basket and put the leftover food in Greg’s refrigerator. Once everything was put away, Greg got a couple of beers and they settled on the sofa. Davey was in his room listening to another book, so they had the place mostly to themselves.
“The quiet is nice,” Greg said softly.
“Yes. Sometimes it gets to be a bit much, though,” Tom said.
“Don’t you have a million friends?” Greg asked.
“I have friends in New York, but….” Tom shrugged. “I have friends here, but it isn’t the same as having someone in your life.” He shifted. “However, I can tell you it’s better to be alone than with the wrong person, and I’ve spent enough time with the wrong guy that I should know.” Tom placed his bottle on the coffee table without drinking. He then took the bottle from Greg’s hand and set it next to his. Tom leaned closer, sliding a hand around Greg’s neck, drawing them close.
Tom was an amazing kisser: firm, authoritative, and tender at the same time. There was no doubt about it, and Greg loved every second. He kissed back and felt Tom press him against the cushions. He resisted for a few seconds and then gave Tom control.
“I saw you watching me today,” Tom said.
“Yeah, I was watching you,” Greg admitted.
“I was watching you too,” Tom said, sliding his hand under Greg’s shirt. “You’re a handsome man.” Somehow Greg doubted that. He’d never thought of himself as handsome. But he wasn’t going to argue, not now. Greg wound his arms around Tom’s neck and held on as Tom kissed him once again.
“We can’t do this,” Greg said after a few minutes. He sat up and listened for Davey, but heard nothing.
“He’s listening to a book.”
Greg nodded. He knew that, but it didn’t seem right to be making out on the sofa while Davey was in the next room.
“You’re allowed to enjoy yourself,” Tom said. “I know the past few weeks have been hard, but you don’t need to make things harder on yourself.” Tom moved closer. He wrapped an arm around him, but didn’t push. “It’s okay to be happy. You didn’t do anything to cause Davey’s blindness.”
“The doctors said they believe it’s a genetic abnormality,” Greg said. “Which means he got part of whatever is wrong with him from me.”
Tom scoffed and Greg scowled. “Look, we all inherit things from our parents. Some hit the genetic lottery with good looks, brains, and athletic ability, and others don’t. But I can guarantee that Davey does not blame you, so you don’t need to blame yourself.
Greg shook his head. “Joyce and I got along like cats and dogs for most of the time we were together. I should have known the mixture of our DNA would result in some….” He couldn’t find the word right away.
“The mixture of your DNA created Davey. He’s a great kid. So he’s blind. There are worse things.” Tom shifted closer and simply hugged him. “Do you think of Davey as flawed in some way?”
Greg thought for a second.
“He’s not, any more than we’re flawed for being gay. Not being able to see is part of who he is. I know it’s recent, but you have to help him understand and accept that.”
“But how?” Greg asked.
“By accepting it yourself and acting like it’s no big deal. Treat him the way you always did. He isn’t made of glass and isn’t going to break. So let him find his way. You did today, and he had a ball playing in the water with Howard.” Tom slowly leaned in closer. “And I’ll say it again: it’s okay for you to be happy too.”
Greg thought Tom was going to kiss him, but he stopped.
“Do I make you happy?”
Greg curled his lips upward. “Yes,” he whispered, and Tom kissed him.
Chapter 6
T OM LOADED two of the bases, balls, and a couple of bats into the trunk of the BMW. It was gorgeous outside, with no hint of the rain they’d had the day before. He’d debated taking one of the other cars, but the sedan worked best for what he had to carry, so he’d
“The quiet is nice,” Greg said softly.
“Yes. Sometimes it gets to be a bit much, though,” Tom said.
“Don’t you have a million friends?” Greg asked.
“I have friends in New York, but….” Tom shrugged. “I have friends here, but it isn’t the same as having someone in your life.” He shifted. “However, I can tell you it’s better to be alone than with the wrong person, and I’ve spent enough time with the wrong guy that I should know.” Tom placed his bottle on the coffee table without drinking. He then took the bottle from Greg’s hand and set it next to his. Tom leaned closer, sliding a hand around Greg’s neck, drawing them close.
Tom was an amazing kisser: firm, authoritative, and tender at the same time. There was no doubt about it, and Greg loved every second. He kissed back and felt Tom press him against the cushions. He resisted for a few seconds and then gave Tom control.
“I saw you watching me today,” Tom said.
“Yeah, I was watching you,” Greg admitted.
“I was watching you too,” Tom said, sliding his hand under Greg’s shirt. “You’re a handsome man.” Somehow Greg doubted that. He’d never thought of himself as handsome. But he wasn’t going to argue, not now. Greg wound his arms around Tom’s neck and held on as Tom kissed him once again.
“We can’t do this,” Greg said after a few minutes. He sat up and listened for Davey, but heard nothing.
“He’s listening to a book.”
Greg nodded. He knew that, but it didn’t seem right to be making out on the sofa while Davey was in the next room.
“You’re allowed to enjoy yourself,” Tom said. “I know the past few weeks have been hard, but you don’t need to make things harder on yourself.” Tom moved closer. He wrapped an arm around him, but didn’t push. “It’s okay to be happy. You didn’t do anything to cause Davey’s blindness.”
“The doctors said they believe it’s a genetic abnormality,” Greg said. “Which means he got part of whatever is wrong with him from me.”
Tom scoffed and Greg scowled. “Look, we all inherit things from our parents. Some hit the genetic lottery with good looks, brains, and athletic ability, and others don’t. But I can guarantee that Davey does not blame you, so you don’t need to blame yourself.
Greg shook his head. “Joyce and I got along like cats and dogs for most of the time we were together. I should have known the mixture of our DNA would result in some….” He couldn’t find the word right away.
“The mixture of your DNA created Davey. He’s a great kid. So he’s blind. There are worse things.” Tom shifted closer and simply hugged him. “Do you think of Davey as flawed in some way?”
Greg thought for a second.
“He’s not, any more than we’re flawed for being gay. Not being able to see is part of who he is. I know it’s recent, but you have to help him understand and accept that.”
“But how?” Greg asked.
“By accepting it yourself and acting like it’s no big deal. Treat him the way you always did. He isn’t made of glass and isn’t going to break. So let him find his way. You did today, and he had a ball playing in the water with Howard.” Tom slowly leaned in closer. “And I’ll say it again: it’s okay for you to be happy too.”
Greg thought Tom was going to kiss him, but he stopped.
“Do I make you happy?”
Greg curled his lips upward. “Yes,” he whispered, and Tom kissed him.
Chapter 6
T OM LOADED two of the bases, balls, and a couple of bats into the trunk of the BMW. It was gorgeous outside, with no hint of the rain they’d had the day before. He’d debated taking one of the other cars, but the sedan worked best for what he had to carry, so he’d
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