Page 127 of Out of the Storm

“Nah, we’re too far east, probably.”

Gary hugged Jeff closer. “Even though you said you let Don”—he paused to think of a way to phrase it that wouldn’t hurt Jeff more before continuing—“be with you like that, what happened wasn’t okay. Not in my eyes, anyway. He should have listened to you, Jeffrey. Geez, I mean, it’d be hard not to feel pressured by someone badgering you, especially someone like Don. Don’t beat yourself up for that.”

“I’m not sure why it messed me up so much,” Jeff mumbled, his words slightly muffled into Gary’s chest.

“You’re not messed up,” Gary said. “Not even a little.”

Gary kissed Jeff’s head and then squinted to try to see the time on the clock radio. He still couldn’t really make out the red analog digits, but it was probably time for him to pull himself out of bed. “Hey, I think it’s time forGraham’s Flour Hour. Is that right?”

“Yeah,” Jeff said, sitting up and stretching. “Let me find some clothes for you and then I’ll start on the coffee.”

Gary smiled to himself. It was so nice to be cared for like this.

Once Jeff found Gary some matching clothes, Jeff started for the kitchen, but by the time Gary had pulled his brown-and-white striped T-shirt over his head, Jeff was back in the bedroom.

“Hey, radio man?”

Gare squinted in Jeff’s general direction. “Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

Gary breathed a sigh as his entire body filled with warmth.

“Anytime, Jeffrey.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jeff

Jeff and Gary spent the next several hours together. After Jeff helped Gary host his radio show, which had been a hell of a lot more fun than Jeff would have thought, Jeff took Gary to the optometrist so that Gary could order a new pair of glasses. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be ready for a week or so. Jeff wasn’t sure how he’d balance his shifts at the mall with taking care of Gary and helping Gary run his show, but he knew they’d figure it out. By the end ofGraham’s Flour Hour, Gary had seemed to be running the show itself okay, although Jeff realized he might need to help sell some advertisements for him in the near future. He’d probably need to cook for him too. Grocery shop. All that shit that required better than 20/200 vision or whatever it was that Gary had.

After making sure Gary was able to start his evening radio program without issue, Jeff headed back home to change clothes and cook some dinner to bring over to Gary’s later. It was half past six by the time he’d decided on spaghetti—something meatless and simple that he was sure Gary would appreciate.

While the spaghetti noodles boiled on the stove, Jeff went to the bedroom and grabbed his clock radio to bring with him to the kitchen. He had to admit, it was even nicer to listen to Gary’s show now that they were together. It was hard in some ways, though. Because Gary was so fucking cute. And it was also surprisingly tough to hear Gary’s smooth radio voice while Gary wasn’t squeezing him like a boa constrictor.

God, Jeff loved how clingy Gary was. Gary wasn’tpossessive. He was needy. In the cutest way. And Jeff couldn’t wait to be in his arms again.

As Jeff stirred the spaghetti, Gary’s voice played in the background, and once Jeff was finished, he walked over to the window to check the weather. Thunderstorms were forecasted for the evening. It probably wouldn’t be fun to trek over to Gary’s later in the rain, but it was fine. Jeff would have braved a hurricane for Gary. Or a tornado. He’d brave every storm for him.

Hell, he kind ofhadbeen braving a storm for Gary, hadn’t he? They’d been braving it together. And Gary had been so wonderful the whole time too. Gary’s plan to constantly check in with each other while they were in bed seemed to be working. Even though it still felt kind of stupid sometimes.

After another minute of sky watching, Jeff returned to the stove and tested the spaghetti. It was perfectly cooked, and so he moved the pot over to the sink to strain the water. Just as he finished, the phone rang. Jeff quickly set the metal colander on the counter and picked up the phone to answer the call.

“Hello?”

“Jeff!” Brandon exclaimed. "Holy shit! Tornado!”

“Huh?”

“Outside! Tornado! In Newton Falls! I fucking swear to you!”

Jeff’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Yeah! I can see it!”

With a roll of his eyes, Jeff scolded, “Get in your basement!”

“Nah, it’s not, like, comingthisway. It looks like it’s moving toward the center of town. But I fucking see it! Now I know why you chase these things.” Brandon whistled. “It’s really moving! Damn! Probably obliterating Canal Street or something. Wow.”

---