Page 27 of All I Want Is Love
Leo unpacks his sandwiches and hands me one while I make sure he gets a cup of hot tea. It’s still steaming thanks to my new thermos flask. I also brought some protein bars for us. It’s cold, so we don’t spend a lot of time eating, and soon find ourselves on the way back.
“Soren,” Leo says into the silence. “You are gay, aren’t you? Sorry, I shouldn’t ask… I know I shouldn’t, but I just didn’t… you know…”
“Don’t worry, it’s fine! I know Robin probably told you, or at least hinted at it. I am not keeping it a secret.” I smile. “Yes, it’s true.”
“Robin said you befriended each other in High school?”
“Yes, but I didn’t know I was gay at that time. He and I were just the two weird kids. I was a science nerd and somehow that was not particularly attractive to anyone.”
“I think it is,” he mutters so silently I almost think I misheard it. “Are you still a science nerd?”
“Yes, very much so, and I love Sci-Fi. I have the biggest Star Trek collection of both Sunhavens.”
He chuckles. “I am not sure if that’s saying a lot. You might be the only one.”
I smirk. “I knew you would say that, but we are a whole Star Trek club here.”
“No way!”
“Yes, it’s me, obviously, but also Maisie. She is the florist. You might have seen her.”
“Isn’t she… like… old?”
I grin. “She just turned sixty. Ben, a local farmer, joins us sometimes. I think he is secretly in love with Maisie. Then there is Jamie, a thirteen-year-old boy, and Jean, his sister. She is six. Plus, Pete. He is away at to college at the moment, but joins our meetings when he is on vacation.”
“You just made all that up, didn’t you?”
I laugh. “No. It’s true.”
I notice how much more open Leo is today; everything about him seems to be lighter. “Were you in any club?”
“No, not really. Though I always wanted to join a reading circle,” he admits. “I used to go to the fitness studio. I know, my stamina is lacking, though.”
“You simply trained different parts of your body,” I say. “It’s obvious you are athletic.”
“I didn’t have fun with it,” he admits quietly. “This here, this is fun. It just made me realize that I barely did anything I truly liked. Pretty pathetic, huh?”
“I don’t think it’s pathetic at all,” I tell him. “You are making changes now, and you are allowing yourself to be you and learn what you truly like. That’s true strength.”
“I wish I could truly accept myself.”
“Well, you made the first step,” I say. “Be patient with yourself. There is no hurry. This is your journey, and no one else’s.”
He blushes, twisting his fingers slightly.
“Sorry, did I sound too much like a fortune cookie?”
“No, you said exactly what I needed to hear.” He gazes at me. “I have been wondering…”
“What about? I will answer anything.”
I could swear there is a hint of mischief in his gaze. Now that’s something I want to explore further! “You know a lot of jokes, do you also know some pickup lines?” he asks.
Now that’s right up my alley! “You might be about to open Pandora's box,” I say seriously, looking him dead in the eye. “Are you a parking ticket?”
He looks equal parts confused and curious. “No. Why?”
“Because you havefinewritten all over you.”
