Chapter Eleven

He snuggled into that warmth, feeling at home in the was comfortable where he was and didn't want to move. Jacky was having a nice dream and didn't want to wake up for it to end. But then Steve crept into his mind, showing up in his dream with those brown eyes gleaming at him. Jacky woke up, sitting up straight in the bed. He woke up Steve in the process because Steve's arm had been around him. Jacky quickly scrambled out of bed, stumbling to the floor before he got up and backed away from the bed and into the wall by the door. Steve sat up, looking half asleep with a "What's going on?" expression.

"This how you get up every morning?" Steve asked, leaning back against the head board. He shifted onto his side, leaning slightly on his arm. He looked over at Jacky, who refused to move. "You okay?"

"You...me..." Jacky started, waving at the bed. "Arm...sleep...dream..."

"Wow, we're really getting places with this conversation," Steve said, sarcastically. "Need help filling in some sentences? I had my arm around you while you were sleeping." He paused for a moment. "Not sure where to go with that dream part." He gave Jacky a look that said he knew Jacky had been dreaming about him.

Jacky hoped he hadn't turned bright red. "You should've let me sleep in the tub last night, Steve," he said. "This wouldn'ta happened and I wouldn't be embarrassed right now."

"Embarrassed?" Steve asked, sounding shocked. "What're you embarrassed about? You didn't do anything. I'm the one that put my arm around you. D'ya think you did that?"

Jacky didn't say anything for a long moment. "But last night you said we were just friends," he said. "And that that was how it was gonna be. End of story. Nothin' romantic here."

"Now you're putting words in my mouth."

"Most of it's true."

"We needed to talk it through a little bit more last night than what we did," Steve said. "I thought I could just wave it off because I'm not ready for it."

"Ready for it?" Jacky asked, his voice a bit shaky with nervousness. Even pressed against the wall, he could still feel sweat running down his back. "Steve, where is this conversation going?"

"You're not the only one with feelings, bud," Steve said. "I was thinkin' last night and I realized even before that show that I'll miss ya once you go back home to New York City."

"Really?" Jacky asked, touched.

"But don't expect too much," Steve said. "I'm not a very affectionate kinda guy."

Jacky crossed his arms as he stood there against the wall. "Then why did you start the cuddling last night?" he asked with a slight tilt of his head.

"To be honest," Steve said. "I have no friggin' clue. Do I regret doin' it?" He shook his head. "No. Would I do anything different?" He let that hang for a moment then his eyes met Jacky's. "No."

That gaze made Jacky's heart skip a beat. He stepped away from the wall. Steve never looked away from him. Jacky walked over to the bed and climbed back into it, sitting down next to Steve. He was nervous now and was surprised he had even made the short trip from the wall back to the bed. He couldn't find the right words to say and Steve just laid there, watching him. So, he didn't think, he just did it.

He leaned forward and planted his lips against Steve's. He figured he hadn't done it too sloppily because when he pulled away, Steve pulled him right back in for another kiss. He might not have ever imagined a romantic relationship for himself, but he had always thought his first kiss would be more romantic than this.

Jacky shifted his position, stretching out to where he was laying with his body pressed up against Steve's. He wasn't doing anything with his hands, unlike Steve, who slipped his arms around Jacky and tugged him closer.

Then Steve broke the kiss a few minutes later and Jacky was left breathless. Steve rolled out of bed and went into the bathroom, leaving Jacky lying there. Jacky rolled over onto his back, a sigh escaping.

Steve locked the bathroom door then stood at the sink, staring into the mirror. I was just kissing Jacky Twist. He could still feel Jacky's lips against his own. The warmth of his body. He shook his head as he looked down, turning on the water. He splashed some water on his face then turned the water off and grabbed a towel. He dried his face then looked back at his reflection.

As he had told Jacky, he didn't regret what had happened. But, he didn't regret most things nowadays. All of his regrets were far in his past. Far enough back for him to never think about. But some of it came back now. Was he ready for some type of commitment with Jacky? After what happened with...

He pushed the thought aside, dropping the towel next to the sink. He paced back and forth for a moment then walked over to the door and unlocked it. He opened it then stepped out, seeing that Jacky was up and already dressed. He was sitting at the table, looking over the resort's pamphlet.

"Anything interesting for us to do today?" Steve asked. Was this normal? To act as if only a few minutes ago hadn't happened? "I know the horse trek is tomorrow, but do they have-"

"I thought we could go for a hike," Jacky said. He got to his feet and walked over to Steve, holding the pamphlet out. He pointed at something and Steve looked down. "There's a two mile trail through the forest. It's got some great sight seeing."

Steve took the pamphlet, glancing at the pictures that advertised the hike. "Then we'll do that," he said with a nod, looking back at Jacky and handing the pamphlet back over. "Just let me get changed first and then we'll go." He stepped past Jacky and over to his suitcase.

"Are we gonna talk about it?"

"The hike?" Steve asked, knowing exactly what Jacky had meant. He opened his suitcase and dug through it for what he needed. "There's something more to say?"

"We didn't really say anything."

Steve grabbed what he needed then turned and walked over to Jacky. He didn't think he was staring him down, but Jacky looked slightly intimidated. "Jacky," he said. "Would you like to go steady?"

"Wow, you really are old-fashioned."

Steve didn't even try to keep the smile off his face. "If I was as old-fashioned as you think I am, I would've called your folks first to ask them if I could date you," he said. "What's your answer?"

"I get to call you my boyfriend?"

"No annoying pet names," Steve said, pointing a finger in Jacky's face. "And you really can't call me your boyfriend unless we get a second date."

"Can't the walk count as a second date?" Jacky asked. "After all, we were just making out." He gestured toward the bed.

