“She’s feisty, but it seems they understand this is how it’s going to be and they should just get used to it.”
Every day, Rory went to his apartment to pack up as much as he could. Kelly and John helped when they weren’t working. It made the work easier.
Each night they went through boxes and sorted them. They reminisced about their childhoods. Rory had two picture albums full of photos of them in high school and when they were in their twenties.
“Look how muscular I used to be,” Bernard said. “Leaving the farm did a number on me.”
“I was always a chunky kid.”
Bernard looked at him and saw tears form in his eyes.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s just…I was always the fat kid. I never fit in anywhere until I met you. You never made me feel bad about my weight. You were always my friend.”
“I didn’t see your weight as anything but part of you. I liked you for you.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m the one who pushed you away when I came out. Thinking you wouldn’t accept me, and here we are, boyfriends.”
“Boyfriends sounds so middle school,” Rory laughed. “What if I called you my partner?”
“I’d like that.”
They hugged.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away in grad school,” Rory said. “That wasn’t right of me.”
“I understand why. You did what you thought you had to. I’m just glad you came back to me.”
They continued to flip through the photos. Rory pointed out people he hadn’t seen since high school. They had a group of eight people who hung out together. Two moved away, leaving six in their early twenties. Bernard, Rory, and Sarah were the only ones who kept in touch. The other three stopped talking to Bernard when he came out. Although he thought he pushed them away like he did Rory. Sarah was the only one who refused to be pushed away. She became his rock. Bernard did not know where any of the others were.
Bernard walked into the spare room to see a dozen extra boxes stacked in the corners of the room.
“You have a lot more than I thought,” Bernard said.
“Well, I’ve collected things over the years,” Rory said, bringing another box into the room.
“It’s okay, we have the space.”
Bernard didn’t use his third bedroom. He stored a few things he didn’t use anymore, so Rory’s boxes could fit while they arranged them around the rest of the house.
“I’m so glad you said yes,” Bernard said. “I know it’s a big step.”
“We’ve known each other forever. I don’t see any reason not to move in.”
Bernard pulled him into an embrace. He inhaled Rory’s musk, his cologne lingering in his nostrils. Everything about Rory made him quiver.
“You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner,” Bernard said, “and I’ll do anything to make you happy.”
“Can I set up a small work area here? I just need a portion. It won’t take up much space.”
“This is your room now, for all your work. We can set it up any way you want it.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I don’t use it for anything. I’ll get a storage shed for things I might want to keep but don’t use. We can put some things in there for you too, if you’d like.”
