Kyle From High School

by Jeremy Jenkins

  After a while, one thing began to bother me.

  “You’re thinking about how to tell the guys,” Kyle said.

  I nodded. “How did you know?”

  He shrugged again. “I just know. Anyway, you know that camping trip we’re going on with them in a few weeks?”

  “You wanna tell them then?”

  “If you’re okay with it.”

  “Out in the woods, or on a mountain, with our super straight guy-dude-buddy-bro friends. They’re going to think we’re gay for them, and that we’ve had secret crushes on them this whole time. It’s gonna be hella awkward.”

  Kyle chuckled. “Well, we’ll see what happens. We don’t have to think about it right now. And when did you start saying hella?”

  I chuckled and shook my head, then leaned away so I could get to the sizzling steak. It needed to be perfect—

  And I needed a moment to dry my tears.

  Before he could stop me, I pulled away from him. But before I left the table, I leaned in and kissed him on the eye. “I love you, Kyle.”

  “I love you too, Phil,” he said, looking at me with that melty-eyed look.

  I smiled—couldn’t help it—and another tear squeezed out of the corner of my eye.

  God. He’d turned me into such a softie…

  But the new ring on my finger felt hard. It felt solid.

  It felt eternal; more like a spiral than a ring.

  On my way back to the stove, I passed the island where two Chiwara sculptures stood in the center, staring at one another with their eternal, unblinking gazes.

  My smile spread wider and another tear leaked from my eye.

  This, I thought to myself, This is what real happiness is. It’s easy. It’s natural.

  I chanced one look back at my man with his nose back in his paperback.

  Kyle glanced up at me with a little grin on his lips and adoration in his eyes. In that moment I could see him—every version of him that I’d known over the years:

  As a child. As a preteen. As an awkward teenager. As a college guy. And as an adult.

  I’d watched him change and grow, as I’m sure he did the same with me.

  But throughout all the years, throughout all the change, we’d been there for each other.

  Our houses were next to each other, sure.

  But our homes were in each other’s hearts.

  A Note from the author

  Thank you so much for reading my book! Doing this would not be possible if not for all of you wonderful, wonderful readers!

  Here’s the part where I beg you to leave a review. Whether you loved it or hated it, it does not matter to me. Feedback is a gift!

  Again, thank you so much for reading! I couldn’t do this without you all.

  Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

  - Jeremy

  Follow & Subscribe

  Check out my Instagram for new releases, character art, quotes, and all kinds of M/M mischief!

  Sign up for my newsletter for updates, exclusive content, and new release info.

  Again, thanks for reading! :)

  Also by Jeremy Jenkins

  Even Steven

  Also by Jeremy Jenkins

  Jon From High School

  Bossy Bottom