God, I never know what to say in these anymore... This isn't a very long chapter, but I know people are itching for updates, so... Enjoy?

Chapter Six

It was getting closer to the end of June. And Kendall was in a good mood as he drove Mattie and Fudge to the state park on a Monday morning. His mood wasn't so amazing because he had the day off either. No, his good mood was all thanks to a certain guy.

He and Logan had seen each other several times the past weeks. Sometimes alone, sometimes with Mattie. Kendall absolutely loved spending time with Logan. He could never stop himself from smiling when Logan was around. And Mattie simply adored Logan. Logan was so sweet to Mattie. He listened to Mattie's stories, played with Mattie, sometimes played with Mattie and Fudge. Kendall could really see Logan being around for a long time.

Kendall's mood shifted. He wanted to introduce Logan to his family. To his mom. But his mom was so against him dating another guy. She thought Kendall should be looking for a mother for Mattie, not another father. Mattie already had a date. He needed a positive female influence in his life. Kendall really hoped that if his mom met Logan, she would change her mind.

Kendall pulled into the parking lot and shut off the car.

"Can I hold Fudge's leash?" Mattie asked.

Kendall looked into the backseat. Fudge had crawled into Mattie's lap. "Maybe."

"Why maybe?"

"I don't want you accidentally letting go of the leash," Kendall told his son. "We could lose him in the woods."

Mattie frowned. "Fine."

Kendall got out of the car. He opened the back door and picked Fudge up—thank god his mom got Mattie a small dog. Then he managed to get Mattie out of his car seat with one hand. Once that was settled, Kendall set Fudge on the ground. "Let's go," he said to Mattie. Mattie walked next to Fudge as they headed to the path that cut through the woods.

It was a nice day so far. Since it was early in the morning, it wasn't too hot. But Kendall knew once afternoon hit, it would be like hell outside. Maybe after Camille got off work he could take Mattie over to her house—where she lived with her parents—so they could swim in the pool.

They walked the path, taking the shortest route. Mattie would complain and make Kendall hold him if they took one of the longer ones, and Kendall feared Fudge would keel over. The dog wasn't even a year old and was already a fat fucker. Fudge inhaled all his food, and Kendall knew Mattie and Carlos snuck him some of their food at mealtimes. And maybe Kendall did too. That dog was hard to hate.

As they walked, Kendall warned Mattie to not walk too fast and look out for any rocks he might trip over. Mattie just huffed and said he'd be fine.

Mattie got overly excited at every animal he saw. He would scream, "Look, Daddy!" and by the time Kendall noticed the animal, it was running away. Fudge tried to chase after five squirrels and a rabbit.

Finally, they were reaching the end of the path. Kendall was only semi-aware of the joggers heading toward the clearing. He was busy watching fudge do his business to make sure he didn't eat poison ivy or something after. But he looked up when Mattie started to run off.

"Mattie!" Kendall yelled. "Get back here!" Mattie didn't listen. Kendall picked up Fudge—who was done his business—and ran after him. "Matthew Knight! You are-" Kendall halted when he stepped out of the woods and saw who Mattie had run to.

"Can I have a hug?" Mattie asked Logan.

"But I'm sweaty and stinky," Logan said.

Mattie pouted at Logan, and Logan gave in. He picked Mattie up and hugged him.

Kendall walked up to them and put Fudge down. "Logan." He saw the person standing next to Logan. "Hi, James." James waved.

"Hi, Kendall," Logan said with a smile, still holding Mattie. He looked so natural holding Mattie that it made Kendall's heart flutter a little. And Mattie leaned against Logan in a way similar to how he leaned against Kendall. It was crazy.

"So, uh, you and James were jogging?" Kendall asked.

"Yup," Logan said. "We enjoy running here instead of on the track during the summer. More shade and whatnot."

"Aren't you working today?"

"In a few hours. I'll go home, shower, then go to work. It's supposed to be hot today, so we came here early."

"Who's that?" Mattie asked, pointing to James.

"That's my friend James," Logan answered.

Mattie studied James. "What kind of friend?"

Logan looked confused. "Um. He's my best friend. Like how your Uncle Carlos is your daddy's best friend."

Mattie smiled at James. "Can I call you Uncle James?"

James stared at Mattie in surprise. "Uh... sure, Little Dude."

Mattie frowned at James. "I'm not little."

James laughed. "You're littler than me, right?"

"Yes..."

