Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

receiver back to Cliff, and he hung it up. “Is everything okay?”
    Len grinned back at him. “It’s just fine.” Geoff began talking really fast and seemed to be trying to tell them all about his day, but they could only understand part of it. It didn’t matter, though.
    “We close on Mari’s house next week.” Cliff seemed so relieved and happy, with no sign of the grump bucket he’d been earlier in the day. 153
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“That’s great. So does that mean you’ll be able to make it to harvest?”
“Yeah, and with the price of corn, we just might manage to have a good year.”
“I’ll second that.” They raised their water glasses, and Geoff raised his sippy cup, and they toasted with smiles and laughter.
    After dinner, Cliff took Geoff upstairs and gave him his bath before getting him ready for bed. Len sat in the living room and watched television, such as it was. With only two, sometimes three stations, there wasn’t much variety.

    “Len,” Cliff called from the top of the stairs. “Geoff wants you to read him a story.” With a smile, Len turned off the television and went upstairs, following Cliff to Geoff’s bedroom.

    He was already tucked in bed, hugging a stuffed mouse, eyes gleaming expectantly at Len. “What story would you like?” There was a crib still in one corner of the room leading Len to believe that Geoff had recently graduated to his big-boy bed.

    “George.”

    Cliff handed him a well-loved copy of Curious George, and Len sat on the edge of the bed and began to read. By the time he finished the story, Geoff was asleep. Cliff kissed his son gently on the head before turning out the light and leading them out of the room and down the hall. “I need to close up the house, but I’ll be right back.” Cliff opened the door to his bedroom and thumped down the stairs. Len went into the room and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Cliff.

    A few minutes later, he heard him climb the stairs again. Cliff appeared in the doorway looking sexy as hell, and then he was in Len’s arms, kissing him hard and pressing him back onto the 154
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mattress.
    LEN woke as thunder rumbled in the distance, a stiff breeze fluttering the bedroom curtains. As he watched, lightning flashed, and a louder rumble of thunder sounded—a deep roll that shook and vibrated the very earth itself. “You okay?”

    “I’m fine. The thunder woke me up.” Cliff made a deep throaty sound and then moved closer, their legs entwining as their lips found the others. Lightning flashed again, and then a sharper clap of thunder sounded in the distance.

    “Daddy!” The door to the room, which Cliff had left cracked so he could hear Geoff, was pushed open. “Daddy?”

    “Yes, Geoff.” Tiny steps raced across the room, and then a small body climbed onto the bed. Both men quickly fished for their underwear, pulling them on under the covers as Geoff, still carrying his stuffed mouse, burrowed under the covers between them.
    “Night, Daddy. I wuv you.” Len heard Geoff kiss his dad on the cheek. Then Geoff rolled over. “Night, Wen. I wuv you.” Then he felt Geoff kiss his cheek, and the small body rolled onto his side, hugging his mouse to him. Len smiled and stretched his arm up over Geoff’s head, and he felt Cliff’s hand slide into his.
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THE morning dawned crisp and clean, a cool breeze blowing through the open window, light just beginning to peek through.
    Len’s internal clock went off at what had now become his usual time, and he got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Once he was cleaned up, he padded back to his bedroom to get dressed and then headed to the kitchen, meeting his mother along the way.

    “I see you came home yesterday.” She squeezed his shoulder as she made her way to the kitchen.

    “I’ve only stayed at Cliff’s a few nights.” He wanted to stay more often, but he wasn’t willing to push, particularly since any relationship with Cliff involved a relationship with Geoff as well, and there was no way he was going to hurt that little boy if he could help it.

    “I know. I’m glad you’re happy, but I hope you’re not rushing into anything.” She started the coffee maker and leaned against the counter. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. This can be a wonderful 156
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area, but it can also be mean, and if your relationship with Cliff gets out, there could be some hatred directed your way.”
    “I know,