Author's Note: I've been on sort of an update spree this weekend because I have a lot of the chapters prewritten. I don't know if the number of updates is good or bad, so feel free to let me know. Also, we get to see corny Kevin in this chapter, so I love it. It's Connor and Kevin's first date. Read and review and, as always, enjoy.
-Cade
Chapter Twelve
Kevin
Kevin had never felt so nervous in all his life. His palms were sweaty and his tie felt too tight. He was angry that he couldn't get his hair to sit just right, a single sort-of curl fell over his forehead.
He looked around the nearly empty restaurant for any sign that Connor was there. He caught a glimpse of auburn hair in the front window and found himself sitting up a little straighter.
"Kevin!" Connor cried happily when he spotted the boy waiting for him.
"Connor!" Kevin cried back. He stumbled a little, shocked when Connor came in for a hug.
"Gosh, I missed you so much!" Connor said into Kevin's shoulder.
"I missed you, too." Kevin said, patting Connor's back slightly. He was unsure of what to do. He'd never had a hug last this long before with anyone. "Do you, um, want to go to a table?"
Connor let go, smiling.
"Sure." He said. Connor walked to the podium and whispered something to the hostess. She grinned and nodded, taking two menus from the pocket on the side. She led Kevin and Connor to a table in the middle of the dining room. The hostess laid the menus down with a flourish and smile. Connor thanked her as Kevin pulled the chair out for him.
"Connor," Kevin gestured to the seat. Connor smiled and took the seat.
"Thanks, Kev." he said as Kevin took the seat across from him.
"So, um, what was that whole thing with the waitress?" Kevin asked, scooting his chair forward slightly.
"Oh!" Connor laughed. "I work here, actually. I'm trying to save up enough money to move to New York City and try to make it as an actor."
"You work here?" Kevin asked. "I'm sorry. We could've gone somewhere else. It's just...it's the nicest restaurant in town."
Connor smiled, "I don't mind really, anywhere with you is better than anywhere without you. I've been waiting for this date ever since our first kiss underneath that big tree in Uganda."
"Same." Kevin laughed. Connor shook his head.
"No. You can't just say 'same', you have to come up with your own sweet thing to say." Connor reached across the table, grabbing Kevin's hand. Kevin brightened with his touch.
"Okay. I've got it." he said. "Let's hold hands under the table."
"What? Why?" Connor asked. "Are you ashamed of me?"
"What? No, of course not." Kevin cried. "I just don't want anyone to share our happiness."
"Kevin, there's no one here!"
"I don't want anyone to even have the chance to be able to share our happiness."
Connor laughed, taking his hand off of Kevin's and placing it underneath the table. Kevin put his under the table and clumsily fumbling for the other boy's hand. His hand grazed it and he grasped it, making Connor smile.
"I've missed you." Connor said again.
"I've missed you too." Kevin smiled. "I want to hear about everything you've been up to."
"What's there to hear about?" Connor shrugged as he said this, tightening his grip around Kevin's hand slightly. "I haven't really had time to do anything exciting. I mean, I came home, moved back in with my parents and got a job here. I've just been waiting for you to get back."
Kevin nodded. There was one question he desperately wanted to know the answer to, but he wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. He didn't want to make Connor feel uncomfortable, but he also didn't want to skirt around the issue like it was nothing. He decided the best course of action would be to be direct.
"Have you-have you come out to your parents yet?" Kevin inquired. He felt Connor's hand fall from his and watched as Connor leaned back in his seat slightly, placing the hand that Kevin once grasped out on the table.
"Wul, no. Not yet." Connor said, his face flushing. "I mean, I've been dropping hints...sort of. I've been saying things like: 'I met a really wonderful person back in Uganda.' and 'I think I might love that person.' When my parents ask if that person is still there, I tell them yes, but that they're coming home in a few months and I'd really like for them to meet the person. I've just conveniently left the gender unspecified. Have you? Have you come out, I mean?"
"Yeah, I have. They actually reacted better than I expected. I mean, they don't understand it and they're a little disappointed, but they're accepting this... But back to your avoidance tactic, does this mean you want me to meet your parents?" Kevin asked, confused. He wouldn't know what to expect from meeting Connor's parents, or anyone he was romantically involved with's parents. He had never reached the meet the parents stage in a relationship with a girl, much less a relationship with a man.
Connor sighed, "It's probably best if you don't. I'll tell them tonight. I'll just come right out and say it. I have enough money saved up to get by for now if they react badly...which they will."
"Are you sure you don't want me there?" Kevin asked, placing his hand protectively over Connor's.
Connor shook his head, "No. I'll be fine. Besides, you have a lot of Disney movies to watch and a lot of daydreaming about and googling of Orlando to do." Kevin laughed at this.
"I do, don't I?" he asked, flashing a smile at the other boy. He let out a wistful sigh, pushing the curl of hair off his forehead. It stubbornly returned to its resting place in his forehead's center. He said, "You know, I really wanted to have my mission in Orlando before. But now, I'm glad I didn't. I mean, my mom tells me that Heavenly Father doesn't make mistakes and that everything He does, He does for a reason. I didn't know what the reason was before, but I think I do now." Kevin smiled. "I think He wanted me to meet you."
"You have quite a knack for knowing just what to say." Connor breathed. "You must've charmed a lot of girls in high school."
"Oh, I did." Kevin grinned. "But you're special."
"Oh, am I now?" Connor raised an eyebrow to this.
"Yes, you are." Kevin leaned across the table, his tie dipping into his glass of ice water, and gave Connor a huge kiss, right in front of everyone and simply not caring who could share their happiness.
"Do you want to be my date to Arnold and Naba's wedding?" Kevin asked when the two broke apart. Connor grinned.
"I'd be honored to. You know, I'm the maid of honor." Connor sounded quite pleased with this fact.
"Naba does know that the maid of honor is supposed to be a girl she's very close to, right?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah, she knows. But, she said that because Asmeret can't come out here for the wedding, I was the next best thing." Connor smiled proudly.
"Then I propose a toast." Kevin said, raising his glass of water in the air. "To the best man and the maid of honor at our best friends' wedding!" The two boys clinked glasses and took the customary sip. Kevin grimaced at the taste of his water.
"I think my mom's been starching my ties." he said as his nose wrinkled.
"You are so weird." Connor said laughing, then going in for another kiss.
"Yes." Kevin said before obliging Connor's display of affection. "I'm the weird one."
