“You stay. My aunt and I are going back.”
“Are you sure?” Brian looked back out into the water at Jen. “You don’t mind?”
“No. I’m glad you’re having a good time,” Carey told him sincerely. “Really glad.” He leaned forward and kissed his salty lips. “We’ll leave the cooler with you. Don’t forget to drink.”
“Yes Mom,” Brian rolled his eyes. He turned and ran back into the water.
Dina took Carey to a local pharmacy store for some items which puzzled her. He also picked up some body wash and a razor. Dina grabbed a gallon of milk, since the boys seemed to go through it so quickly. And she couldn’t resist getting a couple bags of candy. As she walked down the aisles, seeing if there was anything else she wanted, she spotted Carey standing in front of a condom display.
When he saw her, he stepped away.
“I . . . was just looking,” he blushed.
Dina gave a small smile. “At least you’re being smart about it.”
He shrugged. “It’s not like either of us can get pregnant.”
“There are other reasons you need to be smart about it,” she replied. Dina continued when Carey looked confused. “I think you may want to talk to somebody who knows more about . . .a situation like yours.”
“I don’t really know too many other gay guys. And they’re all in high school.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of a doctor.”
“No way. They’d tell my mom. Wouldn’t they?”
“I don’t know. I think you could probably ask to keep your conversation private.” Sensing that Carey was getting uncomfortable with the subject matter, Dina abruptly changed the subject. “I got some chocolate and some Skittles. Is that good?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. But his mind seemed elsewhere at the moment.
When they got back from the store, Jen and Brian were home from the beach. They had quickly changed out of their wet clothes.
“I was just about to reheat the mac and cheese from last night,” Brian said. “Do you want some?”
“Sure,” Carey answered.
As he was getting the food out of the refrigerator, Brian questioned, “What did you get from the store?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on,” Brian grinned. He reached for the bag after putting the mac and cheese on the counter.
Carey pulled it away. “It’s a surprise. For later.”
Reluctantly, Brian let it go, and began dishing out food.
“Do you like broccoli and carrots, Jen?”
She nodded. “Thanks.” She sat at the breakfast bar, where she, Michelle and Carey had eaten many times before.
“So, how long have you two been going out?”
Carey gave Brian a smile. “Since Prom this year.”
“Oh.” Jen paused, in thought. “Didn’t you have a girlfriend the last time your family came here?”
“Uh, yeah,” Carey answered. “It wasn’t serious or anything.”
The room was quiet for a little while. Carey figured maybe Jen and Dina were waiting for more of an explanation.
“I’m bi,” he finally said. “But I guess I lean more towards boys these days.”
“I’m totally gay,” Brian grinned and held up jazz hands.
“Yeah, we know, Brian,” Carey laughed.
Jen tried not to smile.
“It’s okay to laugh,” Brian told her. “I know I’m a little over the top sometimes.”
“Sometimes?” Carey raised his eyebrows.
Jen shrugged. “I didn’t even know right away. Katie did, I guess. But you didn’t seem, um, any different on the beach. Except that maybe you were looking at Carey . . . you know, like a girl would.”
“Well, I didn’t know how people were down here,” Brian said as he took a plate out of the microwave and placed it in front of Jen. “So, I’ve been trying to look and act normal.”
“You do look and act normal,” Carey frowned.
“You know what I mean,” Brian said. He turned to Jen. “But just out in public. Here at the house, I can be myself.” He gestured to the My Little Pony shirt he was wearing that he had taken from his sister’s room before the trip.
Brian smiled at Dina.
“I’m glad,” she said in return. “Hey Jen, why don’t you come out to dinner with us tonight?”
“Oh, uh . . .”
“Come on. It’s not often Rob is in a treating mood.”
Carey smiled sheepishly. “I promise I’ll behave better than the last time we went to dinner.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” Jen answered tentatively.
“I’m sure,” Dina said. “We’re going Seafarer at six.”
