Chapter 28 – "Lookie what I got."
Saturday, August 2 – Sunday, August 3, 2008
By seven o'clock, the party was winding down. The bounce-house (which had been a huge hit with all of the kids, and quite a few of the adults, as well) had been picked up by the Funtime Party truck, and most of the guests had departed shortly thereafter.
Hannah decided that she wanted to watch Shrek 2, so Chris and Darren, along with the remaining cousins, joined her in the living room. There weren't enough seats for everyone, so Darren and Chris sat on the floor, leaning back against the sofa, and holding hands under a throw blanket. Darren sang along with all of the songs, and Chris joined in on a few.
When the movie ended, Chris noticed that Hannah had once again fallen asleep. He went to find his dad to carry her up to bed. The rest of the guests said goodnight and headed home, and Chris led Darren up to his room.
As soon as the door was closed, Chris pushed Darren down on the bed. "I've been wanting to kiss you all day."
"Then why didn't you?"
"My family's not big on the whole PDA thing, and it would have felt weird."
"Well, we're alone now…"
"That we are," Chris sighed, flopping down next to Darren and finally giving in to the urge to kiss him. Once the kiss started to get a little heated, though, he pulled away.
"What's wrong? I thought you said you'd been waiting all day to kiss me."
"I know. I just don't feel comfortable making out in my parents' house."
Darren sighed. "You know this doesn't have to lead anywhere, right?"
"I know. But I'm afraid I'll get carried away, and then one of us will make a noise, and then I'll never be able to look my mother in the eyes again."
Darren laughed. "Well, you do tend to get a little noisy when you're turned on."
Chris blushed. "I'm not the only one."
"Okay, I guess we can wait one more day before we get to make out properly. Can we at least cuddle, though?"
"Yeah. But let's get ready for bed first. I don't want to fall asleep in these clothes."
Soon the boys, now wearing their pajamas, were back in bed, slotted together like spoons. Snuggling up against his boyfriend's back, and wrapping his arms around him more tightly, Darren murmured, "I think I might like this even better than kissing."
Chris hummed his agreement. They lay together quietly, feeling each other's heartbeats. Darren was just drifting off to sleep when Chris whispered, "You know that question you asked me last night?"
"Hmm?"
"About whether I thought I'd enjoy topping?"
Darren's eyes flew open, and he was instantly awake. "Yeah," he answered in a low voice.
"Well, I've been thinking about it."
"And?"
"And I think I would. Enjoy it." Then he added quickly, "I don't mean right now. But someday."
Darren laughed softly against the back of his neck. "Baby, I think I could have figured out that last part on my own, given the fact that you don't even feel comfortable kissing me in your parents house."
Chris laughed, too. "Yeah, I know. But that's not what I meant. Even if we weren't here, I don't know if that's something I'm ready for yet. But I've been thinking about it, so I thought I should let you know."
"Well, you can probably guess how I feel about that," Darren said, and Chris snorted, wiggling his ass back into his boyfriend's obvious hard-on.
"Good to know."
The next morning, as the boys lay in each other's arms, Darren said, "You know, maybe we should pick up some supplies on our way out of town."
"Supplies?"
"Yeah. Like lube. And condoms. Just in case we ever need them."
"Darren, we're in Clovis. If I didn't feel comfortable holding your hand in public at the supermarket yesterday, do you really think I'm going to walk into a store with you to buy lube?"
"You don't have to come in with me. You can wait in the car."
"I wouldn't even know where to go. Who carries that stuff?"
"I bet Target does, and I saw one on our way here. Let's check online."
Chris turned on his laptop. Sure enough, Target had what they needed. "Wow," Chris said. "Who knew there were so many different kinds of lube? How do we know what to get?"
"Well, Go Ask Alice said it's gotta be either water-based or silicone, so that it won't break down the condom. Other than that, I guess it's just personal preference. Any requests?"
"Surprise me."
Later that morning, having said their goodbyes to Chris's family, the boys headed to Target. Chris waited in the parking lot, feeling self-conscious. He knew it was silly, but he worried that someone he knew would walk by and stop to ask what he was doing.
Darren returned to the car with a bag in his hand and a big grin on his face. "Lookie what I got," he said proudly, emptying the bag onto the console between the front seats.
Chris had been expecting the condoms and lube (Astroglide, since Darren thought that one had the coolest name) but was surprised to also see a tub of Seventh Generation baby wipes. "We've only been dating a couple of months, Dare. Don't you think it's a little early to start thinking about having kids?" he joked.
"Very funny. No, these are for quick and easy clean up. That way, we won't have to spoil the afterglow by getting out of bed to go wash off, and you won't be in a pissy mood the next morning from waking up covered in dried come."
Chris grimaced at him. "Don't remind me. That was so not romantic."
"Well, that's why I got the baby wipes."
"I bet the cashier gave you a funny look when you went to check out."
"Nope. She was actually trying to flirt with me. But I got her to back off by telling her I was in a hurry 'cause my boyfriend was waiting in the car."
"You didn't!"
"I totally did. You should have seen her face."
"Oh my god, Darren!" Chris cried, hurriedly starting the engine and backing out of his parking space. "My family lives in this town! What if someone overheard you and saw you walk out and get in my car?"
"Then they'll know what a hot boyfriend I've got," Darren replied unconcernedly. "Now, let's get the hell out of this cow town so I can kiss you!"
End Notes: I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to update. I've been sick for the past week, but I'm much better now. I feel so indebted to the wonderful reviewers whose encouragement keeps me writing, especially those of you who take the time to comment on every single chapter. Thank you so much. If you keep posting reviews, I'll keep posting new chapters… And for anyone out there who's been enjoying the story, but isn't sure what to say in a review, just a simple smiley face would make my day.
