Page 170 of Pride High 3: Yellow
And he tried to give it to him. They talked over their plan until they had the details sorted out. Even then, he still caught the occasional flicker of uncertainty in Ricky’s eyes. He felt it too, when thinking about his mom, but sticking around hadn’t helped her. So he changed the topic, put on music, did one of the dumb dances from the play, and anything else he could think of to make his boyfriend smile. Except as the hours wore on, long after they’d eaten and the sun had gone down, a silence filled the cave that began to feel like an unspoken question. He just didn’t know which one.
Do you really love me? Is running away a good idea? Will the cops ever stop looking for us? How long until we can return to Kansas?
He glanced over. Ricky’s face was pensive in the orange glow of the flickering candles. Diego knew what would cheer him up.
“Wanna mess around?” he offered, leaning back on his elbows.
Ricky bit his bottom lip and nodded. Then he went to work, and it was great like always, except when he noticed Ricky’s forehead creasing, as if in worry. Unless he was on the verge, but usually he waited until Diego had finished. He felt too distant, even though they were touching.
Ricky rolled away from him, but only to kick off his jeans and pull off his shirt. He looked at Diego with longing. “Take off your clothes,” he said. “I wanna feel your skin against mine.”
His words were accompanied by a wave of relief. Diego rocked left and right so he could strip down. Ricky crawled over to him and sat on his lap. Diego pulled him close, wanting to banish any remaining space between them. As their bare chests pressed together, Ricky kissed him back with just as much hunger, although his brow was still troubled when he leaned back.
“Are we going to be okay?” Ricky asked.
“Yeah,” Diego assured him. “I swear.”
Ricky searched his eyes, his expression vulnerable. “I’m ready. For real this time.”
Diego stared for a moment before he finally understood. He spit in his hand and reached for Ricky’s butt, locking eyes with him. When he finished playing and pushed his way inside, Diego was gentle until assured that he no longer had to be. Even then, it was all about what Ricky needed. The boy had slowly taken over his entire world. And now they would be together. Not only like this. Not just now. But for as long as he had a breath left in his body, because Diego felt like he’d finally managed to do the impossible.
He had found his way home again.
— — —
Cameron closed his eyes, puckered up, and threw open the front door of his house. Then he started making smooching noises, surprised when he heard a girl giggle.
“Whoa, sorry!” he said when opening his eyes. “I thought it would be Anthony.”
“I don’t mind!” Mindy said cheerfully. “Come here, big guy. Let’s make him jealous.” She did an imitation of a fish.
After laughing, he kissed her on the cheeks, first one, then the other as she did the same.
“That’s what everyone does in Italy,” she said before scrunching up her face. “Or it Spain? I don’t know. We should push for our theater group to go somewhere in Europe next year.”
“On tour?” he asked, waving at Anthony and Silvia, who were in an idling truck parked in his driveway.
“No, just for fun, but we’ll act like it’s for educational purposes. Are you ready to go?”
“Almost,” he said. “I just need to grab a few things.”
“From your bedroom?” Mindy asked.
“Yeah. How come?”
“Because I’ve never seen it, but I’m dying to. Anthony told me all about it.”
Cameron laughed. “Really? I can’t believe I’ve never had you over.” Of course there were reasons. Like his mother’s unpredictable behavior, but he wouldn’t let that stand in the way of friendship. And besides, ever since he’d mention the support group, his mom hadn’t been drinking as much. He welcomed Mindy inside.
She followed him up to his room, where she immediately began oohing and aahing. “Everything is so pretty! But still manly,” she added quickly. “You’re going tolovethe antique mall we’re going to. It’s full of this kind of stuff!”
“I’m looking forward to it,” he replied while searching for his wallet. “I’ve been here for a few years, but I still don’t know the area as well as the locals do.”
“Looks like you’ve done just fine without us,” Mindy said, gasping at an antique game table next to his bed. “This wood is stunning! Is it okay if I touch it?”
“Yeah, but my mom is going to be very confused if she overheard you saying that.”
Mindy covered her mouth and laughed. Then she began stroking the table while putting on a comically seductive expression. “So big and hard,” she moaned. “And brown!”
