Love Is Always Write Volume 4

When Liam opened his eyes with a smile, Kevin cleared his throat and picked up cutleries of his own.
    The small talk as they ate became a little more relaxed with the second beer, and before Kevin knew it, they were swapping stories and laughing.
    "How are your folks doing? Too bad they closed down the bakery. They start up a new one in Chicago?" asked Liam as he drained a third bottle and placed it next to the empty ones.
    "I don't know," Kevin said with a shrug, picking up an oatmeal biscuit. "I haven't heard from them in years."
    Liam, who had already eaten an ogre's worth of food, stopped chewing his third slice of pie. "Really?"
    "The lack of communication wasn't my choice," Kevin said in a low voice. His parents were living legends in this town, so it was inevitable that people would ask about them. It was one of the reasons why Kevin had dreaded going back.
    "What happened?" Liam asked, chewing slowly.
    Kevin shrugged, forcing up a small smile to try to ease the sudden tightness in his chest. "They moved to Chicago without me, so I hitched a ride to L.A.."
    "Because you were gay?"
    "Yeah … The second I turned eighteen. They just couldn't handle it. They'd known for some time." Kevin glanced up from his biscuit. "How'd you know I was gay?"
    "Caught you making out with Benny a few times," Liam said with an easy smile, wagging his eyebrows. "You can imagine what that did to a hormonal kid. Used to follow you around. Stalk you."
    Kevin chuckled. "I really didn't know you had a thing for me back then."
    "You should've known. Everyone had a thing for you."
    "Not guys," Kevin said with a laugh. "But you do understand that I would never have gone for you, don't you? I mean, you're four years younger, right?"
    "Yeah," said Liam with a small smile. "Well, I always hoped back then. I didn't really see the age thing as a problem, but yeah, I understand it now."
    Kevin dipped his chin, focusing on a short trail of ants trying to break into one of the tightly sealed boxes. "I really am sorry I disappointed you like that. I didn't know I was doing it."
    "It's okay," said Liam with a lopsided smile. "I overreacted this morning. I guess you standing me up brought it all back. It's not like I've been living in heartache for the past twelve years. I got over you eventually."
    Hearing that wiped the easy going pleasantness from Kevin's mind. It's not like he expected that Liam was still head over heels for him, but Kevin now realized he wanted Liam to still have a thing for him.
    "You don't sound like a Texan anymore," said Liam after a short moment of silence.
    "Worked hard to drop the accent," said Kevin, clearing his throat and plastering on a small smile. "Though, coming back, it sounds kinda nice." He glanced at Liam, but looked away quickly as Liam was looking right back at him.
    "They don't like Texan-sounding taxmen in L.A.?" asked Liam with an exaggerated accent.
    "Tax auditor," Kevin corrected with a mock-scowl.
    Liam laughed. Did he just inch closer? Or was that just wishful thinking on Kevin's part?
    "Hell," said Kevin, heat crawling up his cheeks. "You used to play that annoying song all the time."
    " Taxman ?" asked Liam with a grin, scooting just a little closer. Still not far enough for it to be 'obvious'. "I played it because I knew you hated it."
    Kevin rolled his eyes, breath coming a little short. "I'd go to bed with that damn song playing in my head."
    Liam chuckled. "Is it playing in your head right now?"
    "Yeah. Thanks a lot."
    Liam laughed. "You just don't like it because of the electric guitar pitch. You don't like rock."
    "I like rock," Kevin defended, trying to look indignant. "Decent rock, not rock that sounds like a bunch of tortured cats."
    They both burst out in laughs, and yes, George Harrison and Eric Clapton's version of Taxman was on replay in Kevin's head … in between his mile-a-minute thoughts whenever Liam moved.
    "You finish that report?"
    "Um, no," said Kevin, with what sounded horribly close to a giggle. Liam had just edged a little closer and loomed like a mountain right next to him. "I got excited about the picnic."
    Liam laughed, a deep rumble that vibrated through Kevin's body. Hell, Kevin was starting to sweat. He hadn't been with a guy for a while, but he was never this nervous around any of them.
    "I have to finish it though. My two-week vacation started today, so I won't be able to do any vacationing until after I've sent in the report. I haven't had a proper vacation in