Vincent Kinsington

I woke up in the morning to Chet's deep eyes staring at my face. I smiled and pulled him closer. My best mornings were always the ones where he was next to me when I woke up. He was always awake first and except for that first time, he didn't leave the bed until after I woke up.

"Good morning," he said to me.

"It is," I replied. My eyes shifted closed as I enjoyed this moment of him in my arms and his around me.

"You've got to get up if you want to give me a ride to the university," he said. "Or you could stay in bed and sleep longer and I can take the bus."

I rolled out of bed. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"I can grab something at the school," he said as he got out of bed.

I rounded the bed and wrapped my arms around his waist. "I will make you something," I insisted. He smiled drawing my attention to his lips. I kissed him lightly on the lips three times in quick succession. "What do you want?" I asked again.

"Fried eggs and toast," he said.

"Then you get ready while I make it."

He went into the bathroom while I went into the kitchen. I washed my hands in the kitchen sink and prepared the fried eggs and toast. It didn't take long and the table was set and the food prepared when he came back out. We sat at the little table. He buttered the toast and then put the fried egg on top of it and ate it that way. I had never seen anyone do that, but it probably wasn't that uncommon. He seemed to think the way my family ate was strange so maybe I was the weird one. I copied him and took a bite. It was good.

"Hurry and get ready," he said when we were through. "I'll clean up." He was already gathering the dishes. I quickly went through my morning routine. He came into the bathroom at one point to brush his teeth. It didn't take us long to gather our things and be ready to leave. Before we opened the door to leave my apartment we kissed. He was the one to suggest we should have our goodbye kiss before we left the apartment so we didn't have to worry about someone seeing us in public.

I dropped him off at the sports building and then drove to the gym near Alex's house. None of my friends nor I were into sports, but ever since high school, we would go to the gym a couple of times a week. Alex wasn't there yet when I arrived. I got on a treadmill. Ten minutes later Alex showed up and got on the treadmill next to me.

"Remind me," he said, "why did we start coming in the morning instead of the evening?"

Because Chet has been sleeping over and I need to take him to school early so I'm already up with nothing to do was not what I said.

"I've been waking up early," I said.

"Do you know how much Trevon and I used to hate you for your ability to get up so easily in the morning?"

Chet was better at it. I didn't say that either.

"I should call Trevon before he can call me and scold me for not calling him," I said.

"You should," he agreed readily.

Our conversation died away the rest of the time we were on the treadmill. When we were through and doing some easy stretches he said, "Have you figured out how to get around your family yet?"

I didn't have to ask to know he was talking about me starting a relationship with Chet. I needed to tell him soon that Chet and I were already dating and I was in it too deep and had no idea what I would do if my family found out. What I did know was that I couldn't live without Chet. I needed him.

"No," I said. "Any suggestions?"

Alex sighed. "I don't know. I'll think about it and let you know."

The day passed as many of my days had lately. I ate lunch with Chet. We split the bill. He told me he would pick up something for dinner since I made dinner for him the previous night.

When I got home, I picked up and cleaned a little so it would be nice for when Chet got there. I decided I should give Trevon a call before Chet got there. He answered after the first ring.

"You called me," he said. "I'm shocked."

"I thought I better call before you could give me a hard time about it," I said.

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"I'm still going to give you a hard time," he said. "You should have called me a lot sooner."

"Okay, but I'm calling now. Be grateful," I teased.

"Whatever," he said easily.

"Did Alex tell you about Jason?"

"That he was finally arrested? Yes. I hate that guy. I hope he ends up in prison for a long time. It sounds like he's done this to multiple people."

"That's what Alex told me too," I said.

"I heard you are getting along with Alex's boyfriend."

I sighed. "I have been stupid. Mateo is nice and Alex really loves him."

"You have been stupid," he agreed.

"I'm making up for it now," I said. "So how's school life? How are things with Arthur?"

"School's fine. It's school. Things are great with Arthur," he paused, but I knew he wasn't done speaking so I waited.

"Are you ever afraid of girls?" Trevon asked.

"Not really," I said, "but I didn't grow up in the same house as your sisters. Your sisters scare me."

"Me too," he said.

"Why do you ask? Is there a girl you're afraid of?"

He didn't answer right away and that pause told me a lot.

"Is your ex girlfriend causing you trouble?" I asked. "The one who refused to break up with you at first?"

"Not really," he said tentatively.

"It doesn't sound like you are sure about that."