“Oh, isn’t that a nice place?” Jen questioned. “I thought you would just be going to Dockside.”
“It doesn’t matter where we go. I’d still like you to come with us,” Dina told her.
After the early lunch, Jen went home, and Brian and Carey took a nap in front of the television. When they woke up, they convinced Dina to play a game with them. As she had no children, her game selection was limited. But she found an old game of Sorry that she bought when Michelle and Carey were younger and were bored during a few days of rain.
“Sorry,” Brian grinned as he moved one of Carey’s pieces back to start.
“You don’t sound sorry,” Carey grumbled. “How come you didn’t send any of Aunt Dina’s pieces back?”
Brian snickered. “I’m not going to send our host’s piece back.”
“You should have,” Dina said, moving her last piece into home after picking her card. “I win. I guess I’ll go up to shower.”
Brian and Carey played another game while they waited their turns. Carey showered first and caught Brian on his way to the bathroom.
“Here,” he said to Brian. “This is for you.” He held out the bag from the pharmacy.
“What is it?”
“Look and see.”
As he peeked in the bag, Brian frowned at first, then smiled, getting a little teary-eyed. “This is perfect.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Carey said. “Just a little something. I want you to be comfortable all the time. Not just inside. I want you to be you.”
Brian hugged him and whispered a thank you against his neck.
“I know exactly what shirt I’m going to wear,” he said excitedly, and skipped into the bathroom.
By the time Carey got downstairs, Jen was there. She wore a lavender, flowered spaghetti strap dress and her hair up in a loose bun. The few strands that were free were curled to frame her face.
“You look really pretty,” Carey told her.
“Thanks. You too. Um, I mean you look nice.”
“Thanks. Brian picked out this shirt. He says it makes my eyes pop. Whatever that means,” he chuckled.
She smiled. “He’s right. I wish I had blue eyes like yours.”
He shook his head. “Why does everybody want light eyes? I wish mine were brown.”
“Nobody ever likes what they have, I guess,” she shrugged.
“And I wish I tanned like you and Brian. I have to wear so much sunscreen so I don’t burn.”
“You got a little color,” Jen said, touching his nose. “You always used to get sunburned and had to get aloe vera to put on your back.”
“It never failed,” he laughed. “I’d have to spend two days out of the sun because I’d forget to put on sunscreen the first day.”
Rob and Dina came into the kitchen.
“Are we ready to go?” Rob asked.
“Brian is still upstairs getting ready,” Carey said.
“I’m ready,” Brian said quietly, coming into view. Everyone turned to look at him. “Is this okay?”
“You look great,” Carey beamed.
Brian was wearing a salmon colored button-down shirt that he brought just in case. It was a perfect complement to his tan. He also had on a bit of eyeliner and lip gloss that Carey had bought him, along with three pairs of
earrings.
“Are you sure you want me to wear this stuff?”
Carey nodded. He turned to the others. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not,” Dina said.
Rob just shrugged. “Let’s go.”
Trailing behind the others, Brian tugged at Carey’s arm.
“Thank you.” He kissed Carey carefully on the lips. “Now you’re wearing lip gloss too.”
They clasped hands and walked out the door.
Because it was a Thursday, the five companions didn’t have to wait terribly long for a table. They chose to sit outside on the deck, so they could look out on the waterway.
“Are you sure I’m dressed okay?” Jen asked Dina. “This place is pretty nice.”
“You look lovely,” Dina answered. “Doesn’t she boys?”
Jen blushed as the boys answered affirmatively.
“Purple is a great color for you,” Brian said. “I have a purple eyeliner at home that would go perfectly with that dress. You know, it’s best for brown eyes.”
Jen giggled, feeling a little more at ease as she sat between Brian and Dina.
“Should we order the shrimp spring rolls and crab dip for appetizers?” Rob suggested.
Dina nodded. “I think I’m going to get the ginger scallops. What about you, Rob?”
He put down his menu. “You know I always get the shrimp and grits.”
