.

“It wasn’t right away,” Cal said, leaning back in his chair. “I resented him at first—he wasn’t my dad, and I didn’t want him to be. I think I called him Roger for years, even though he was always trying. Then one day, my real dad flaked on me. It was something stupid, but it broke me, you know? Roger found me on the front steps, crying, and just sat there with me. Didn’t say much, just let me cry it out. And then I said it—‘Thanks, Dad.’ I didn’t even realize it until later.”

He shrugged, looking down at the table for a moment. “That’s when I knew. He wasn’t trying to replace my dad. He was just... there for me, like a real dad should be.”

“That’s... really incredible,” I said softly.

He gave me a small smile. “Yeah. It took me a while, but I’m glad I got there.”

Then he added, “But enough about me. What about you? Tell me about your dad.”

I hesitated. Talking about Dad was still hard. But the way Cal had opened up—it felt like I owed him the same.

“He died when I was eight or nine,” I said quietly. “Cancer. It was fast, aggressive. Chemo wasn’t helping, so he stopped. He went into hospice, and Mom and I spent every day with him until the end. It was... hard.”

Cal didn’t say anything right away, but then he did something I didn’t expect. He reached out and placed his hand over mine.

“Jer, that’s... thanks for telling me,” he said, his voice steady. “I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like. My dad screwed up, but at least I got a second chance with him. You didn’t. That’s... I’m really sorry.”

His words were simple, but his sincerity hit me hard. I felt my throat tighten and quickly nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

He gets it. He really gets it.

As we sat there, finishing our dinner, Cal leaned back in his chair and looked at me.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you’ve got an amazing family,” he said. “Your mom really cares for you, even though she’d make a great interrogator. And your dad is pretty cool. He reminds me of Roger.” He paused, his tone softening. “I’m sure your mom says it all the time—mine did—but give him a chance.”

He was right. I knew he was right. But I didn’t think I was ready for that step just yet.

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment before I pulled out my wallet.

“What are you doing?” Cal asked, his eyebrow quivering.

“Paying for dinner. It was my idea, after all,” I replied.

“Nope,” he said firmly. “Besides, I already paid. And I called it a date first, so a gentleman never lets his date pay. Am I right?”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“Okay, you got it this time. Next time, it’s my turn,” I said with a grin.

“Deal,” Cal replied. “Should we get going?”

“Yeah, let’s get going,” I said, standing up.

As we left the restaurant, Cal glanced at me. “So, should we head to the movie, or do you wanna bail?”

“Bail? No way. I’ve been waiting all week for this movie,” I said. “Besides, you already paid for dinner, so it’s only fair I follow through.”

Cal laughed. “Good. I’d hate to think my gentlemanly efforts were wasted.”

The theater was just a block away, so we left the car and walked. As we strolled, Cal bumped my shoulder lightly with his.

“You’re gonna love this movie,” I said, trying to shake off the heaviness from earlier.

“Of course I will,” Cal replied. “It’s Deadpool and Wolverine—what’s not to love?”

“Right? Critics are crazy. Who listens to them anyway?”

“Definitely not true fans,” Cal said, grinning.

We got our popcorn and settled into the top row of the theater. Cal had insisted on the middle seats—“Best view in the house,” he’d said.

As the previews rolled, I couldn’t help but glance at him. He caught me looking and nudged my arm, leaning closer.

“What?” he whispered, his voice warm in my ear.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, turning back to the screen.

But my heart wouldn’t stop racing.

Movie Time

The lights dimmed, and the previews rolled before the opening credits lit up the screen. As soon as the movie started, I was hooked. I hadn’t seen it before and wanted to catch every Easter egg, every subtle reference.

Cal, apparently, had other plans.

Every now and then, he’d lean over, his breath warm against my ear, and whisper something about the movie. “Did you catch that? That’s a nod to the comic series,” he said at one point.

By the time we were halfway through, I was convinced he’d seen the movie before. If he did, why come watch it again?

When he wasn’t whispering in my ear, he was finding other ways to distract me. He’d nudge me with his elbow, his hand brushing mine as he pointed at the screen. “Watch this part,” he’d say, his voice low and excited.

Every touch, every whisper, sent my heart racing. I wasn’t even mad—just completely overwhelmed by him. His cologne lingered in the air between us, subtle but intoxicating. And then there was his shampoo—clean, fresh, undeniably him.

At one point, he rested his hand on mine for just a second too long before pulling away. My skin tingled where he’d touched me, and I felt like I was on fire.

It wasn’t just the physical stuff, though. The way he looked at me, even in the darkened theater, was enough to make me feel like I was the only other person in the room.

I tried to focus on the movie, but my mind kept wandering back to him. What’s he doing? Why’s he doing this?