"To me, you're Little Dude. That's gonna be what I call you. My nickname for you. OK?"

Mattie was smiling again. "OK!" He looked at Logan. "We walked Fudge."

Logan grinned at Mattie. "I can see. You have fun?"

"Yeah! Fudge wanted to play with a bunny, but Daddy wouldn't let him."

"Aw. Poor Fudge." Logan looked at Kendall. "Are you working today?"

Kendall shook his head. "I managed to get today off."

"Well, um, I'll be done at four. My parents invited me and James over for dinner and to swim."

"I love swimming!" Mattie told Logan. "Emmy's mommom and poppop have a pool."

"Well, maybe you and your daddy would like to come swimming at my mom and dad's house?" Logan glanced at Kendall with hopeful eyes.

Kendall was amazed. Logan wanted him to meet his parents. This was a big step. And a sign that Logan wanted to keep Kendall around. At least for awhile.

"You told your parents about me?" Kendall asked.

"Yes," Logan said.

"And... about Mattie?"

"I did."

"What are, um, their feelings on that?"

"They're just curious about you is all," Logan said. "Maybe they wonder what kind of person you are. I've only told them good things. And I know when they meet you, they'll love you."

Kendall put a hand on Mattie's head. "You wanna go swimming at Logan's mom and dad's house?"

"Yeah!" Mattie said. "Can Fudge come?"

"Maybe another time," Logan told Mattie. "Fudge looks tired. He might want to nap all day."

Mattie giggled. "Fudge likes to sleep."

"I'll text you my parents' address," Logan told Kendall. "We'll be over there at, like, five. My dad's making burgers."

"OK," Kendall said. "We'll see you then." He took Mattie out of Logan's arms.

Logan put a hand on the back of Kendall's neck. "Don't be nervous," he whispered. "They'll adore you."

Logan gave Kendall a kiss, making Mattie go, "Ew."

James laughed. "I think it's gross too, Little Dude."

…

It was ten after five when Kendall arrived at the Mitchell house. He hated being late, especially for something so important. But it took Kendall forever to get Mattie into his bathing suit and put sunblock on him. The kid was so excited to go swimming and see Logan that he wouldn't stay still. Then they had to gather a change of clothes and put Fudge in his cage. Unfortunately, Fudge caught Mattie's excitement, so it was a pain in the ass to get him in the cage.

Kendall carried Mattie to the front door of the house. A really nice house, in a really nice neighborhood. Much larger and fancier than the house Kendall grew up in. Now Kendall was even more nervous. With a shaky hand, he rang the doorbell.

Some of Kendall's worry melted away when Logan answered the door with a smile. It came back when he stepped inside and he was surrounded by three giant ass dogs.

"Mom! I thought you put the dogs outside!" Logan yelled in the direction of the other room.

"Sorry!" a man's voice called back, sounding amused and not sorry at all.

Logan groaned. "Zeus, Hades, Posey. Back off! Sit!" They didn't listen. They were too busy sniffing Kendall. "Who wants a treat?" The dogs ran to the kitchen.

Mattie laughed. "Big, silly doggies."

Logan chuckled. "Yeah. Sorry," he said to Kendall, kissing him quickly. "My mom said she'd put them outside so I could warn you about them. They're friendly dogs, I swear."

"Um. What kind of dogs are they?" Kendall asked.

"Bernese Mountain dogs."

"Oh. And... they're names. You called one Posey?"

Logan laughed. "We got them when I was a Freshman in high school. They're brothers from the same litter. My parents let me name them, and I had started reading the Percy Jackson series that year... They're names are Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon—Posey for short."

Kendall felt himself smile. "You're such a nerd. I love it."

"Good." Logan took the bag holding their change of clothes from Kendall. "Ready to meet my parents?"

Kendall took a deep breath. "I guess..."

Logan gave him a reassuring smile and took his hand. He led Kendall into what looked like the living room. On the two couches in front of the large screen TV sat two older people and James.

"Mom. Dad," Logan said, "this is Kendall and Mattie."

The man and woman stood. They walked over to Kendall.

"Hello," Logan's mom said with a smile. "I'm Joanna."

"And I'm Alex," Logan's dad said. "But call me Mr. Mitchell."

"Dad," Logan hissed.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell," Kendall managed to say.

"Hi!" Mattie greeted. He held out his bear, decked out in his swimming gear. "This is Professor Bear. Can I play with your doggies?"

Mr. Mitchell laughed. "You can play with them while I make us dinner."

