Something Inside

All previous disclaimers apply.

“So, he was rude, made an unwanted pass at you, and you told him to meet you for dinner tonight? Am I missing something here?” Taylor gaped at her best friend as he walked briskly around the corner from the courts where he and a few other guys met weekly to play basketball. Chad had been an amazing player in high school, but had blown out his knee at one of his first college games. It had never quite healed right and he had never played competitively again, but he still enjoyed playing school yard and that in itself got pretty intense at times. Taylor went with him every week to hang out with the girl friends of the players who came to watch their men. Everyone knew that Chad was gay and Taylor was his best friend, but neither of them were ever treated any differently. Truthfully, Chad had used whatever it was that gave him his glimpse to find a group of people who would be accepting and friendly to the two of them. His feelings had been right on. They couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends.

Kelsi and Jason Cross were a staple couple at the courts every Saturday night and had become Taylor and Chad’s closest friends. They had been dating since they were in junior high school or some other ridiculously young age near that and had married just before coming to college together. Kelsi was studying music; Jason was the only one from the basketball team who stood by Chad after he had blown out his knee. He still came to Chad for advice on his game and they worked out together. It was one of Chad’s great pleasures to see how much Jason had improved on the courts thanks to tips Chad had given him. It made Taylor think that perhaps Chad would coach. She and Kelsi liked to sit at the picnic table with the other girls and watch their men while they gossiped and laughed. The most recent topic of conversation was Kelsi’s pregnancy and all of the women who were at the courts Saturday nights loved to look at ultrasound pictures and place their hands to Kelsi’s growing belly. They were all trying to learn to knit various baby clothes to different degrees of success.

“Really,” Kelsi added her soft, gentle voice to Taylor’s, “Is she missing something? Because I know I am.”

“There’s just something about this guy, okay?” Chad tried not to be too impatient with them. They were only trying to look out for him, after all, “I can’t explain, but… I need to do this okay? If he acts the way he did last night then it’ll be over. But, right now I just need to know, okay?”

“I get what you’re saying,” Jason nodded amiably, then shrugged when his wife and Taylor turned glares on him, “What? I do. I’m not going to lie. Just be careful, okay, Chad? You depend way too much on that neat little mind thing you can do.”

“But, it’s never wrong, is it, Kelsi? I wasn’t wrong about the twins, was I?”

“Wait. The what?” Jason stopped dead in his tracks, causing his wife to stop too, as their fingers were linked.

Kelsi went red in the face, “Chad! You weren’t supposed to say anything! Baby, I was going to tell you when we got home,” she murmured, “When I was at my appointment today the doctor found another heartbeat hidden behind the first and the baby had moved so you could see another little head and, Jason, we’re having twins!” Her sweet, calm voice had gotten higher and louder until she was practically squealing.

After a moment of blank stares, everything happened at once. Jason swooped Kelsi up in his arms, careful of her growing belly, and spun her around, crowing happily, while Kelsi laughed and kissed him all over his face, Taylor squealed and jumped up and down, and Chad looked extremely pleased with himself.

“This calls for a drink! You guys in?”

“You know it!” Taylor smiled and hugged Kelsi to her, while Chad gave Jason a celebratory hug.

“If this date turns out to be a dud I’ll be joining you guys soon,” Chad laughed, then looked at his watch, “I’m going to be late as it is. Catch up with you guys later.”

With kisses for the girls and another hug for Jason, Chad took off at a jog for the diner he had asked Ryan to meet him at. He had chosen Saturday for a reason. He always felt better, more confident, after a game. Thanks to body spray he smelled just fine, he had pulled his hair back, and he knew hat he looked great because Taylor had helped him choose a hot, casual outfit.. All in all he was feeling really good as he entered the diner and saw Ryan seated in a corner booth. Ryan smiled at him and Chad felt his heart miss a beat. Oh, this wasn’t good.

“Hi,” Ryan smiled as Chad slid into the booth opposite him. God, if only his heart was still beating, he was sure it would have sped up. Chad was ridiculously appealing in a long sleeve button down rolled up to the elbows and pair of jeans that hugged everything just right. The hair that had been so wild when they had danced was pulled back in a tight tail and Ryan couldn’t say which way he liked it better. He couldn’t help the fantasy of taking Chad in his arms and kissing up and down his neck before biting in to drink deeply while Chad moaned and moved erotically against him. He shook it out of his head as Chad placed his bag under the table and was smiling again when Chad looked up.

