Chapter 15: Bad Day
Kurt was not having a great day. So far, senior year had not lived up to the hype, not even close. Just thinking of trying to get into NYADA gave him a stress induced migraine. Deciding to run for Class President may not have been his best idea ever. Those posters Brittany had plastered all over the school made him cringe, and he could strangle Berry with his own hands for betraying him by running against him. Kurt slammed his hand against the steering wheel; he would never forgive her for this!
His phone rang. Kurt hit the Bluetooth receiver on the visor. "What?"
"Bad day?" Nigel's voice, even over the crap car speakers, worked its usual alchemy on Kurt.
"Hey, babe." Kurt's hands unclenched from around the steering wheel, and a smile twitched at his lips. "Worst day ever!"
"Then I guess this isn't a good time to ask for a favour?"
"That favour wouldn't involve me coming over and bending you over the dining room table, would it?"
Nigel laughed. "No, sorry, but hold that thought."
Kurt's voice went deep and dark. "I'd rather hold you."
Nigel's hand clamped tight around his phone, and his cock jerked. "Kurt! Please! I've asked you not to do that on the phone." Nigel's voice was a needy whisper.
Kurt grinned. "Sorry."
Nigel snorted. "Yeah, right!"
Kurt thought it expedient to change the topic. "What's the favour?"
"Claire's got Angie at a doctor's appointment. I'm supposed to pick up Tommy, but I've got a meeting with my academic advisor."
"No problem. I'll head over to his school now. Call and tell him I'm coming."
"Thanks, Kurt. I owe you!"
"Don't worry about it, Dennison. You're going to make it up to me."
Nigel laughed. "I always do." Nigel disconnected.
Kurt smiled as he hit the Bluetooth, memories flashing behind his eyes. Yes, he certainly did!
"Hey, Kurt." Tommy threw his backpack on the floor, and slid into the front seat.
Kurt waited until Tommy fastened his seat belt, and then started the car. "You in a hurry to get home?"
"No, why?"
"You wanted to see my dad's garage?"
"Really? Cool!"
Tommy had just turned eight. He was only interested in two things, video games and cars. When Tommy found out that Kurt's father owned his own garage, Kurt had assumed minor god status. Since Kurt didn't make the mistake of asking Tommy any questions about school, Tommy told him all about it. He was still talking about the gerbil that got loose in class, when Kurt pulled up at Hummel Tire and Lube.
Tommy hopped out of the car, and turned wide eyes to Kurt. "You think your dad will let me look at an engine?"
Kurt smiled. "I can pretty much guarantee it."
He led Tommy through the service bay doors. "Dad?"
A body slid out from under a car, black curly hair. "Hey, Kurt. He's in the office."
"Thanks, Frank." Kurt had to smile at Tommy's expression as he watched Frank slide back under the car.
"Kurt, nice surprise." Burt walked out of the office, a smile on his face.
"Dad, this is Tommy, Nigel's nephew." Kurt touched Tommy's shoulder. "Tommy, this is my dad, Burt."
Tommy's eight-year old hand disappeared into Burt's wide grip, as they shook hands. "Tommy." Burt nodded.
Tommy said nothing. He stared at Burt awestruck.
"Dad, have you got a minute? Tommy wants to see what an engine looks like."
"Sure thing." Burt motioned Tommy to follow him.
Kurt took out his cell phone. "Give me a sec. I've got to tell Nigel where we are."
Burt walked Tommy around the shop. He opened the hood, on an old Honda Civic, pointed out and named the various parts to Tommy. It didn't take a mind reader to see how excited the boy was. He leaned so far over the car; he almost fell into the engine. Burt caught his shirt and pulled him back. He closed the hood. "Ever been under a car?"
They both turned as Kurt's laugh rang out. Kurt was pacing at the far end of the garage still talking on his phone. Tommy looked at Kurt and then back to Burt. "You're Kurt's real dad? Not his step-dad?"
Burt looked over at Kurt and smiled. "You're thinking he doesn't look like me, right?"
Tommy shrugged.
"You're right, he doesn't. He looks like his mom." Burt laughed, and showed Tommy how to work the hydraulic lift. They stood under the car and talked about exciting things like axels, and brakes, and tire rotation.