“Try something different.”
“I like shrimp and grits,” he replied stubbornly, with a smile.
“I’ve never eaten here,” Jen said. “The ginger scallops are good?”
“Oh, yeah,” Rob answered enthusiastically. “Everything is good.”
“I thought you said you only get the shrimp and grits,” Carey smirked.
“Yeah,” he nudged Carey and winked. “But I always try what Dina gets.”
“How about the crab cakes? I’ve had a taste for them since we came down, but I got fish and chips last time,” Carey said.
“Mm, crab cakes sound good,” Jen agreed.
“I think I’ll try coconut shrimp,” Brian announced. He glanced at Carey, who had a surprised expression on his face. “We’ve only got a couple more nights here. I’m going to live it up.”
“Ooh, that sounds good too,” Jen said. “I can’t decide.”
Eventually, Jen settled on the ginger scallops, like Dina, and she and Brian sampled one another’s dishes. Carey still couldn’t help feeling possessive, but at least he knew now that Jen had no illusions about Brian.
The conversation turned from food to future plans. Rob was curious about what the kids had planned after graduating the following year.
“So, I guess you’re all looking at colleges by now,” he said. Did you take your SAT’s yet?”
All three nodded. “I want to take mine again,” Carey said. “I didn’t do as well as I wanted.”
“Me neither,” said Brian. “But it’s not really quite as critical for theater arts major. What about you, Jen?”
“Oh, I, uh, took them.”
Assuming she hadn’t done very well, Carey offered, “You can always take them again if you’re not happy with your score.”
“I’m not taking them again. I did really well,” she blushed.
“I’m not surprised,” Brian said. “I guess you have to be really smart to be a marine biologist.”
“I’ll have to take a lot of advanced chemistry, biology and physics before I get to the fun part.”
“No thanks,” Brian laughed. “I barely got through trig as it was. Although, I am looking forward to physics this year.”
“Why did you take trig if you’re going to be a theater major?” Jen asked.
Brian shrugged. “Because I could. And Carey wanted me to take the class with him.”
She looked over at Carey. “Why did you take it? Are you majoring in some sort of math or science too?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m going for music education.”
“You are?” Dina smiled. “I’m so glad you’re doing something with music. Your dad’s family is so musical.”
“Yeah. I wanted to do something somewhat practical.”
“Unlike me,” Brian interjected.
Carey continued. “But I still want to keep playing. I’d really like to be in a band before I have to get a job though.”
“What kind of band?” Rob asked. “You know, I was in a band in high school.”
Dina rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and it kind of sucked.”
“Not my fault, I was only the bass player. Charlie was the lead singer and guitarist.”
“Oh, is that what he was doing? Singing?” Dina laughed.
“It got me the girl, though, didn’t it?” Rob said, leaning into Dina.
“Carey, you haven’t taken your guitar out at all this trip. You should play when we get back to the house,” suggested Brian.
“I thought you said you didn’t bring any instruments with you,” Jen commented.
“Oh, I, um, just told Katie that,” Carey answered sheepishly.
She opened her mouth to say something but must have thought better of it.
“I’d like to hear you play,” she finally said.
“Okay.”
They continued to talk while they ate and enjoyed the warm evening. Rob reminded them all that he wanted to go somewhere else for dessert, so Brian, Jen and Dina all had half of their meals wrapped up. Carey and Rob managed to finish theirs and were still looking forward to dessert.
They ended up at Draped in Crepes, one of Dina’s favorites, and a real treat. She was glad she didn’t eat too much so she could get her usual; chocolate ice cream, almonds and marshmallow sauce, all wrapped up in a light crepe. Brian and Carey decided to split the Versailles, which was strawberries, bananas, Nutella, and vanilla ice cream with strawberry syrup. Jen ordered bananas and chocolate sauce over vanilla ice cream. Rob chose a simple chocolate ice cream with peanut butter whipped cream.