“Hi,” Chad’s voice was just as appealing as it had been the night before.

Ryan wanted to start the evening off on the right foot, “Chad, I just wanted to say I’m sorry about last night one more time.”

“Don’t bring it up again,” Chad suggested smoothly, “Let’s just try and start over, yeah?”

“Sure. So, as long as we’re starting again, what’s your full name?”

“My full name?” Chad sputtered into his water, then groaned, “That would have to be the first thing that you ask me.”

“Why?” Ryan laughed at the look on Chad’s face.

“I haven’t gone by my full name in years. It’s a little embarrassing.”

“Tell me.” Ryan leaned in and set his chin to his hand. A back part of his mind told him that he was being ridiculous and acting like a teenaged human, but he ignored it. Chad was making him smile more in five minutes that he had in a hundred years, including the time he had been spending with his sister recently.

“You first,” Chad laughed and unconsciously leaned in closer as well.

“Ryan Alexander Evans. Your turn.”

“Chadwick Issachar Danforth. Don’t laugh!”

“I…” Ryan closed his mouth around the laugh that bubbled up around his denial that he was going to laugh at all. Chad rolled his eyes at the way Ryan tried to keep his laughter in.

“Go ahead,” he sighed.

To his credit, Ryan only laughed aloud a moment before he gained control over himself and linked his fingers on the table, “Chadwick Issachar? Where did your mother come up with that?”

“She said she read a book when she was a kid and the main character’s name was Chadwick. She swore she would always name her son after him.”

“And Issachar?”

“He was one of Jacob’s sons. I’m just about the smallest minority in the country,” Damn Ryan was appealing when he smiled that way. Chad tried not to lose his train of thought, “I’m a gay, black, Jewish guy.”

“No,” Ryan turned slightly serious before a sly look crossed his face, “I’m in the smallest minority in the country.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yes. I’m a natural blond.”

Chad burst out laughing, “You win.”

“I usually do. Brothers or sisters?”

“Only child. Single mother died when I was twelve. Raised by my best friend's parents."

"I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago. You?”

“Disowned by my parents when my sexual orientation was discovered. My twin sister came with me. She’s always been my best friend and worst enemy,” He smiled with such affection that Chad had to resist the urge to cover Ryan’s hands with his own. They ordered when the waitress came by, asking Chad if he wanted the usual. She winked at him behind Ryan’s back and give him a thumbs up as she was walking away.

“Speaking of your sister,” Chad looked Ryan square in the eye, hoping beyond hope that he wouldn’t lose his nerve to ask this one question that had been on his mind, “Was she the blonde with the… in the… I mean…”

“In the threesome, you mean” Ryan smiled, “Yes, she was. She and Troy and Gabriella have been together a long time. They were just kind of meant, I suppose. Leave it to my Shar to not be able to do anything simply.”

They spoke for hours, neither of them noticing the time passing. When they finally realized that it was nearly three o’clock in the morning they still hadn’t run out of things to say, but Chad was yawning more and more and Ryan knew that he needed to get some sleep if he was to function the next day.

“Can I see you again tomorrow?” Chad asked as they walked out of the diner together.

“I’ve been forgiven, then?”

“Yeah, I guess you have.”

“Then, yes. I’d love to see you again tomorrow night. Would you mind if we make it late again? I have a full day.”

“That would be fine, Ryan. Should I pick you up?”

“No. Let’s just meet here.”

“Sounds good. Eight?”

“Certainly,” Ryan looked up a Chad from under his lashes, “Chad, I’d like to kiss you now if you’ll let me.”

Chad nodded and smiled. He’d been hoping for the same thing almost all evening. Hadn’t been able to take his eyes off of Ryan’s lips as he spoke, really. This was the man his glimpse had shown him, the one he could quite possibly fall in love with. Ryan was fascinating, sweet, gentle, and he loved his sister.

“Family always comes first, Chad baby,” His mother had instilled that in him from a very young age.

Chad’s eyes fluttered closed as he took Ryan in his arms and leaned down to brush their lips together chastely. It set off fireworks behind his eyelids and he deepened the kiss, too lost in it to wonder why Ryan’s mouth was so cool on his even though his passion seemed to run hot. All too soon Chad pulled away, knowing that if he didn’t he wouldn’t.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Ryan.”

“Good morning, Chad. Sleep well.”