"She hasn't done anything to me. It's just...nevermind. I think I'm just letting Brittany and Kylie influence the way I think about women. It's nothing. Alex told me you have a crush. The last time I spoke to you I specifically asked if you had a crush and you said no."

"I didn't know I had a crush then," I said. "Did Alex tell you who my crush is?"

"No. He told me you should tell me yourself so I'm waiting. Tell me."

I hesitated. But I knew Trevon wouldn't tell my family and he now knew I was bi so, "It's Mateo's best friend."

"His roommate?"

"No."

"The soccer player."

"Yes."

"You have a crush on a boy," he teased.

"Shut up," I smiled.

"You should ask him out and then we'll all have boyfriends and then we can go on triple dates when I visit home. Oh wait...your family. They are frustrating. You know what? You're in college. That's the time to experiment right? If they find out, just tell them it's an experiment."

"Trev."

"What?"

My heart began to race. My stomach began to twist. But I wanted someone to know. "I'm already dating him."

"What?" he asked in disbelief. "Alex said it is just a crush."

"He doesn't know."

"You are actually telling me something first? I don't believe this. Why haven't you told Aley?"

"I'm still trying to get on Mateo's good side," I said. "Chet says if we tell Alex we have to tell Mateo and I don't think Mateo is ready to know that yet."

"You're really dating him?"

"Yes."

"Are you serious? Nevermind. You have to be serious. You wouldn't risk your family's anger if you weren't. What are you going to do if your family finds out?"

It was something always on the back of my mind and I didn't have a solution for it. "I don't know," I said. "Chet is special. I feel special when I'm with him. I don't want to be without him."

"Wow," Trevon said. "I never thought this would happen." There was a faint bell from his side of the phone.

"That's the doorbell. Arthur is here." There was a pause as Trevon went to open the door.

"How dare you still be on the phone when I arrive," Arthur said playfully.

"It's Vincent. He says he has a boyfriend."

"Trevon!" I scolded right as Arthur said, "What? Let me talk to him."

"I already told him you were bi," Trevon said to me. "He's not going to tell anyone."

"You weren't supposed to tell anyone," I said.

There was shuffling on the other end and then Arthur's voice said into the phone, "He didn't tell me for such a long time. It was torture. I had to use all my wiles to pry it out of him. Don't worry I won't tell anyone."

My doorbell rang. "He's here," I said. My breath was suddenly gone.

"Your boyfriend?" Arthur asked. "Let me talk to him."

I opened the door. I must have looked distraught because Chet mouthed 'What's wrong?' He had a takeout bag in his hands.

He came inside and I closed the door behind him before I spoke. "I called my friend Trevon and I hadn't planned to but I told him we were dating and he told his boyfriend and now his boyfriend wants to talk to you."

He set down the bag of food and his backpack and reached out a hand to take the phone. I handed it to him.

He brought the phone to his ear while his eyes stayed on me. "Hi," he said into the phone. "I'm Chet. Vincent's boyfriend." He smiled when he said 'boyfriend' and I practically melted.

There was a pause before Chet Said, "Yes."

Another short pause. I had never wanted to hear the other side of the conversation more in my life.

"Yes."

There was a really long pause.

"Yes."

His eyes never left mine.

"No, he's not, but he is special."

Me? Was I the one he just referred to as special? I had just called him special too.

"No."

That no wasn't in response to my thoughts I had to remind myself.

"Yes," he said.

Pause.

"I'll stay with him."

Him as in me or someone else? What were they talking about?

"Money doesn't mean anything."

For some reason those words spoken by Chet brought me some peace. He was always the same.

"Yes. I've talked with him like that many times."

Like what? Were they still on the money issue?

"Not anymore."

There was a slight pause and then Chet handed me the phone.

"Hello?" I said.

"I like him," Trevon said. I had been expecting Arthur. "I think he's going to be good for you."

"He already is," I said.

"I'm hungry," Arthur whined cutely in the background.

"I've got to take Arthur out to eat," Trevon said. "And don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Not even Alex until you give me the go ahead."

We hung up. "He approves of you," I said to Chet. He closed the short distance between us and hugged me.

"I like him," he said. "I can tell he cares about you."

"We should tell Alex now," I said into his hair. It was still slightly damp from his shower after practice. "Trevon says he will keep it from him, but I don't know how long that will last and it's better if Alex hears it from me."

"We'll tell him and Mateo soon although I think it would be better if we waited until after the tournaments. Mateo is stressed enough about them as it is. I don't want to give him more to think about that might mess with his game."

"Okay," I agreed. "We'll tell them after the tournaments."