I bit back a chuckle. I had no idea what to say to that. I was trying to come up with something when Monty asked, point-blank, “Is he going to live with us?”
“I…don’t know. Not yet, anyway. It’s too soon for that.”
“How long have you been boyfriends?”
I wasn’t going to explain the term fuck buddy to my thirteen-year-old son. “We met six months ago.”
Monty nodded to himself, his expression serious. He was studiously following a couple of skaters on the U-ramp.
“He can come visit. I’m okay with that.”
“And if he stayed over sometimes? Let’s say for a weekend?”
Monty turned to me, squinting. “Like, in your bedroom?”
I was sure my face was burning. “Yeah. Like Hugh and Kirby. They sleep together in their bedroom.”
My son rolled the skateboard back and forth.
“It’s good that you have a boyfriend, Dad. I want you to be happy.”
The overly serious way he said the last sentence made me instantly suspicious.
“Thank you.” I paused, wondering if I should ask the next question. Curiosity got the better of me. “Have you talked about this with someone?”
“A bit.”
“Hugh?”
Monty gave me a confused look. “What? No! With Kirby.” The tone of his voice made it clear how absurd he found my suggestion.
“Why not Hugh?”
“He thinks that your boyfriend should be old and rich.”
I spluttered. “He told you that?”
It was Monty’s turn to blush. “No.”
“Then how do you know what he thinks?”
“I heard them talk when you were out last week.”
“Oh.”
“They weren’t arguing or anything. But Hugh said that Chase is young and that he doesn’t have any money. Is that true?”
“Chase is not rich, no. But he has a good job and works hard. He’s twelve years younger than me.”
“Is that a lot?”
“Some people think so. But Kirby is much younger than Hugh, and they’re in love.”
“And you’re in love with Chase.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah,” I breathed. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. You’re the most important to me.”
“I knowthat. Jeez, Dad. I’m not completely dumb.”
