Page 16 of Years in the Making

“I met him at a party his roommate was having, and I was maybe casually dating the roommate at the time.”

“No way.”

“Yeah, it was kind of awkward, to be honest. She was pissed at first, thought I was just using her to get to him. Then after she cooled off, we chatted and she admitted that she didn’t feel any spark between us either.”

“When was that?”

“Six months ago.”

“Johnathan Lee Keisman, you’ve been seeing this guy forsix months and haven’t said a word about him? There aren’t even any pictures of the two of you on social media.”

“He’s not out to his family.” Ah, that explains it then. John had come out to me at the end of our second summer working together. He’d also done it in the nerdiest way possible. He’d said, “I think I’m like a Humboldt Penguin.” I’d asked what made him say that, and then he’d just looked at me for a while until all the facts about Humboldt Penguins sorted themselves out in my mind. When my eyes went wide he just nodded. “So you think… or you know?” I asked. “Well, I guess I know I’m not straight, other than that I don’t really have a distinct label.” And that was that. He had come out to my dad earlier in the week, but other than him, I was the only one who knew. John didn’t know how our small conservative town would take it. In the end, no one seemed to care all that much, and his family embraced him just as they always had. Seeing John happy was high on my list of wants. While it took fifteen years for us to get to know each other, he’d become like a brother to me in the five since.

“You still could have told me.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I think you’d like him, though.”

“If you like him, I’m sure I would too. So he’s not coming for the wedding?”

He smiles sadly and shakes his head. “Nah. Anyway—” He looks down at his watch. “I’ve gotta get those mice to your dad, and then I’ve got a suit fitting or I’m helping pick out fun socks for the groomsmen or something.” He stands, and we walk out to the garage together.

“I think I’ll give you a hug goodbye before you’ve got an arm full of deceased rodents.”

“Good idea.” He stops and holds his arms out wide.

He folds me into himself, and I mumble, “I’m happy for you, John.”

“Give that guy a call or something and come clean if you want whatever it is between you to have a chance,” he says, leveling me with a look that has me promising to do just that. And then he’s gone, and I’m alone with my thoughts.

Lying about having a boyfriend hadn’t felt that huge at first, but now as I sit back down on the couch, I can’t help but think it was growing into something that could poison whatever chance I had with EG, even if it is purely friendship. And after spending the morning with him I can imagine being friends with him. I reach for my phone to lay it all bare when I see he's already texted me.

Enviro Guy

LG, I had a great time today. Thanks for putting up with me.

EG, it was a hardship, but one I was able to endure easier than I had anticipated.

I don’t know if you’d be interested, but I’ve got a game tomorrow night in Sherman. Would you want to maybe come watch for a bit?

Just for a bit?

Well, you may get bored and want to leave. I would hate to hold you there against your will.

Such a gentleman. What time?

The game starts at 8. We’ll be there around 7:30 for warmups.

By eight, both my parents would be home from work and I’d have a car. I would also be able to answer the socks up or socks down question that was no doubt going to plague my mind.

I’d like that!

Awesome. It’s at the Sherman Lions Park, 30 Standford Dr. See ya tomorrow.

Looking forward to it!

I set my phone down and lean back again. Tomorrow. I can tell him tomorrow. In person is always better anyway.

SIX

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