Kurt slipped his phone back into his pocket, and glanced over at Burt and Tommy, who were both engrossed in the mysteries of the underside of a suspended car. No need to interrupt their little auto love fest. Kurt decided to get some work done on the computer in Burt's office.
Burt lowered the car. "You want a coke?"
"Sure."
Burt fished some change out of his overalls. He got two cokes from the machine in the corner of the waiting area, and handed one to Tommy. He was curious, he wondered how this kid felt about having Kurt as a pseudo parent all of the sudden. He wanted to know, but he didn't want to start an inquisition. Burt leaned against a tool bench, and watched as Tommy wandered around the place.
"Kurt let me help him change my uncle's tire last week."
"Yeah?" Burt sipped his coke. "Kurt's pretty good. He should be. I taught him. Nigel didn't want to help?"
Tommy shook his head. "Nah, my uncle's not into cars." Tommy thought this was a major flaw in an otherwise perfectly good relative. He looked over at Burt. "He's gay, you know."
Burt turned his surprised choke into a cough. "Yeah, I knew that."
"Kurt's his boyfriend." Tommy glanced at Burt, checking his reaction.
"Yeah, Kurt told me."
Tommy nodded, relaxing his body language. Burt got the feeling he had just passed a test. "Kurt's O.K." Tommy continued, as if Burt had asked. He walked over to stand near Burt, running his hand along the tools on the bench. "He plays video games with me, and takes me to movies when my mom's working." Tommy picked up a wrench. "My father used to call my uncle names, you know?"
Burt nodded. "Yeah, people used to call Kurt names, and do mean things to him." Burt made eye contact with the boy. "I didn't like it."
Tommy nodded. "My father used to make my mother cry."
Burt didn't know what to say to that. "Do you miss him?"
"No. I've got my uncle, and Kurt."
There was something under Tommy's words that Burt couldn't quite place, protection, defiance? Burt was impressed, the kid was only eight, and he already knew what mattered and what didn't.
"If you're ever looking for something to do on a Saturday, come on over. You can help me out here."
Tommy's eyes lit up. "You mean it?"
"Your mom called, she's home with Angie, and they're ordering pizza." Kurt joined Burt and Tommy.
"Kurt, your dad says I can come work here on Saturdays." Tommy was twitching with excitement.
"Yeah, he's all about the slave labour." Kurt led the way to the car, Tommy talking non-stop at his side. Burt followed them out to their parking spot. He closed the car door after Tommy got settled.
"Dad, I'm staying at Nigel's tonight. Tell Carole I won't be home for dinner." As Kurt climbed into the car, he motioned to Tommy and mouthed, "Thank you," to his dad.
Burt waved as they drove off. He wasn't too thrilled with this, "Oh, by the way, I'm sleeping at my boyfriend's tonight," thing that Kurt had started since he turned eighteen. He shook his head, no, he wasn't happy with it at all, but no one asked him anything anymore…and Kurt was happy, which was really the only thing that mattered to Burt.
Kurt finished brushing his teeth, switched the en suite light off, and climbed into Nigel's bed. Nigel held the covers out for him, and gathered Kurt close. "So? The worst day ever?"
Kurt rubbed his face against Nigel's chest. "It doesn't seem so bad, now."
"Tell me anyway."
Kurt sighed and sat up, his back against the headboard. "Rachel's running against me for Class President."
"You're kidding! Why would she do that?"
"Because when you look into the deep dark of her soul, the only thing you'll find is ambition." Bitterness, seeped through Kurt's words, closely followed by hurt. "I can't believe I ever thought she was my friend."
Nigel wrapped a hand around the back of Kurt's neck, and pulled him into his arms. "Kurt, I'm sorry."
Kurt nodded. He turned in Nigel's arms, leaning on one elbow, looking down at Nigel, who was slouched against the pillows. "I don't want to think about it anymore." Kurt trailed a finger over Nigel's lips. "Think you can distract me?"
Nigel drew a hand down the centre of Kurt's chest, curled it over his hip, and locked it onto his ass. One finger teased over Kurt's entrance. Kurt's eyes closed, and he undulated against his boyfriend's hand. Nigel grinned. "I think so."