Page 76 of Out of the Storm

Gary squeezed him a little.

“So let me know if it’s ever too much.”

“I’ll . . . try.”

“Okay. Good,” Gary said, though he’d have liked a little more certainty in Jeff’s response. But he supposed it was enough for now. After another few seconds of cuddling, Gary said, “Are you my boyfriend now, Jeff Russo?”

And Jeff responded with, “Guess so, Gary Graham.”

Gary’s entire body warmed with happiness. How perfect this was!

They stayed there for a little while longer and then moved to the bed. As they lay down together, Gary held Jeff close, feeling both like the luckiest man in the world and like he had never before been so terrified.

Because he really, really liked Jeff. And he could only hope Jeff would continue to believe that he was enough.

***

The following afternoon, while Jeff went back home to have a nap, Gary headed over to Mel’s. Her hours were much more forgiving in the summertime, especially before summer session classes started, and it was nice to be able to spend time together without either of them having to watch the clock and run off to their next obligation.

Mel had the idea that they should bake cookies together, so that was what they were up to. Gary wasn’t much of a baker himself, but he hoped Jeff would enjoy a few surprise cookies later, even if their quality couldn’t compare with Mrs. Schmidt’s.

“So, how’s everything with Jeff?” Mel asked before cracking an egg into the bowl they were using to mix the cookie dough.

Gary cracked the next one. “Good. Ish.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t really tell you everything but... I’m worried I might be messing things up somehow.”

“Flypaper?”

“Kinda.” Gary tossed the eggshells into the trash and picked up a spoon to mix the eggs into the rest of the cookie dough. “I’m not smothering him. Or, I’mtryingnot to smother him. But I think I’m... maybe I’m too... enthusiastic in some ways.”

“Enthusiastic?”

“Needy.”

“I can see that.”

“Gee, thanks,Melanie.”

“Some men like that, though. Who wouldn’t want someone to like thementhusiastically?”

Gary shrugged and continued to stir. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Hold on, we need the chocolate chips, too.” Mel grabbed the bag of chocolate chips and proceeded to pour way, way too many into the batter. Gary must have been looking at her funny because she said, “What? I like chocolate, okay?”

“Oh! That reminds me, I have successfully convinced Jeff that vanilla is the superior ice cream flavor.”

“Ew, vanilla?”

“Yes, vanilla.”

“Boring.”

“Dependable.”

“Bland.”

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