Life From A Distance

Ben

Chapter Sixteen

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I woke up well before Ian did. Crawling out of bed without disturbing my new boyfriend was easy since he was spooned up behind me. It was a simple matter to slip out from under his arm and slide onto the floor. Finding my clothes in the dark was another matter, but I managed to do it without making too much noise.

Once out of his room, I went to the kitchen and made some coffee. I’d just recently acquired the taste from RayRay. As if the kid weren’t hyper enough as it was, his friend had to feed him coffee on an overnight and now he drinks it every morning. He got me hooked by putting in one part sugar for one part coffee. It tasted like candy.

I sat on the couch in the family room and watched the light snow fall outside cover the deck like a gray blanket in the early morning gloom. The warmth the coffee lent my body kept me comfortable in the chilly room.

Stunned. It could not be described in any other way. Ian’s revelation had stunned my mind. The entire night while we lay together, I tried to comprehend the major shift my reality had just taken. Ian, who had been a friend for a long time, was now my boyfriend. Nothing could be as it was, yet it must remain so for our safety.

My brain was now running at full speed, contemplating the ramifications of the love we had confessed and affirmed to one another. No one else knew, not even Ed and Liz, or even Murray. How could we keep our feelings hidden from them? How could we possible refrain from expressing our love when in their presence? What would they think about a twelve and a thirteen being in love in the first place?

“You’re up early, Ben,” Ed said, startling me slightly.

“Hi, Dad. Couldn’t sleep any more. Had some thinking to do.” I took a sip of my coffee and frowned. It was cold.

“Everything is really okay then?” His voice betrayed his concern.

“Between us it is,” I replied as calmly as my somersaulting stomach would allow. “If there’s anything else, he didn’t mention it last night.” I rose and followed Dadtwo into the kitchen to warm up my coffee. I glanced at the microwave and saw it was only a quarter after six.

“What time will people start showing up?” I asked.

“About eleven or so. We’re grilling some sausages and burgers. Ian mentioned he might want to go to the park and play football, but if the snow keeps coming down, I’m not sure that will be a good idea.”

“C’mon, dad, it’ll be fun!”

Ed peered at me as he