“This is so good,” Brian moaned. “I don’t think I’ve ever had crepes before.”
“The only time I had them was when Mom made crepes to put leftover Thanksgiving turkey in. Do you remember that Aunt Dina?” Carey asked.
“Oh, those were so good. I don’t know why we don’t do that every year.”
Jen’s brow furrowed. “You put turkey and gravy in a crepe?”
“Yeah,” he grinned. “My dad put potatoes and cranberry sauce in his too.” Carey made a face.
“I remember that,” Rob said. “That was the best.”
“Are you guys coming to our house again this year?” Carey questioned.
Dina cocked her head. “I’m not sure. Charlie might be hosting. Rob hasn’t seen him in a few years . . .”
“Oh,” Carey nodded.
“But we’ll be driving through Pennsylvania to get there. Maybe we could come for leftovers on our way back and convince your mom to make crepes again.”
That made Carey smile. “Okay.”
When they got back to Dina and Rob’s, everyone was so full, they all found a comfortable spot in the living room to relax. Brian and Carey took up their usual spot on the chair and a half, while the girls sat on the sofa. Rob lay out on the floor with the dogs.
“Hey, Carey, why don’t you go get your guitar,” Brian said.
“I don’t know,” Carey answered quietly.
“Come on, please?” Brian whined. He batted his eyelashes and nuzzled Carey’s neck.
Rolling his eyes, Carey reluctantly got up to get his guitar from his room. He wasn’t sure he wanted to play in front of the others, but he did want to play for Brian. He’d been working on a song for him recently. The guitar part was relatively simple, but he’d never sung in front of anyone else before. He was nervous as he sat on the floor and tuned up.
“What are you going to play? How about “Norwegian Wood” or “Everlong?” Brian sat up, ready to listen. “I know you usually play the melody, but I’ll sing if you want.”
<
br /> “Um, actually, I’ve been working on something else.” Carey took a deep breath and started to pluck an A and E alternately.
“I know this. It’s Snow Patrol,” Jen whispered.
When Carey started to sing, Brian’s mouth gaped a little. Carey never sang. He’d always said he sang with his clarinet, or trombone. Through the first chorus, Carey didn’t look up at all, knowing the rest were watching. He didn’t want to see, if they weren’t enjoying it. He just wanted to get through it at that point. When he did look up, for the second verse, he looked straight into Brian’s eyes. The song summed up just about everything Carey felt, and he was singing only for Brian.
Feeling much too vulnerable, Carey looked back down at his guitar for most of the rest of the song. He glanced up again near the end and smiled. When the last note echoed out, Carey relaxed and slumped a bit. Everyone clapped.
“Why aren’t you in chorus?” was the first thing Brian said.
Carey laughed. “I hate chorus music. Besides, my voice isn’t great. It’s suited to just fooling around with a guitar.”
“No, it was nice,” Jen added.
“Thanks,” he replied, self-consciously. He rested his guitar against the wall in a corner.
“That was very nice,” Dina said. “I’ve never heard that song.”
“It’s called “Chasing Cars.”
“Well, I loved it,” she said. “You definitely need to keep up with the music.”
“We should take the dogs out,” Rob said. “They probably need to go.”
Dina groaned. “Let’s take a walk. I need to burn off some of tonight’s food.”
“Come on Harold. Come on Maude,” Rob said excitedly. The dogs jumped and barked in anticipation.
Meanwhile, Brian got off the chair and gave Carey a kiss. “I can’t believe you sang.”
“For you.”
“Thank you. I loved it.” He stood. “I need a potty break too,” Brian laughed.
Left alone, Carey and Jen sat quietly.
“You must really like him.”
Carey nodded. “I do.”
“Does he like you that much?”
“I think so. I hope so.” After a pause, Carey confessed, “I love him.” He didn’t understand why he kept telling people other than Brian that.
“I’ve never been in love,” Jen admitted.
Brian came out of the bathroom in time to heat her say that.
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