"Yay!" Mattie squirmed out of Kendall's arms and went to the dogs—James had been distracting them with potato chips. "What's for dinner?" Mattie asked, then giggled loudly when a dog licked his face.

"Burgers," Mr. Mitchell said.

"I don't want burgers. I want mac 'n' cheese."

"Mattie, don't be rude," Kendall said. "You'll eat what the Mitchells made and-"

"I'll make him mac and cheese," Logan interrupted. "We have the stuff to make it."

"Alright then," Mr. Mitchell said. "I'll go start the burgers. James, you wanna help?"

James stood. "Sure." He followed Logan's dad through the sliding glass doors and onto the deck.

"I'll go start the mac and cheese," Logan said and went off to the kitchen.

"I hate to be a bother," Kendall said to Mrs. Mitchell. "But can you watch Mattie for a minute?"

She smiled at Kendall. "Sure."

"Thanks." Kendall went into the kitchen. Logan was gathering everything he needed to make mac and cheese. And not the quick, microwavable stuff Kendall usually gave Mattie. "You, um, don't have to do this, you know."

Logan looked at Kendall. "Was I undermining your authority?"

Kendall laughed and went up to Logan. "No. You just don't have to take up time to make my rude child food."

Logan smiled. "I don't mind."

"You actually genuinely like Mattie, don't you," Kendall didn't say it like a question. "You're not just tolerating him."

"It's pretty impossible to not like Mattie," Logan said, beginning to prepare the mac and cheese.

"Not everyone thinks that."

"Well, those people are dumb shits."

Kendall laughed, put his arms around Logan, and kissed his cheek. "You're great. So, um, can you tell if your parents like me?"

"They'll love you."

"But right now?"

"They met you for, like, two seconds."

"Logan..."

Logan turned around and placed his hands on Kendall's shoulders. "My dad didn't put the dogs outside to send you a message. Like, if you break my heart he'll send the dogs to kill you or something. Dogs that love everyone by the way. Right now my mom's probably asking Mattie about you to see if you're a good father. Then she's probably gonna get Mattie to talk about the two of us together to make sure you treat me right. My dad is probably asking James about you. Both Mattie and James have nothing bad to say about you. My parents will love you." Logan kissed him. "You're too wonderful to hate."

"You're biased."

"But right."

Soon they were all seated on the deck eating. Kendall mostly listened to the conversations going on around him. He had no clue what he should say to impress the Mitchells.

"Did you like the mac and cheese?" Logan asked Mattie.

Mattie nodded. "The best ever!"

Kendall saw Logan's face light up. "Really?" Logan asked.

"Yup!"

"Whoa, whoa," James interrupted. "Don't look so happy, Logan. He's only saying that because he's never had my mac and cheese."

Mattie shook his head at James. "Nope. Logan's is the best."

"How can you say that when you haven't had mine?"

"James," Logan said, "stop trying to pick a fight with a five year old."

"Fine," James said, making Mattie laugh.

"Everyone ready to swim?" Mr. Mitchell asked while his wife cleared the table, telling Kendall he didn't have to help her.

"I'm ready!" Mattie said

"You have to put on your water wings first," Kendall told him.

"But, Daddy! If I stand on my tippy-toes, my head will be above water."

"You're still wearing them. Logan, where's my bag?"

Logan stood. "I'll get them." He disappeared into the house with his mom.

"Daddy, can Professor Bear swim too?"

"I think he'd rather stay out here and work on his tan," Kendall said.

Mattie thought it over then looked at Mr. Mitchell. "Will a doggy eat him if I put him on a chair to tan by the pool?"

Mr. Mitchell smiled at him. "He'll be safe. And if you think one of them is getting too close, I'll make them go away."

Mattie grinned. "Thank you!"

"So polite," Mrs. Mitchell said as she and Logan stepped back onto the deck.

Kendall took the water wings from Logan and started to put them on Mattie. "He's just putting on the charm for you guys."

Mattie giggled. "No. I'm always good."

"Keep telling yourself that, kid."

Mattie stuck his tongue out at Kendall, and Kendall did the same.

Logan removed his shirt. "Ready to swim, Big Guy?"

"Hold on." Mattie went to one of the chairs by the pool and put Professor Bear on it. "Now I am!"

"Does he go under water?" Logan asked Kendall.

"Um. Yeah. But he hold his nose and closes his eyes."

"OK." Logan went up to Mattie. "Wanna jump in with me?"

