Walden and Alan were at the picnic table while Louis ran off to play on the playground. It was Alan's turn to monitor Louis so Walden was engrossed in his in touch pad. As he watched his son go down the slide he had an internal dilemma.
He really wanted to hold Walden's hand. Technically he had every right to; they were officially together, their marriage no longer a ruse. Casual hand holding has always been a bit of a life goal of his but Judith was always a bit too cold for that to happen and he was too preoccupied with Kandi's everything else (read: breasts) to even think about holding her hand.
But he wasn't sure how Walden would feel about it, especially since in this relationship the younger man was the more hesitant of two in the beginning. Also, and he would never tell anyone this, he was a bit insecure; he was sure that the young and handsome Walden didn't want to hold hands with a plain, forty-seven year old man in public.
Louis was now beginning a trek across the balance beam and Alan went to grasp Walden's free hand only to second guess himself and place it on the table instead. Feeling awkward, he began to drum his fingers rhythmically. As Louis started to go cross the monkey bars he felt a hand cover his tapping fingers.
"Something wrong?" Walden asked.
At first Alan didn't know what to say because Walden was holding his hand and it felt as warm and soft as he imagined it would.
"Just bored is all." He lied as soon as he found his voice.
"You want me to take watch?"
"Um, yes if you don't mind." He could play with his phone to keep his hands busy once Walden inevitably let go.
Walden gave his hand a squeezed before turning his attention to Louis who was on the swing.
But Walden didn't let go. He brought their hands down so that he could comfortably lace their fingers together but ultimately he was holding his hand as if they have been doing it forever.
Alan pulled his phone out to play a game, which will be a bit difficult with his hand occupied but he wouldn't have it any other way.