Nate #2
Carter grins. “Right? We could have like ten a day and basically gain no weight.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re an idiot. Maybe just two.”
It’s around 9:30, and I decide to help Debi clean everyone’s plates. The two brothers head back upstairs, probably to play video games, while Carter settles on the couch next to his dad to watch football reruns.
I look at Debi and say, “I could help, Mrs. Elliot.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “Call me Debi. Mrs. Elliot makes me feel old, and I’m only sixty-one years young.”
I smile. “Fine, Debi. I’m staying to help clean.”
“Perfect,” she says, her tone playful but firm. “I’d love the company.”
I start rinsing the plates while she scrubs a pot coated in meat residue. After a moment, she says, “Carter looks so happy. He told me you’re temporarily living with him. Why not make it permanent?”
I glance over at her. “It’s only been ‘official’ for a little over two months. I feel like the right thing to do is move out, and maybe after a year or two, we could live together permanently. It’s still pretty fresh.”
She nods but doesn’t let it go. “I see the way Carter looks at you. He’s in love. But I can’t help feeling he’s still holding on to some anxiety.”
I pause. “What do you mean?”
She sighs. “Earlier, when I said he looked happy…he cut me off. I know he probably didn’t mean anything by it, but he always stops me when I bring up him coming out publicly.
And look, I know it’s no one’s business, but if he wants a real relationship with you, he needs to feel free.
He can’t go around looking over his shoulder all the time. ”
I glance over at her and nod slowly. She’s sharp and more in tune with her son than I expected. And she’s right. For Carter and me to keep growing, he has to be more comfortable with who he is.
“If I’m being honest,” I say, “I agree. I’ve been to places with him where he’s introduced me as his friend. But seriously, it’s still so early, and he just came out to his team. I'm pretty confident he will be fine.”
Debi smiles. “I think so too. I might have a little talk with him tomorrow, just to say my piece.”
I chuckle. “Are you planning a party or something?”
She grins. “Not a party. But since it’s a night game, Carter’s heading to the stadium around four. I thought it’d be fun to have a barbecue at one in the afternoon, with just our family.”
She pauses, then adds with a mischievous look in her eye, “And I may have secretly invited his old teammates: Roman Phillips and Spencer Daniels.”
My eyes go wide with shock. “Wait, they’re both on Boston! I totally forgot. They’re incredible!”
“I know,” she says proudly. “And Carter was so close to them when he played for Boston.”
“He's randomly brought them up in the past, but I have no idea if they still talk regularly,” I say.
She shrugs. “I think it’s one of those friendships where you might not talk a lot, but when you see each other, it’s like no time has passed.”
I nod, impressed. But a part of me is nervous. “Don’t say anything,” she adds. “I didn’t tell Carter. Let’s keep it a surprise.”
I try to smile, but inside, I’m freaking out a little.
She finishes scrubbing the meat residue off the large metal pot, and I excuse myself to the living room with my fingers crossed.
I hate lying, but I have to tell Carter.
I’m going to be there, and if they look at me, then look at him, they’re definitely going to ask, ‘Who the hell is this guy?’
Maybe I can say I’m Dustin’s best friend? I mean, they’re football players. They won’t be smart enough to connect the dots. At least that’s what I hope.
I walk into the living room. Carter sees me and immediately reaches for my hand. “Help me up.”
I smirk. “Can’t get up on your own?”
“I’m tired and lazy,” he mutters. “Let’s go upstairs. It’s almost ten.”
Scott glances over. “And I thought I was old.”
We both laugh, and I say, “You’re not wrong. I’m not fully functional past 10 p.m. I definitely need to crash, especially with the barbecue tomorrow.”
Carter pauses. “What barbecue?”
I glance at Scott, then back at Carter. “We’ll talk upstairs.”
Scott hugs us goodnight. “You guys can crash in Carter’s old room. We left it untouched.” Then he smirks. “I hope I can trust you’ll behave. Don’t make us separate you two tonight.”
I freeze. “You’ve got my word,” I say, mortified.
As I walk ahead, Carter taps my ass lightly, clearly in full view of Scott, who just shakes his head and laughs.
We pass by his brothers’ room, where they’re locked into an Xbox game, then slip into Carter’s old bedroom. We sit on his queen-size bed, which barely fits two grown men, and I look around with curiosity.
I sarcastically say, “Wow…cute room. I love the yellow walls, the blue-and-white checkered comforter…and the half-naked women posters everywhere.”
Carter grins. “What did you expect? I was a straight teenage boy, at one point.”
I chuckle. “Sure you were.”
He lies back, hands behind his head. “So my love, what’s this barbecue?”
I bite my lip. “I’m supposed to keep this a secret. And by the way, your mom is hilarious, but also sneaky.”
“Don’t get sidetracked,” he says. “Spill.”
“Okay, fine. Your family’s having a barbecue. Your mom invited your old teammates, Spencer Daniels and Roman Phillips.”
Carter’s eyes go wide with surprise, but not with anger. “Holy shit! I haven’t seen those guys since I was traded.”
“Do you still talk to them?” I ask. “You bring them up sometimes, but we don’t really talk about your old team.”
“I’m still close with them,” he says. “They’re probably my best guy friends, besides Marcus. And now Josh Miller. Even Paul’s creeping up there. It’ll be great to catch up with those two.”
I hesitate. “Should I be your friend tomorrow? One of your brother’s friends?”
Before I can look up, Carter grabs my thigh, cups the back of my neck, and kisses me.
“You’ll be my boyfriend tomorrow,” he says. “I’m sick of caring what people think. And those two are my boys. They’ll be fine, or at least they will get over it quickly.”
“How do you know?” I mumble.
“I just do,” he says. “I played with them for three full years. They’ve always had my back. No homophobic crap. They’ll love you, and they’ll love me for who I am.”
I pull him in for another kiss. “I fucking love you. Also, I love your family.”
Carter grins. “Okay, be honest. What’d you think of my mom’s cooking, now that she’s not here?”
“I wasn’t lying. It’s amazing.”
He beams, and I go on. “Seriously. Your dad’s a sweetheart. Your mom’s hilarious. I’m so jealous you grew up with parents like them.”
“I know,” he says. “I take them for granted sometimes. But they’ve always had my back. Even my brothers have always been there for me.”
I nod slowly. “Okay, one more thing. My God, I cannot keep secrets from you. Your mom’s planning to talk to you tomorrow…about coming out.”
Carter sighs. “Yeah. I had a feeling. She tried earlier, but I cut her off. That’s typical mom for ya.”
“Just hear her out,” I say. “She’s got wisdom.”
“Oh, I know. But she also thinks she knows what’s best for everyone.”
We both laugh in agreement, then head to the hallway bathroom. After our regular, quick five-minute routine, which consists of brushing our teeth, washing our faces, and loading our faces with CeraVe nighttime moisturizer, we change into pajamas and climb into bed.
We look at each other and say “I love you” at the exact same time.
Carter claps twice, and the lights click off.
I can’t help but laugh. Of course, Carter has clap-activated lights. He is so lazy, but I love it.
He smirks, then closes his eyes and passes out.
I watch him for a moment, heart happy. I’m nervous for tomorrow, but mostly, I just feel happy. His family accepted me completely. I feel at home here, and it’s only been a few hours. I feel like I belong here. I doze off to the sound of cicadas outside, thinking about the excitement of tomorrow.