Chapter 6: Corridor conversations
Stopping straight outside Kyle's room, Tom reclined against the wall, tipping his head back with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He stood there quietly, eyes closed as his mind careened madly with delight. Kyle was much better, so alive, so responsive and just incredibly beautiful. Tom's lips tingled from their kisses and his body still hummed contentedly from where he'd held Kyle close in his arms.
Brought into the present by Marie asking if he was alright, Tom breathed out, exhilaration laced through every word, "I'm fine. I'm wonderful actually. God, it's amazing to see him feeling better. So full of life, smiling as his eyes light up the room." His voice trembled as he continued "I thought I'd never see that again. Then yesterday, I found out that he was alive but he was in so much pain and I felt so helpless. It hurt to see him like that. All I could do was hold him, try to keep him calm, but I couldn't take away the pain and I was so worried. So I'm fine. Completely fine. I'm just happy." Tom finished with tears in his eyes and huffed a laugh, adding wryly "See, happy tears" as he wiped them away.
Marie smiled at him, wiping away her own tears. "I understand. We both do. It is wonderful to have him fully awake and acting like himself again. He's always been an amazing boy, bright-eyed and incredibly easy to love. If I'm honest, I wasn't quite ready for someone special to notice that yet, for him to be all grown up and in love. But, I think the two of you will be good together. Oh, I didn't mean... It's not that I'm saying that you love him. Hmm, actually, do you love him?" She rambled, tilting her head questioningly as she waited for his answer. A split second later, her eyes shot wide open and she frantically continued "Wait, no, no, don't answer that. You don't have to answer that. I shouldn't have asked. You and Kyle have to decide what you want to do, not me or anyone else. Anyway, if you do love him, Kyle should be the first person who hears it. Oh God, I'm sorry Tom, I'm rambling." Chuckling, she added, "You've probably seen Kyle do that too. He gets it from me and it always drove him nuts that he inherited it that particular little quirk. And here I am, still babbling." She waved her hands around in an agitated fashion and requested "Chris, a little help, please?"
Chris stepped forward to her side, putting one hand on her back and patting Tom on the shoulder with the other before speaking gently. "Tom, you keep on feeling like that about Kyle and I'm really going to like knowing you. Now, I know we only have a few minutes so you can breathe easy, I'm not going to interrogate you. Marie's right anyway, you and Kyle have to decide what you want without interference from us. However, there is a few things I'd still like to say. I'm very curious about the two of you, about what happened between you and what the future might hold. You're clearly involved very seriously, both physically and emotionally. Between that little speech and how attentive you've been with him over the past couple of days, I can see that you care for him a great deal. He also clearly cares for you in return. Kyle's never been like that with anyone, never so comfortable with someone, so implicitly trusting and content. When he was in so much pain and the doctors didn't want to give him more drugs, he asked for you. Just you. As soon as you lay down, he practically melted into you, taking comfort from simply being close. Then this morning he behaved as though it felt completely natural to wake up in your arms and he even said as much to you. I've seen him date a few boys over the years, of course, but I've never seen him so content, so comfortable in a relationship. This is new, you're special to him." Chris halted his speech for a moment as his gaze on Tom became more intent.
"Yet, the connection I see doesn't match with the facts I know. Let's have a look at those, shall we?" Chris didn't bother to stop and wait for an answer, instead gesticulating as he continued, listing each point off on his fingers. "Kyle was dating someone else earlier this week. I've heard absolutely nothing about you from my normally open son. You said yourself things were very new and you don't even know where the two of you stand. But, you seem very comfortable in one another's company and you certainly kiss rather frequently for two people that supposedly aren't together! So, I'm confused. Marie and I had a little talk this morning and we agreed that Kyle hadn't said anything about you to either of us and we don't know why. We didn't even know you and he existed until yesterday when you ran in here. Tom, it worries me that he didn't talk to us about you. I don't know, maybe he was embarrassed that the two of you were obviously involved whilst he was seeing Blake. Maybe he was concerned about what we might think about the age difference or the fact that he's been a fan of your work for years. Maybe it was some combination of all of those options. I don't know and I will be asking him to please explain."
Taking a deep breath, Chris continued seriously "However, as long as you make Kyle happy, I really don't care about any of that. A fifteen-year age gap doesn't matter if the two of you are otherwise well suited and as far I can tell, you do seem to be. As for him being star-struck, he wouldn't respond to you so strongly if that was all that existed between you, so I'm not worried about that either. Finally, Blake, well, I'm not too sure what Kyle was thinking, but whatever happened there, it needn't affect the two of you moving forward together. All I want for him is to be with someone that loves him, protects him, is there for him and inspires him to return those feelings with equal fervour. You should know that I googled you earlier. Everyone seems to think you're a decent man, kind, smart, talented, sensitive and honest. So, I'm content to let the two of you to sort everything out without interference. All I ask is that if the two of you do decide to make a go of things, make sure you're the man everyone thinks you are, the man Kyle clearly thinks you are." Chris gripped Tom's shoulder tightly as he spoke, careful emphasis on each word. "Be that man and don't break his heart." With a final pat to Tom's shoulder, Chris grabbed Marie's hand and stepped back, smiling at Tom before speaking in a light tone. "Now, I think that completes the requisite fatherly lecture. So, I'm sure the doctor will be out in a few moments but in the meantime, why don't you tell Marie and I about your work with Bombshell? I read a little about it when I looked you up and I'd love to hear more."
