55. Jace
JACE
Producer: “Are you concerned at all about how different your lifestyle is from Kieran’s?”
Jace: “Obviously Kieran has a lot more money than I do these days, but we’re from the same place. I don’t think he’ll judge me for it. Besides, I’m proud of the life I’ve built for myself.”
“Ihope you’re ready for the reminder of what life in New York City is like for us regular people,” I tease as we pull up to my building.
Kieran rolls his eyes, smiling as he responds. “I think I’ll manage.”
Yesterday was great. Kieran had to do his solo interviews for the show in the morning, and I got to have some quality bonding time snuggling with Freddie.
Then his parents came into the city for dinner.
We met them at a fancy steakhouse, and unless he managed to call or text them beforehand, there hadn’t been any time off camera, so I doubt he warned them our relationship was fake.
They seemed genuinely surprised when I introduced myself, obviously recognizing my name.
Kieran gave them a quick explanation that, yes I was that Jace Ryan, and how, with the way the show was set up, we didn’t know who we were talking to when we chose to move in together.
They moved on from their initial confusion quickly, and were just as great as I remember.
I’m trying my best not to read into why he didn’t seem to have warned his parents that things between us aren’t real.
After dinner, we attempted to watch a movie at Kieran’s place, but ended up swapping blowjobs instead, taunting the other about who was better. He even cuddled up against me as we fell asleep together.
It was another perfect day with him that didn’t feel fake at all.
Now we’re doing my home visit. “Try not to be overwhelmed by how fancy my place is,” I say with a wink as I punch in the code to unlock the main door to my building. He lets out a short laugh before we cram onto the elevator with the camera crew, because god forbid we have a moment alone.
“Home sweet home,” I announce as I fit the key into the door then hold it open as I motion for everyone to enter.
When we’re all inside, I stand in the middle of the space and clap my hands together.
“Tour time, my kitchen is right there.” I wave my right hand out toward the kitchen that’s the size of Kieran’s dining room table.
“The living space.” I nod to the couch that’s set up in front of a TV without a coffee table because there isn’t enough room.
“Bathroom and bedroom.” I motion with my other hand to the two doors in the small apartment.
“So much easier than your place, darling,” I tease, winking at Kieran.
“Hey, you have a bedroom.” He shrugs with a big grin. “That’s all I care about.”
There’s pounding at the door, and my stomach drops. I was hoping to have more time to warn them, so I sprint to answer it. I swing the door open, rush into the hallway, and slam it closed behind me, holding the handle so the camera people can’t attempt to follow.
Joey and Patrick are standing in the hallway, looking amused by my dramatic appearance, but I rush to talk before they can say anything.
“Hey, guys, so excited to see you. Listen. Real quick.” My words are sort of blending together with how fast I’m talking, but they seem to be keeping up.
I drop my tone so there’s no chance I’ll be heard through the door.
“I didn’t tell you on the phone because I didn’t think you’d believe me, but I matched with Kieran Delaney on the show, and I need you guys to be chill and not embarrass me on camera.
He is still pissed at me, or he was. I don’t know anymore, honestly.
But we agreed to fake date for the show, except it doesn’t feel fake, and I’m trying to win him over for real. ”
They’re both wearing the same shocked expression when one of the guys from the show knocks on the door. “Everything okay, Jace?”
“Great,” I call back, giving my uncles a final warning look. They quickly nod, and I swing the door back open, pretending like nothing happened and that wasn’t super weird. “Kieran, these are my uncles, Joey and Patrick.”
Kieran arches a pierced brow in my direction but doesn’t ask what that was all about. “Hey, great to meet you.” He holds out a hand, which Joey quickly accepts, shaking it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kieran.”
I should have known Patrick wouldn’t blindly play along, though.
He holds his arms open. “Handshakes are so damn formal, can I hug you instead?” Kieran looks at me again, laughing, probably at how red my cheeks feel, before accepting Patrick’s offered embrace.
I’m grateful it’s a pretty normal hug that doesn’t last long until Patrick steps back and opens his mouth again.
“Wow, what are the chances Jace would meet his favorite YouTuber on a reality show!”
“Patrick,” I scold. Trying to make it clear with my glare that we should drop that conversation immediately.
