Page 78 of The Road Home
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Orson glanced up from petting Tippy on the bed as Jared stepped out of the shower and into the bedroom. "Dangerous coming out here in nothing but a towel."
Jared grinned. "You can ravish my body later. I was thinking we should go out."
Orson's hand stilled on Tippy's back. "Out?"
"Yeah, like a date? You are my boyfriend, right?" Jared turned and pulled a shirt out of the closet.
"Right, but I know you don't like going out." The few times they went anywhere together, it was mostly to shop or run errands. They never went on dates.
"Well, that needs to change." Jared sat down on the foot of the bed, dropping the shirt on the mattress beside him. "I told Cameron about us."
Orson's eyes went wide. "You did?"
"That's okay, isn't it?"
"Yeah, that is more than okay, but I'm just shocked. You didn't want anyone to know."
"I realized I was only living half a life by hiding, and by forcing you to hide, I was asking you to live half a life along with me. That's not fair. I can't promise I'll change overnight, but I'd like to try. Take steps to slowly come out and stop hiding from everyone. I want to walk down the street holding your hand. I want people to know you're mine."
Orson reached over, bracing his hand on Jared's knee. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah, I want to try. I told Cameron about us last week. It's taken me a week to work up the nerve to try and go out in public, but I think I'm ready."
"Okay, where? What should I wear?"
Jared smiled. "Something nice. I thought we'd go to the symphony. I know you used to play. I thought we'd catch dinner first, then go there, if that's okay?"
Orson nodded, excited at the thought of going to the symphony. "That would be amazing." He pulled a still damp Jared into his arms, kissing him. "You don't know how much this means to me." Tears welled in his eyes as the fact that they were going to hear the symphony sunk in. It was something he'd thought he'd never hear again.
"Hey, why the tears? I know it's been hard with me not being out, but—"
"No, it's not that. It's where we are going. Music used to mean so much to me. I mean, it still does, but I thought it was gone forever. Just being able to go and listen, it's the most amazing gift you could give me."
Jared smiled. "I love you. I want to give you all I can."
Orson pulled back, holding his breath as he stared at Jared.
"I do. I love you. I was going to wait for some special romantic moment to tell you, but honestly, I can't wait anymore. I want you to know how I feel about you. I love you, and I want a future with you. It might take time for me to be who you need by your side, but I'm working on getting there."
With emotion thick, he swallowed hard. "Jared, you're already who I need by my side. You don't have to change. I love you too. I have for a while now, but I wasn't sure if you really wanted this. I kept thinking that you'd want someone more on your level professionally. Someone who had their life together."
"I want you. Only you."
Orson didn't try to hold back the tears as they fell. "I love you."
"I love you too." Jared wiped the tears from Orson's face with his thumbs. "So how about it? A night on the town?"
Orson nodded. "I'd love it."
"Good. Go get ready. We'll leave here at five, the symphony starts at seven. That should give us plenty of time to eat." Jared reached for his shirt. "Then tonight, we can talk more about you ravishing my body." He winked as he stood and started to get dressed.
Orson watched him for a moment, enjoying the play of Jared's muscles as he dressed. This was a huge gift Jared was giving him. Bigger than he could ever understand. And the fact that he was slowly trying to come out to his friends, and even be a couple in public meant a lot. Orson had been okay with Jared hiding. He'd prepared himself mentally that it wouldn't change and if they were going to be together, he would have to just understand and deal with it, but now, a new hope burned inside him. One where the two of them might actually have a full life, with neither of them hiding or denying who they were.
He rushed to the dresser, finding the nicest clothes he had and then headed for the shower. He hurried through washing, then getting dressed, excited to go out, but as he stared at his reflection in the mirror, taking in the deep blue dress shirt and slacks that Jared had bought him, a wave of insecurity shot through him. He wasn't used to going nice places. His life had been on the streets, and while he might not live there anymore, he wasn't sure he knew how to live a normal life.
"You look amazing." Jared came up behind him, leaning in to kiss the side of Orson's neck. "You smell good too."
