At Long Last

jumping him.
    So, Preston had come to a decision. He was going to accept, at least for now, that he was gay and having a relationship with his best friend's brother. He would allow the relationship to continue, but on his terms. He was pretty sure Scott would accept the terms, too. They were pretty much the same stuff they'd already been doing.
    His doorbell rang and he went to let Scott inside. His heart skipped a beat when the young man brushed past him. He closed the door and locked it and turned to face the man he couldn't seem to keep his hands off of nor his mind from straying.
    Being Saturday and warm, Scott had dressed casually in shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops. He had just enough sexy stubble covering his chin and his sandy blond hair had been windblown. He grinned and held out the paper sack he'd carried in with him.
    "Are you hungry? I brought fried chicken," Scott announced.
    Preston frowned at the grease spot on the bag. "Uh, where did you get that?"
    "From a place down the street from my parents' house. I swear they've been using the same oil for the last five years." His grin widened and he headed into the kitchen with the bag of chicken.
    "You say that like it's a good thing."
    Scott shrugged. "I guess some people might get squeamish about that sort of thing. But they did get their rating up since they were closed down by the health department."
    "I hope you are kidding about that." Preston cleared his throat. "But anyway, I'd like to talk to you."
    "Talk? I'm kind of surprised I got all the way to the kitchen without you bending me over."
    "I--" Preston felt his face heat and he looked away.
    "I am kidding about that. Geez, Pres, you're so serious." Scott leaned toward him and kissed him full on the lips. He grabbed Preston's hand and threaded his fingers through them. "Sure, we can talk. Any time you want. In the bedroom?"
    "No, we won't get any talking done then. In the living room. I want to talk about us."
    Scott looked instantly wary and Preston could have sworn he backed up a step, but whether he imagined that or not, Scott nodded and pulled him toward the living room.
    They sat next to each other on the loveseat. Scott stared into Preston's eyes for several seconds, looking almost sad, and then he said, "Okay. What about us?"
    Preston was suddenly nervous and he wondered if maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. "Well, I know you've wanted to talk about our...well, whatever we are."
    "Yes."
    "I've accepted that I might be attracted to men"
    Scott blinked. "Might be?"
    Preston shifted uncomfortably. "Okay, that I am." He swallowed. "I have to admit I'm not entirely sure what that means. Obviously I have been attracted to women in the past as is, you know, normal."
    Scott inhaled sharply and went completely rigid. "What did you just say?"
    He shook his head. "Scott, being ga...attracted to the same sex is not normal."
    "Gay, Preston. Being gay. Jesus, you can't even say the damn word, can you?" Scott looked away quickly, but not before Preston saw a hint of moisture in the other man's eyes.
    "Scotty, I don't want to fight with you. That's not what this is about." Preston rubbed his temples in frustration. "I wanted to tell you that I want to be with you."
    He thought that would make Scott happy. That he would suddenly turn to Preston with his heartbreakingly beautiful smile and throw his arms around him and say how glad he was. That's the scenario he'd played in his mind. Trouble was, Scotty never did what Preston expected.
    Scott continued to look away from him and he closed his eyes. "What does that mean to you, Pres?" he asked softly.
    He nodded. "It means I want to go on seeing you, being with you. I think--I think what we have these past few weeks has worked really well."
    "So, you mean you want nothing to change."
    "Yes, exactly."
    "I love you, Pres."
    "That's--that's wonderful," Preston said, swallowing back the lump in his throat. He didn't like the tone Scott used. It was off. Odd. He forced himself to ask, "Then you agree?"
    Scotty shook his head, but didn't say anything.
    The lump in his throat dropped to his stomach. "No?"
    "You want to keep things as they are, but I can't do that," Scott said hoarsely. "In other words, you don't want anyone to know you're gay. You don't want anyone to know you're seeing me. Sleeping with me. You want to live this secret life."
    Preston opened his mouth to say something, but then realized it was true. He couldn't deny that was exactly how