“Doesn’t matter when they don’t know you’re gay, does it? Honestly, the last date I went on was with my high school boyfriend. Can you believe that? I must be some kind of loser.” I grinned, falling back into the pattern of us.
“That would make me a loser, too, then.” He sighed. I breathed in his air.
“We suck, don’t we?”
“Yeah. Maybe we always did?” He grinned, and his face lit up. “Listen, I really am…”
“Not tonight, ok? Let’s just enjoy… this. Whatever it is.”
“It’s nice to get to know you again, Jax Mason.”
“You too, Kenny Criss. You too.”
We shut the bar down as we talked about the past. Both of us were careful from that moment on to make sure that we didn’t tread on the minefields of our destruction.
But it did feel like we created a path of sorts to somewhere new.
I didn’t hate him. Hell, I loved him. Even after the pain he caused me when he walked away, being with him felt like sliding on an old comfy shirt that you refused to throw away.
But he did, didn’t he? He threw us away for the stupidest reason of all.
Me.
What would have happened if I had stayed in school?
I knew the answer. Kenny would have happened.
I shouldn’t – I knew that.
But I would.
If he would just give me another chance.
6
KENNY
“Are you mad at me?” Lisa giggled as she poured a cup of coffee from the old crusty pot in the teacher’s lounge.
“I should be,” I growled, setting down the paper I only perused and never read. In Hardin, the gossip happened faster than the paper, which was only published once a week.
“But…” She came over and sat down across the table. “Lisa, you were right, and Jax and I really needed to talk. It was a great time, and maybe I’ll stop being a mopey asshole from here on out and start being the fun friend that you remembered.” She mocked.
She wasn’t wrong.
“Fine.” I cracked my neck loudly. “It was fun, and it was also good to talk to him after all this time.”
“Did you kiss? Please tell me you kissed.”
“We did not kiss or even really talk about any of that. We caught up some and laughed about the good times. It was… You shouldneverdo that again because this could have blown up in your face, but I’m glad we got that chance.” I smirked. “So, thanks, I guess.”
“Are you gonna see each other again?” The wistful look in her eyes – she wanted me to be happy. I knew that.
Besides, I wish I knew. But as we walked out of the bar and got into our cars, we didn’t make more plans. Maybe he knew we were both put in a bad situation, and he was just being a gentleman. But it felt like it was more. It felt like I had a chance to get my friend back – and that was something, at least. My fear was he would get up from the table when I sat down and walk away without a word. He didn’t, and that had to count, didn’t it?
“I’ll see him at Dad’s retirement ceremony.” I shrugged.
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Half the town will see him at that ceremony. I mean, just the two of you. Being friends with you both was like always being on the sidelines. I was totally the third wheel most of the time.”
