Page 116 of The Forever Vault

For the first time since meeting him, he seemed to be getting a little bashful. He was twisting his fingers together and looking at the floor.

“If you don’t tell them now, you won’t ever tell them.” Aaron stepped next to Chad, squeezing his shoulder.

“You’re the reason I came out to my mother. That July. She had already announced her campaign. We were in New York at the hotel. She was getting ready for a fundraiser and I was watching the Olympics. Men’s gymnastics.” He blushed and faltered.

“It’s okay, Chad, we understand the interest,” Cam said. “Why do you think I’m dating a gymnast?”

Chad laughed, and Aaron was still encouraging him. “They know you think they’re hot. You took like a hundred photos with them. Keep talking, sunshine.”

Sunshine? I wondered if they were together, but Aaron didn’t seem as interested in us as Chad. Maybe because he was interested in Chad?

“The finals of the vault. The medal ceremony. I had always known I liked guys, but when you grabbed Luke’s face and kissed him. I had never seen that on TV before. I had watched, you know-”, he lowered his voice, “-stuff before, but it wasn’t like the two of you. I couldn’t help it, but I started crying and my mom walked into the room and saw my cheeks. When she asked me what was wrong, I told her what I saw, and she said what I saw was beautiful. It was love. And when she said that, I told her that I wanted that, with a boy, and she said she hoped I got everything I wanted.”

“That’s beautiful,” I said, dabbing a tear from my eye with my sleeve.

“And then I said in case you didn’t understand what all that meant, Mom, I’m gay.”

Chad’s laughter was infectious and Cam wrapped him in another hug. “I’m glad my impulsiveness in that moment helped more than just me.”

“Oh, I still have the New York Times from the next day - The Kiss Heard Round the World. You had to have realized what a big deal it was.”

“At the time, yes,” Cam answered. “But I guess I had forgotten.”

“Too many kisses since then,” I added.

“Fuck, you guys are so hot.”

“There it is, finally,” Aaron said. “He’s been dying to say that.”

“Have not!”

“Have to!”

“Any boyfriend on your horizon?” I asked. “Ow!” I rubbed at my chest where Cam had slapped me.

“You don’t need to answer that, Chad,” Cam said.

“It’s alright, I don’t mind. No boyfriend right now,” Chad answered. “Trying to finish school first, then decide what to do with my life.”

“Sounds like a good plan. Are you guys staying for the rest of the Olympics?” Cam asked.

“Of course! We wouldn’t miss it!”

“Chad’s been trying to get an invite to Declan Moore and Tyler Hale’s wedding.”

“Shut up, Aaron!” Chad shoved at his friend. “So many gay icons are going to be there,” he explained to us.

“Ty’s our best friend. We’ll ask him,” I said.

Chad looked like he was about to die, and said as much. After a few more minutes of small talk, Cam and Chad exchanged phone numbers and another hug, and we headed to the locker room after watching them leave.

Cam and Miles had a press conference to attend.

* * *

“I’m so proud of you, Cam Cam!” Heather had finally finished hugging her son.

And she hadn’t even heard about the president’s phone call yet.