And yet, I didn’t pull away. How could I? Every touch, every whisper, every glance—it all felt too perfect, too right.

By the time the credits rolled, I knew. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to talk to him. Whatever happens—happens.

After the Movie

The theater had mostly cleared out, but Cal and I lingered in our seats for a few moments. We both wanted to watch the end credits as there was always a few minutes of additional story. He seemed quiet, lost in thought, and I didn’t want to interrupt. The movie had been great, but my mind was racing, replaying every little thing Cal had done all night.

On the drive back, the silence stretched between us, comfortable but charged. The kind where you know something’s about to happen, but you’re too scared to guess what.

When we pulled into my driveway, Cal parked the car and didn’t immediately get out. Instead, he turned off the engine and leaned back, gripping the steering wheel like he was trying to figure out what to say.

“Hey, Jer,” he started, his voice softer than usual. “Before you go… I’ve gotta ask you something.”

My heart leapt into my throat. Is this it?

“Okay,” I said, trying to sound calm, even though my chest felt like it was about to explode.

Cal got out of the car, and I followed. He walked around to the passenger side and leaned against the door, the cool night air wrapping around us.

I stood there, fidgeting with the zipper on my jacket, waiting for him to say whatever was on his mind.

He crossed his arms, glancing at me before looking down at his shoes. “So, uh… are you—like, do you have a girlfriend?” he asked, his voice steady but quieter than usual.

I blinked, caught off guard. “No, I don’t,” I replied, trying to gauge where he was going with this. He obviously didn’t know I was gay.

“Okay. That’s good… well, not good—I mean, um…” He scratched the back of his neck nervously. “Hey, you’re not gonna punch me out, right?”

“What? Punch you out? For what?” I asked, thoroughly confused now.

“Well…” He hesitated, his gaze flicking to mine before dropping again. “Do you have a boyfriend, then?”

I blinked, completely thrown. What?

I opened my mouth to answer but nothing came out. This wasn’t how I’d imagined the conversation going.

Cal looked up, his eyes meeting mine, his usual easygoing expression replaced with something more serious. “Jer, I’ve got something to tell you. I’m usually pretty open about this stuff, but… you’re a good friend, and I don’t want to ruin that. I really hope I won’t by saying this.”

He hesitated for a second, then took a deep breath. “Jer… I’m gay.”

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, it felt like everything had slowed down. It seemed like an eternity before I could respond, my mind racing to process what he’d just said.

There it was. He’d said it. It was what I wanted to tell him, I’d been building up to it all night. I must have waited too long to respond because he spoke again, his words tumbling out in a rush.

“You’re not gonna punch me out, right? If you’re not… I’m so sorry—I don’t wanna make this weird. But… I had to tell you,” he said, his voice laced with both nervousness and resolve.

I swallowed hard, my brain scrambling for a response. “I was gonna tell you the same thing,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

“Me?” Cal asked, his eyebrows raising.

“Yeah,” I said, shifting nervously. “And… Sammy. I wasn’t sure what was going on there. I thought maybe she was your girlfriend or something.”

Cal let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Sammy? No, no. She’s not my girlfriend. She was part of our skate crew. When she moved away, she gave me that heart as a joke—a kind of goodbye thing. I kept it because… I don’t know, it was sentimental, I guess. It’s not what you think. She gave all of us one.”

I felt my face flush. “So, that’s why… I didn’t pick up on the hints you were dropping. I thought you were straight.”

Cal smiled, leaning a little closer. “I was wondering why you didn’t say anything. I figured maybe I was being too subtle.”

“You? Subtle? Never,” I said, trying to lighten the tension, though my voice was shaking.

Cal grinned. “Okay, maybe not. But seriously, Jer… I’ve been waiting for you to say something. I didn’t know if you felt the same way, or if I was just imagining it.”

I stared at him, barely breathing. “I didn’t want to lose you as a friend,” I admitted.

“You’re not gonna lose me,” he said softly. “But I’ve gotta ask… would you want to be more than that? Would you go out with me? Um… would you be my boyfriend?”

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, everything else faded away. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

“Yes,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I would.”

Cal turned to face me fully, his expression softening. “Good,” he said, and then, before I could say another word, he leaned in and kissed me.

It was just a quick peck, but it was enough to send my heart racing.

When he pulled back, he smiled. “Oh shit… sorry, was that OK? I mean, sorry I didn’t ask for permission. Damn. I’m a mess. This is tougher than I thought… but, I’ve been wanting to do that for a while. ”

“Me too, and yes, it’s OK” I admitted, grinning like an idiot.

“Guess I should’ve asked sooner,” he said, laughing.

