Chapter 8 #2
“Looks are just that. It’s the person on the inside that counts.” He stalked back to the bed. “I’ve had physical jobs of one sort or another for most of my life. In the winter I go to the gym to stay fit so I don’t pile on the weight, but otherwise, my work keeps me fit.”
“Mine just gives me chair butt.” He sat up, and Kevin drew closer, sliding between Willy’s legs, kissing him as he pressed him against the pillows. “I still don’t understand what you see in me. I’m a father of two who’s exhausted and trying to rebuild his life.”
“Where did this lack of self-worth come from? You’re, what, twenty-eight, have a doctorate, and you’re on your way to a full professorship.
You have come up with ideas that no one else ever thought of.
Now that’s sexy. So don’t put yourself down.
Not everyone can have muscles like me.” He flexed his arms. “Just like not everyone can have a mind like yours. So be happy with the gifts you’ve been given. ”
Willy kissed him. “And I suppose we need to be happy when we find someone who appreciates those gifts.” He ran his hands over Kevin’s arms and then down his chest. “Because I like these particular gifts… a lot.” Kevin chuckled as Willy tugged him closer.
“Why don’t you show me just how amazing those gifts of yours can be. ”
Kevin grinned. “Oh, you want to see?”
“And feel.”
Kevin pressed Willy to the mattress, letting his weight settle on him.
He hoped he wasn’t too heavy, but Willy held him right back, the kisses building quickly to the point that Kevin could barely think straight.
Not that it mattered, because at this particular moment, thinking was vastly overrated.
Heat built between them as each explored the other.
It was like unwrapping a gift and finding something inside that you never knew you wanted, but as soon as you had it, you wondered how you ever got along without it.
That was what this moment felt like to Kevin.
“Do you have supplies?” Kevin should have brought some with him, but he had nothing.
And as soon as he asked the question, he knew the answer.
There had been way too many things going on for that sort of preparation.
But it didn’t matter, because there were many ways to make love to someone else.
KEVIN LAY in the bed as Willy rolled over next to him, sliding a hand over his chest. Willy snuffled lightly and then seemed to settle. Thumper pushed the door open and quietly came into the room. Kevin smiled, and Thumper jumped up and made himself comfortable at the foot of the bed.
“What’s that?” Willy asked.
“Shhh. Just Thumper joining us,” Kevin explained, and Willy hummed and got out of the bed, his bare butt bouncing as he went into the bathroom. Kevin waited for him to return and climb back into the bed.
“When do you have to go to work tomorrow?”
“I work from two till eleven or so.” He tugged Willy to him. “Just go back to sleep. The kids will be awake soon enough.”
Willy chuckled. “Tell me about it. I keep hoping the kids will learn to sleep later, but as soon as the sun lightens up their rooms, they’re awake and ready to go. I tried heavy curtains at the apartment, and it did nothing. They seemed to know when the sun was up.” He yawned and drew closer.
“Don’t worry about it. Just let yourself sleep. I’ll be here, and the kids each have a dog to keep watch over them. And who knows, the dogs might encourage them to sleep in.” After all, anything was possible.
“We’ll see.” Willy seemed to settle, and soon his breathing evened out. Kevin lay awake for a while, but finally fell asleep.
“DADDY.” Grant came into the room with Elsa following him. She jumped onto the bed, joining Thumper.
“He’s still asleep. How about you go to your room and get dressed? I’ll come in and we can play Legos or something.”
Grant turned to leave, and Kevin pulled on his sweatpants just in time to hear him start heaving.
He hurried out and lifted Grant, managing to get him into the bathroom before he threw up.
The poor kid was hot, and his hair stuck to his head.
Kevin gave him some water once he was done.
“Do you feel like you’re going to throw up again? ”
Grant hesitated and then shook his head. “But my head hurts.”
“Okay.” He carried Grant to the bedroom and put him in bed with Willy. Then he checked on April, who was still sound asleep. Benjamin lifted his head as soon as he peered in the room and then lowered it again as if to say that she was okay.
He returned to Willy’s room, where Grant had curled up next to his daddy, the two of them sound asleep.
April began to fuss, so he went in and picked her up, then changed her diaper before taking her downstairs.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, taking her temperature with the back of his hand.
She seemed fine, and he got her a little cereal and some juice, and once she was done, she climbed down from the table and found her shopping cart, then grabbed some of the furniture from the doll house to put in it.
Maybe she was playing moving van. Anyway, she wheeled it around the house with Benjamin following her like she had liver snaps in her pocket.
Kevin sat at the table with a cup of coffee, wondering how he’d gotten drawn into this.
A couple weeks ago he was this unattached and carefree firefighter, and with one decision, he was now a babysitter and caretaker for a two-year-old.
Granted, her daddy was just upstairs. Before the apartment building fire, he had wanted kids, but he would never have thought that he’d have an instant family of sorts.
It was a huge change, and he wondered if he was good enough for it.
“Toons,” April said, pushing her cart up next to him.
“Sure, honey.” Kevin got up and found a channel she liked on TV. April settled on one of the floor cushions with Benjamin on her lap, enthralled. Well, that was easy enough.
“I’m sorry,” Willy said as he shuffled in, blinking, with his hair askew. “I gave Grant some Children’s Tylenol, and he’s sleeping for now. He has a fever, but I think the medicine is bringing it down. He’s not as hot as he was a little while ago.”
“Do you want to take him to the doctor?”
“I already called, and we have a video appointment later today. There doesn’t seem to be much need to take him in at this point.
I suspect it’s something that’s going around the daycare and he picked it up from one of the other kids.
” He flopped into one of the kitchen chairs, and Kevin brought him a mug of coffee.
“You don’t have to stay around here if you don’t want to.
I know sick kids aren’t something you signed up for. ”
Kevin sat down in the chair next to him. “Hey. To be honest, I don’t have a clue what I signed up for, as you put it. But we’re sort of figuring things out. April had cereal for breakfast, and she’s happy enough.” He shrugged.
“I know. But it must suck to date someone like me. I mean, we’re young, and most gay guys my age are going out, having fun, doing the horizontal hula with every guy they meet.
They don’t spend their days going to garage sales for toys and taking care of sick kids.
” He gently placed his hand on Kevin’s cheek.
“I’ll understand if this is too much for you.
I really will. You were kind enough to take us in and see us through a hard time, but…
well… I’ll understand.” He stood and left the table with his mug of coffee.
“I need to check on Grant.” He hurried out of the room, and Kevin wondered what he’d done to deserve the brushoff.
Was this Willy’s way of telling him that they should just be friends and that was all he wanted?
Kevin shook his head and wondered if he should just go.