Love that Dare Not Speak its Name, Chapter 9
Having had most of a weekend together, the six college guys realized how much they'd missed each other's company in the past several weeks. This was especially true of the guys who were living in Ames. Beau and Cy got together with Chet and Derek fairly frequently since they were living a little over a mile apart.
Beau thought it would be fun to have the farm boys spend some nights in the Airstream with Cy and him. They had been kind of playing house in the camper, often sleeping out there when it wasn't too hot and humid to enjoy it.
Of course, they spent time with Larry and Jen. When they did, Jen cooked for then and invited Len, Chet, and Derek over, knowing that they would find it difficult to prepare dinner after a long day in the fields and might not eat a healthy diet because of it. Some days in the summer were like that. On others, they could kick back a bit and watch the crops grow. However, on a working farm, there was always something that needed to be done.
In the summer, construction workers were almost always busy, too. There was a push to get as much done in good weather as possible because when winter came, conditions made it nearly impossible. To keep up with demand, they would concentrate on having the concrete work done in fair weather so some building could be erected well into the fall at least.
Monday found Chet and Derek busy on the farm, Beau and Cy working for Larry, and Paul and Kyle back in Ames. The latter two had another house painting job lined up because their neighbor, Tom had recommended them to friends. He was becoming their greatest promoter.
Whenever they had any spare time, they worked on replacing the missing boards on the privacy fence. They hoped to have the new ones stained to match the original part before the beginning of school. It would be nice to be able to lie out in the sun and work on their all-over tans until the weather got too cold. Being situated at the top of the hill, the house was higher than any of the surrounding ones, making the backyard very private indeed.
Michael came over to see them in the evening after supper as they were working on the fence. He seemed happier and more comfortable than he had the first day they'd met.
"You're lookin' good," Paul said by way of greeting.
"Yeah, I feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only kid on the block who's different. Um, I used the shed a couple of times when you were gone," he blushed. "I think I can hide my stuff above the ceiling in our family room in the basement. It's one of those with acoustical tiles that drop into a metal grid."
"I remember noticing that feature when we were over there," Kyle nodded. "Just make sure your hands are always clean, so you don't leave obvious fingerprints!"
"I will. I hadn't thought about that. You guys could be saving my butt again!"
Paul was tempted to say, "and a cute little butt it is," but he didn't want the boy to think he was hitting on him. He certainly had no intention of doing anything improper with this cute blond kid. So, he made a different comment.
"You seem like someone worth saving. Do you think there will be a big problem if, and when, you come out to your family?"
"I don't know. I'm trying to keep my eyes and ears open to get a feel for their attitude toward gays. Um, that is the right word, isn't it?"
"That's an acceptable term," Paul agreed. "It's preferable to "queer" in my mind. And, I think you're smart to sort of `spy out the land' or whatever you want to call it. I know my parents never said anything derogatory about people like me, and they even have same-sex friends whom we assume are partners. That made it a lot easier to come out to them. Sometimes I think they're one in a million, but I guess they're not because Kyle's family is the same and so are a couple of our friends' families."
The following evening, Tom came over with a request and a proposal to reward the guys for what he hoped they would be willing to do for him.
"Marge and I are planning to go away for a week of vacation soon, just the two of us," he said. "We need some time together."
"A kind of second honeymoon?" Kyle grinned.
"Um, yes. Denny is going to stay with my brother because his cousin, Aaron is almost like his twin. They love doing everything together. Michael, on the other hand, wants to stay here in the house. I know he's old enough to look after himself, but we'd feel better if you guys would keep an eye on him. He's really become attached to you, so I hope it would be okay and he wouldn't become a pest."
"We both have younger brothers, and we feel like he's our little brother too," Paul told him. "We could even have him stay with us if you'd rather. No one has laid claim to the smallest bedroom. It could be his home away from home. However, there is something we should tell you before you'd do that. Kyle and I have agreed on a full disclosure even if it means you won't want to be around us anymore."
"I can't image there's anything about you that would be a problem. You don't have wild parties and I haven't seen any naked girls running around," Tom laughed. "Not that having girlfriends over would be a problem."
"You don't have to worry about that because we aren't into girls," Kyle pursed his lips. "We only care for one another. Um, that is, we're gay."
"Really? I never would have guessed it. You don't fit the stereotype."
"You're not upset?" Paul asked with amazement.
"No, I'm not. Actually, that might be a plus. I have a feeling that my elder son might be like you. He's never said anything, and I haven't either. I'm not exactly sure how to approach the subject without hurting his feelings. Perhaps, you could help me with it. If you let him know you're gay, maybe he'd come out to you. If he did, you could assure him that his mother and I won't love him any less."
"You sound a lot like our parents!" Kyle exclaimed. "I wish all families felt like that. There'd be a lot fewer unhappy kids in the world, and fewer suicides too."
"I've never really thought about that possibility," Tom shook his head, sadly. "I would be devastated if Michael got despondent and left us over something he can't control. Wow! Having you two here this summer is turning out to be a godsend.
"Um, do the other guys you'll be living with know?"
"Yup."
"Great!
"Oh, I nearly forgot what I have to offer as an incentive for watching over my son. I'd do it anyway because you've been so kind to us. I know you'd like to resurrect the spa. It's worth fixing because the tub is sound, so it doesn't leak. Through my plumbing business, I can order a new pump and heater at cost. I'll also install them for free. It'll be my treat. I know Michael will love to give me a hand."