“Guess I should’ve said something,” I replied.

We both laughed, leaning against the car, the quiet night wrapping around us like a warm blanket. The streetlights cast a soft glow, their light reflecting in his eyes as he looked at me.

Without a word, he reached for my hand, his touch deliberate and gentle. His fingers slid into mine, warm and steady, sending a shiver through me that had nothing to do with the cool night air.

For a moment, everything else fell away—just the two of us standing there, the world around us quiet and still. His grip tightened slightly, like he was anchoring me to the moment, and I couldn’t help but smile.

After the Kiss

I looked at him, his soft smile glowing in the dim light as he leaned against the car. My heart was still pounding, like I’d just run a marathon. The kiss. The touch. Both lingered, setting every nerve in my body on fire, but in the best possible way.

“You okay there, Jer?” he asked, teasing but gentle.

“Yeah, just… processing,” I replied, letting out a shaky laugh.

“Good processing, I hope?”

“Yeah, definitely good,” I said, smiling back at him.

We stood there for a few minutes, the cool night air swirling around us. Cal gave my hand another quick squeeze. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to send a warmth spreading through me.

“You know,” he said, his tone lighter now, “for a first date, I think we nailed it.”

“First date, huh?” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“Yup,” he said confidently. “And I think it went pretty well. You?”

I laughed. “Yeah, I’d say it went pretty well.”

He grinned. “Good. ‘Cause I’d like to do this again sometime. But, you know, maybe without your mom interrogating me first. And I’ll bring chocolate and roses. Promise.”

“Oh my God, don’t remind me,” I groaned, covering my face.

Cal chuckled, reaching out to nudge my arm. “Well, you deserve the full treatment. Besides, I think your mom would approve. She’s just watching out for you.”

Everything felt perfect.

“I should probably head home before my dad starts blowing up my phone,” he said reluctantly.

“Yeah, I guess,” I replied, not really wanting the night to end.

“I’ll text you when I get home, okay?” he said, stepping closer again.

“Okay,” I said softly.

Before he turned to go, he leaned in and kissed me one more time—just a quick peck, but it left me grinning like an idiot.

“Goodnight, Jer,” he said as he got into the car.

“Goodnight, Cal,” I replied, watching as he drove off, the taillights fading into the darkness.

When I walked into the house, the lights were dim, but Jenn was still up, curled up on the couch with a mug of tea. She looked up as I closed the door, her expression instantly lighting up.

“Well?” she said, setting her mug down.

“Well what?” I replied, trying to play it cool, though I was pretty sure my face was giving me away.

“Don’t ‘well what’ me, Jer. How’d it go?”

I flopped down onto the couch beside her, letting out a deep sigh. “He kissed me. Twice!”

Jenn gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. “Oh my God! Jer! I knew it!”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Yeah, yeah. You’re always right, I know.”

“So, what now? Are you guys, like, official?” she asked, her excitement bubbling over.

“I think so,” I said, grinning. “He asked me to be his boyfriend.”

“And you said yes, right?”

“Of course I said yes!”

Jenn squealed and pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you, Jer. You deserve this.”

“Thanks, Jenn,” I said, my voice quieter now. “For everything. For listening, for not pushing me too hard. Just… thanks.”

“Always, baby brother,” she said, ruffling my hair. “But you know, now that you’re all in love and stuff, I’m gonna have to grill him properly next time he comes over.”

“Oh God, please don’t,” I said, groaning.

She laughed, picking up her tea again. “No promises.”

Cal’s Drive Home

I can’t stop smiling. The whole drive feels like I’m floating or something. I keep replaying the night in my head—his face when I asked him, the way he smiled after the kiss. God, that kiss.

I was so nervous. I mean, what if I read it wrong? What if he didn’t feel the same way? But he did. He said yes.

I grip the steering wheel tighter, my fingers tapping against it as I think about everything. I’ve been dropping hints for weeks, but I wasn’t sure he’d pick up on them. Maybe I wasn’t as subtle as I thought. Or maybe he was just as nervous as I was.

Dad was right, though. “Go with your gut,” he said. “Take the leap.” Man, I owe him for that. I can hardly wait to tell him.

Jeremy’s different. He’s not like anyone else I’ve met. It’s not just that he’s… cute—he is—but it’s more than that. He’s just… real. I didn’t even realize how much I needed that.

As I pull into the driveway, the house is dark. Everyone’s already asleep. I sit in the car for a minute, just letting it all sink in. This is just the beginning.

I can’t wait to see him again.

Jeremy’s Closing Reflection

I leaned back against the couch, a smile still plastered on my face. For the first time in a long time, everything felt like it was exactly where it was supposed to be.

I can hardly wait to tell Mom—and Dad.