"That don't count," Steve said. "The walk's the first date. Let's make it count." He walked around Jacky and headed back to the bathroom to change.

Jacky hadn't realized it was really early until they walked outside. The sun was up, but the air was cool and the place was quiet. It was a few minutes' walk to the start of the trail and they walked that distance in a comfortable silence. Jacky was slightly ahead of Steve as they started on the trail. Steve slowed down a bit, talking on his phone with Emily to see how the ranch was doing. Jacky didn't overhear Steve's side of the conversation because he was nervous Steve would say something about him and their current relationship status.

Which was what? First date.

After a few minutes, Steve hung up and caught up with Jacky's pace. Jacky was taken a bit off guard when Steve took his hand, but he didn't protest. It felt a bit strange, but a good kind of strange. He smiled, not realizing he had been staring at Steve until Steve looked at him with a smile in return. Jacky looked forward quickly, embarrassed.

"So," Steve said, breaking the silence. "This the part where we start to get to know each other more?"

"There's really not much more to me than what you already know," Jacky said.

"What I've mostly heard about you is where you live and who your great-granddad is," Steve said. "You don't really talk about yourself much. It didn't bother me before, but we're goin' steady now."

"What do you want to know?"

Steve smiled, looking at him. "Anything?"

"OK, here's one thing," Jacky said, turning his head to Steve. "I don't like your non-specific questions."

Steve laughed and it was one of the most wonderful things to Jacky's ears. "Get used to it," he said.

"You're not being fair to me."

Steve pulled him along to continue down the trail. "Tell me about your family," he said.

"My family?" Jacky asked. "Oh, they're the best. My mom works as a nurse and my dad works at the bank. I have an older brother and sister. Clark lives with our grandparents at a home and helps take care of them. Dianne..." He trailed off with a shrug. "She's kind of the rebel of the family." He wasn't going to mention anyone other than his immediate family because they were all that mattered to him. "Maybe one day you can meet them."

"I'd be honored," Steve said, though it sounded as if he didn't think that would be happening anytime soon. But, Jacky could just be reading the situation wrong, so he let it go.

They continued the walk with a nice conversation, practically ignoring the sight seeing of the trail. Steve didn't offer too much detail of his life, just enough to satisfy Jacky where he'd stop asking questions. Jacky learned quick when to stop. He didn't seem like he wanted to pry into Steve's life no matter how much he wanted to know about the guy. Talking about Steve's parents was a touchy subject and also past relationships. Jacky got the feeling that there was one important relationship in Steve's life, but he didn't ask about anything.

The end of the trail stopped up the side of a mountain top and provided a beautiful view of the resort and the area Brokeback Mountain was located at. Jacky stepped toward the edge where a railing was perched and breathed in the mountain air, feeling the cool breeze against his skin. When he looked behind him, he hunched his shoulders a bit with an embarrassed smile when he saw that Steve was watching him.

Steve walked up to stand at the railing next to him. He looked forward. "I really needed this," he said then looked at Jacky. "Thank you."

"Why're you thanking me?" Jacky asked, resting one hand on the railing. "You're the one that suggested I come out here."

"I never would've left that ranch if you hadn't showed up in town," Steve said. "You can wonder all you want why I'm thankin' you. I'll keep on doin' it." He patted Jacky's hand then looked back forward, leaning on the railing.

Jacky leaned on the railing next to him, their shoulders touching. He looked at Steve for a moment then out at the view. "I can't wait for that trek tomorrow," he said. "We'll get to see more of Brokeback than this."

Steve smiled with a nod of his head. "And maybe we can stick around for a few more days," he said, looking down and kicking at the dirt. "Y'know, to talk to Clarence's dad." He looked over at Jacky.

Jacky looked at him. "You really wanna do that?"

Steve nodded his head. "If you wanna stick around here a bit longer," he said.

"I'll have to talk to my parents and let them know, but yeah," Jacky said with a nod. "I think I'll stick around a bit longer." He smiled.

Steve smiled back. "Let's get back," he said then started back down the trail with Jacky right by his side.

Jacky walked into their room first. Steve was downstairs, talking to Clarence about their extended stay. He walked over to his suitcase and dug out his phone. When he turned it on, he saw that he had a message from his mom. He checked his voicemail then listened to the message.

"Hi, honey, sorry to bother you." There was a certain strain to her voice. "Clark and Dianne are here. I tried calling you first, but you never answered. I didn't really want to leave a message, but here it goes. Jacky, sweetie, your father and I are getting a divorce." And the message ended like that.

Jacky lowered the phone, unable to move. He heard the door open behind and Steve saying something about the price of the room being cheaper in the middle of the week. He turned and Steve stopped abruptly when he saw the look on Jacky's face. He didn't have to ask to know that something was wrong.

"Jacky..."

"My parents are getting a divorce," Jacky said. He slipped the phone into his pocket then grabbed his suitcase and put it on the bed then started packing up his things.

"Are you okay?" Steve asked, walking over to Jacky, who was moving as if on autopilot. He placed a hand on Jacky's back, which made Jacky stop what he was doing.

"No, I'm not okay," Jacky said, staring down at his suitcase. "I don't understand what's going on. My parents...I thought they loved each other." He turned and sat down on the bed.

Steve knelt down in front of him. "I'm coming with you," he said.

That took Jacky by surprise. "You don't have to," he said. "You have to get back to the ranch."

"Emily can handle things there without me," Steve said. "You need me more than she does."

"Thanks, Steve."

Steve got to his feet, patting Jacky's leg. "Now I have to go talk to Clarence again," he said with a sigh. He kissed Jacky's forehead. "I'll be right back." He turned and left the room.

Jacky sat there, not moving.

to be continued...