“He did mention he was a fan,” Kieran responds with a smirk. “But we also met long before that.”
“Oh good!” Patrick says, clapping as he sits down next to his husband on the couch.
Neither of them are small men; Patrick is even taller than me with a similar build, yet they sit right next to each other on the couch like they couldn’t possibly stand to have any space between them.
“Do we get to talk about high school?” he asks with a giant smile that I know means trouble.
“No—”
“Absolutely not,” Kieran and I answer at the same time, though mine is a bit firmer.
Patrick shrugs, grin still in place. “Are you sure? Because I’ve always wondered—”
“Behave,” Joey interrupts, squeezing his husband’s knee firmly as he does.
“Fine, fine. I’ll save that for my wedding toast,” Patrick says with a wink.
Joey shakes his head fondly. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep him away from microphones,” he promises with a soft smile.
“That’s why you're my favorite uncle.”
“Come on, kid, after everything I’ve done for you?” Patrick asks in mock offense. “I take you into my home, this strange child I’d just met, get you a job, take you in under my wing at work and teach you everything I know, and this is the thanks I get?”
“I was eighteen when we met,” I say with a laugh.
“A strange kid,” Patrick repeats seriously.
“And you’re barely twelve years older than me,” I remind him with another laugh.
“Yes, so much older and wiser,” he deadpans.
Kieran laughs beside me, and I turn to him. “I had planned for us to all go out together, but just say the word and I’ll un-invite them,” I offer, making him laugh again. The sound settles my nerves as I look into his blue eyes that are twinkling in amusement.
“Absolutely not, they’re coming,” Kieran confirms. “What are we doing?”
“A walking tour.”
“Like a tourist?” he asks skeptically.
“Sort of.” I shrug. “I thought it would be fun to walk around and point out some of the places we’ve helped build, and we can check out some of my favorite spots to eat on the way.
” I knew my apartment wouldn’t be big enough for us to all hang out in, so I’d given the show some suggestions for the day, wanting to include my uncles because they really are my best friends.
Kieran gives me a warm smile. “That sounds perfect. I’d love to see what you’ve done.”
And it is perfect. We have an amazing day.
Kieran fits in with Joey and Patrick effortlessly, joking around and teasing like he’s known them for years.
He asks me questions about my job in a way that seems like he genuinely wants to know more.
The food is great, which I expected, and everything is so easy, so right.
Joey pulls me aside when we fall behind the camera crew at the end of the day while walking back to our building, softly saying, “Doesn’t seem fake to me.”
My heart races at the confirmation that I’m not the only one thinking that, and I bite my lip to hold back all the things I want to blurt out about how perfect he is and how great I think we are together.
Instead, I respond with a small smile and nod before I pick up my pace to hold hands with Kieran for the rest of the way.
“I think we’ve got enough for the day,” one of the guys from the show says after we’re all back, crammed into my apartment.
“Oh no, done already?” I ask sarcastically, already opening the door for them to leave.
“See you in the morning, Jace.” They laugh on the way out. They seem like nice enough people, but being on camera all day every day is getting pretty old.
When I’ve shut the door behind them and turn back into my apartment, Kieran is standing in my kitchen across from the small counter island that’s the only—sort of—table option. There’s only room for two people to sit, and Joey and Patrick are both there, looking smug.
As soon as I make my way back over to them, they immediately start cracking up. Obnoxiously, uncontrollably, for far too long.
I cross my arms and glare at them, waiting for their outburst to end.
“Okay, we’re done being good for the cameras,” Joey finally gets out between laughs.
“Holy shit, it’s really you!” Patrick says, turning his attention to Kieran. My stomach twists into knots. I have no idea what they’re going to say to him, but I think it’s too late for me to stop it. “He hasn’t shut up about you the entire time since he moved in with us,” Patrick continues.
Kieran squints at me. “Umm, really? Why?”
“It’s not as weird as they’re making it sound,” I insist.
“Well, we were the ones who brought him to your house the day you turned him down after graduation,” Patrick starts.
“He talked about you the whole drive here,” Joey takes over. “He told us all about why he came out to his dad after he punched that kid who threatened you, and how he was worried about you because you stopped posting videos,” he adds, and I feel like my blood drains right out of my body.
“Oh my god, shut up!” I hiss. This can’t be happening.