I fail as a human being. Hopefully with school out I won't be as miserable at time management!
XXXVII. See
Sam wasn't quite sure how he'd ended up with a phone pressed to his ear, his heart beating fast, his mouth forming the words, "Can you come over? I'm going to tell him."
The silence on the other end of the line was shocked but short. "Whoa. Okay. Snap decision?"
"I just don't see the point in waiting any longer, I guess."
"Well, good for you, Sammy," Blaine said. "I'll see you in like, five minutes."
He didn't know how it had started, and he didn't know what made him keep going now. Maybe it was the slow reminder of family he'd witnessed today, seeing Blaine and Cooper start to be brothers again over sandwiches and salads, or maybe it was exactly what he'd said: nothing would come of putting it off except more stress, more acid pooling in his chest each time he thought about the unknown.
And so minutes later he found himself sandwiched on the couch between Blaine and Stevie, his mom resting on the arm and Stacey perched on his lap.
"Can't remember the last time we had a 'family meeting; like this, especially with a plus one." Mr. Evans nodded a greeting to Blaine as he lowered himself into the armchair across from them. There was a slight chuckle in his words, but the curiosity and suspicion on his face squeezed Sam's frantic heart even tighter. "Care to tell me what's going on?"
By now, Sam was used to eyes. Eyes drilling into him as he walked through the school hallways, eyes in class, eyes in town with Blaine. Eyes when he quoted obscure movie lines that no one understood. Sam was used to those kinds of eyes, the ones that saw him at the most superficial level. But this was different—when it was his family's eyes, all turned towards him, seeing right through him—that was different, and that was terrifying.
"Dad…." Sam started, stopped, cleared his throat once. Twice. Linked his fingers in with Blaine's, a movement that began as unconscious but became pointedly purposeful. Blaine shot him a sideways glance; Sam saw it out of the corner of his eye but ignored it, caught between staring at his father's face and his shoes. Cleared his throat one more time.
"Sammy is stalling, Daddy, because for some reason he doesn't want to tell you that Blaine and him are in love."
Now all eyes turned to Stacey, who was staring straight at Mr. Evans, her face set with determination. Sam froze, feeling his whole being stutter with panic. Blaine tightened his grip on his hand.
"It's true, Dad. We've been dating for a few months now. I don't know if I'm…if I'm gay, or, or bi, or what—I'm still figuring it all out. But all I do know is that yes, I love Blaine, and I'm proud that he's my…my boyfriend, and I really hope this doesn't make you see me any differently because I'm still the same person. At least, I feel like the same person and I—"
Two quick but painful elbow jabs from either side of him—Stevie and Blaine—took the rambling words from Sam's lips and lifted his eyes up from the floor. Before he could register the sight of his father coming towards him, he felt himself be tugged from the couch, and he got a mouthful of his Mr. Evans' shirt as arms hugged him tightly. Then more confusion as Blaine somehow got pulled in too, leaving barely enough room to breathe.
"Why did you think I wouldn't be happy for you?" Mr. Evans' eyes, no longer questioning, no longer drilling, were bright as he released the two boys.
"I thought—" Sam spluttered, mind racing. "I mean, I thought—football, and everything, and you're just—"
His dad's laugh echoed through the room. "Sam, has anyone ever told you you're an idiot?"
Blaine put an arm around Sam's waist. "Don't worry, Mr. Evans, I've got that covered."
"See? I like him already," Mr. Evans said with another chuckle, then turned to Blaine. "Welcome to the family, kid. It's good to see my Sammy happy."
Blaine pulled Sam closer. "Got that covered too, sir."