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Michael jerked his head around. “Even to me?”
Especially to you.
“Yeah,” Keith confessed.
Michael huffed. “Don’t know why I’m reacting like that. There’s stuff I haven’t told you about me. Stuff I haven’t told anyone. When it comes to Bill, I guess I’m not sure how he’d react, that’s all.”
Keith had to smile. “Looks as though we both have secrets. That’s okay. There isn’t a law that says I have to know everything about my bestie.” Only, part of him wondered why Michael hadn’t shared whatever it was with him, and before he could put his brain into gear, his mouth swung into action. “Don’t you trust me?”
Michael turned slowly. “Excuse me? I could ask you the same thing.”
Keith’s heart hammered. “Michael...” His palms were clammy. “You know you said you weren’t sure how Bill would react? Well, that’s kinda where I am right now.”
And there he was, at the point of no return.
Michael abandoned his task, came over to the other side of the breakfast bar, and stood there, his gaze locked on Keith’s face, his hands by his sides. “I thought we could talk to each other. I never guessed we were both hiding stuff.”
“I... I couldn’t tell you, okay? Because there’s a real chance I could say too much, and then you might... hate me.”
Michael widened his eyes. “Dude. Why would I hate you? How long have we been friends?”
“But what if there are things that shouldn’t be told? Things that might change... everything?”
Michael’s breathing caught, and for some reason that sent a shiver through Keith.
“Then again, they might not.” He looked Keith in the eye. “You’ll never know until you get the words out.” His lips twitched. “You know what would be weird? If we both wanted to say the same thing to each other.”
Keith didn’t believe he could be that lucky, but he was never going to get such a perfect opening again.
Maybe it was time.
Keith drew in a deep breath in an effort to calm his racing heart. “Michael... the last year or so, I’ve realized something about myself.”
Michael didn’t move. “Me too.”
Another breath. “I... I’m gay.”
There was that hitch in Michael’s breathing again, and his eyes were like saucers.
“Me too.”
No way.
No freaking way.
Keith breathed a little easier, and for the first time, he allowed himself to hope.
“And as for not telling you, well... that was difficult because... you were part of it.”
Oh dear Lord, Michael was so still. “How long have I been a part of it?”
Keith wasn’t about to stop now.
“You’re the reason I knew I was gay. You’re the person I think about all the time. You’re the one who makes my stupid little heart do a happy dance whenever you’re near.”
Michael’s eyes twinkled. “A happy dance?”
“I’m being serious here,” Keith remonstrated.