"Yeah!"

Bless Logan's soul, Kendall thought. Logan also held his nose and closed his eyes when they jumped in the deep end. Then as they swam to the shallow end, Logan slowed his pace to match Mattie's.

As Kendall watched them, James stepped next to him and said, "Good. You feel the same way about Logan as he feels about you."

"Huh?" Kendall asked as the Mitchell's got into the pool.

"Logan gets that same doofy look on his face when he watches you. Or talks about you. He talks about you a lot."

Kendall smiled. "He does?"

"Yeah. And he talks about Mattie too. He really, really likes you, Kendall. He wants to be with you for awhile, and I know you haven't been with him long..."

"I wanna be with Logan for awhile too," Kendall told James. "I've never felt so pulled to someone. I've never smiled so much in my life. And... he gets along with Mattie so well."

James nodded. "He adores the both of you. I bet he has fantasies about the three of you being a big, happy family."

Kendall had those fantasies himself. Which he knew he shouldn't since they hadn't even been together a month. But Logan just fit so well with Kendall and Mattie. It was like he was supposed to be with them. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking on Kendall's part. "I sure hope he does."

They swam in the Mitchell's pool until the sun went down.

Mattie squealed with joy when one of the dogs jumped into the pool—Poseidon, as Logan told Kendall.

Logan was throwing Mattie in the air so he'd land a few feet away in the water when Kendall got out. He sat on the chair next to Professor Bear's. One dog—Zeus, Kendall believed—rested his head in Kendall's lap. Kendall scratched the dog's ears.

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell joined Kendall.

"Mattie's a happy kid," Mr. Mitchell commented.

"I try," Kendall told him.

"Who is Uncle Carlos?" Mrs. Mitchell wanted to know.

"He's my best friend," Kendall said. "I rent a house with him. And he works at Mattie's daycare. So Mattie sees him pretty much all day, everyday."

"Where's his mother?" Mr. Mitchell asked.

Kendall kind of liked that Logan hadn't told them. It was a sensitive subject, and Kendall wanted to be the person to explain such things. "I honestly don't know. She never wanted Mattie. My mom and I talked her out of an abortion, and after he was born she signed away her parental rights."

"So it's just been you taking care of him?" Mrs. Mitchell asked.

"Well, my mom helped a lot financially while I was still in high school. And he goes to the daycare she runs, so it's free. But now, since I work full time, I do most of it on my own. It helps living with Carlos, though. You know, him paying half the rent and stuff."

"You must not have had a lot of time to enjoy being a teenager," Mr. Mitchell said.

Kendall shrugged. "Can't miss what you never really knew. I wouldn't change a thing."

Mattie, Logan, and James got out of the pool. Mattie came running over to Kendall.

"Be careful!" Logan warned. "Don't slip!"

Mattie reached Kendall. "Can you take my water wings off?"

"Sure." While Kendall did so, Logan sat behind him on the chair.

"His hair looks crazy," Logan said.

"Yeah," Kendall agreed. "We gotta go get it cut soon."

"Aw!" both Mattie and Logan complained.

Kendall looked at Logan. "I know why he's against it. Why are you?"

"Why is he against it?" Logan asked.

"He gets bored sitting in the chair. Now. Why you?"

Logan looked at his lap. "I like his curly hair. It's cute."

Kendall laughed. "Cute, but annoying. It's gonna be a pain to brush after his bath tonight."

"Oh well," Logan said with a sigh.

Kendall and Mattie changed, then Logan walked them to Kendall's car. Kendall put Mattie—who was starting to fall asleep—into his car seat.

"Today was fun," Kendall told Logan after he shut the door.

Logan smiled. "My parents really like both you and Mattie."

"Yeah?"

"Yup. Mattie knows how to get people to like him. And they've come to the conclusion that you're a good guy. They'll want you guys at a family even soon."

"Oh shit," Kendall felt a pang of anxiety.

Logan chuckled. "You got any Fourth of July plans?"

"No..."

"We'll be having a shindig here. Lots of food and fireworks."

"God. Meeting your whole family."

"It'll be fine," Logan promised.

Kendall sighed. It scared him, but it was good that Logan wanted him to meet his family. "We'll be there."

Logan smiled. "We can arrive together."

"That actually makes me feel better."

Logan kissed Kendall. "Text me later?"

"I will. No kid date this weekend?"

"I look forward to it."

Yeah. Sorry this was short and probably boring. I'll try to do better with the next chapter.