"You can't do all of that!" Paul protested. "We need to pay for the parts at the very least."
"Nope, you put Marge and me up while you were varnishing our floors and you wouldn't let us pay you. So, this is a payback! I've already ordered the pump, and I'm sure I have a heater in the shop that will fit it. So, I plan to get it operating before we leave."
After Tom went home, Paul got on his computer and emailed Larry and the other guys about the good news. He knew they'd be thrilled to have a working hot-tub that wouldn't cost them a dime to fix. Larry had been ready to scrap the whole thing rather than invest money which he might not recoup when the property was sold someday. Tom's good deed would benefit everyone.
Larry was also looking into getting away with Jen for a week or so. He was at the point in his therapy that the doctors were planning to stop treatment for a few weeks to check if he was truly in remission. Jen had faithfully seen him through everything, always upbeat, and never complaining. She deserved to have time away to relax.
Several things had recently put life into a new perspective for him. His cancer diagnosis was the major one. The second in importance was Len's plan for the corporate farm which would include his land. Now, he had the security of knowing Jen and Beau would be well taken care of whether he lived or died. It was time to kick back a little and enjoy the time he had whether it was months, years, or decades. He believed it was better to live a happy life than to stress over making a few more bucks before he died.
Larry knew his foreman could keep things going in his absence. He was also aware at how much more responsibility Beau had taken on in the operation of the business. In a way, he felt sad that his son wasn't interested to inheriting the company. However, he didn't want to lay a guilt-trip on the kid for wanting to follow his own dreams. It looked like computers were going to be the future. Beau would likely have a career which didn't involve any hard labor and be more profitable in the long run.
It was the middle of the week when Tom and Michael came over to work on the hot tub. Paul had left a key to the house hidden in the shed in a place Michael knew about. Tom would need access to the basement where the water and electrical shutoffs were located.
When Tom removed the access panels on the hot tub, he was pleased to find that the electrical and plumbing hookups were all in good shape. It wouldn't take long to replace the worn-out parts. Having Michael along to assist him, Tom could have it up and running in less than an hour. Naturally, it would require a bit of time to bring the water up to temperature, and he would have to check later to see that the chemical balance was correct.
"This will be ready for them to try out when they get off work," Tom said, proudly.
"I wonder if they'll let me use it when I stay over."
"I'm sure you'll be invited to. I'd better leave a note for them to either wear white or go nude until we're sure the chlorine won't be too strong and fade out their swimsuits. Given how private this yard is, I'd opt for no suits if I were living here."
Michael blushed as he thought about his father going naked in the spa.
In the evening after dinner, Paul and Kyle took a quick rinse using the outside shower which was next to the hot tub. Since they'd repaired the fence, no one could observe them in their totally naked state unless looking through a knothole somewhere. Thus, they couldn't be accused of indecent exposure.
Settling into the warm, swirling water, they soon felt completely relaxed. They planned to do this often when the weather permitted.
"I'm so glad we didn't allow Tom to pay us when they stayed over while the varnish was drying," Kyle said. "I think this far outweighs the value of the money. It would have cost us all a lot to have the repairs made."
"And it probably didn't cost him as much as a motel because of getting the parts wholesale. I think that's what's called a win-win situation."
When the pair emerged from the spa, it was evident that not all parts of their anatomies were in a relaxed state. Paul pulled the cushions off a chaise lounge and lay down, bringing his lover with him.
If someone had been spying on the couple, they'd have been treated to a scene worthy of a porn video. As it was, the only observers were a few birds who were still awake in the gathering twilight.
Sunday night, Michael brought his gym bag with toiletries and a few changes of clothes. He didn't need much because everything he owned was next door.
The guys told Michael he should try out the hot tub if he wanted to. He was quick to take them up on the offer. When his hosts stripped off their clothes and showered, he followed suit. He didn't seem to be shy about going naked in their presence. They assumed that his lack of modesty was likely due to his years of being on swim teams.
Of course, they all checked each other out, trying not to be obvious.
"Wow, you guys don't have any sharp tan-lines!" Michel blurted out before realizing it would let them know he'd looked them over.
"We lay outside at Beau's house part of yesterday and today, working on our all-over tans," Paul said. "You've evidently been wearing a Speedo when you're at the pool."
"Yeah, our competitive swimming class is being held outdoors most mornings at the public pool since the one at our high school is being renovated this summer. It'll be nice to have it all reconditioned for meets next winter. We love getting the sun, but I'd love to make my lines fade."
"Well, you're welcome to lie out here on the deck or in the yard nude," Kyle mentioned. "As you can see, it's entirely private. We plan to do it on days when we don't have any work to do."
"That would be great! Can I invite my buddy, Ryan, over?"
"It's cool with us," Paul nodded. "Is he possibly boyfriend material?"
"I'm not sure," Michael blushed as he shook his head. "I've known him most of my life, and I really like him, and I think he likes me, but we've never messed around or anything. At scout camp a couple of weeks ago, I thought he was gonna tell me something important when we were out walking together at night. It was like he started to but didn't dare follow through. I guess I'm hoping something might happen if we were naked in the sun."
"Hmm... We'll have to figure out a way for the two of you to be alone when he comes over. We don't want to hamper anything!"
Monday was a light day for Kyle and Paul who were finishing up a job from the previous week which would be done by noon.
(They could have finished up Saturday but had chosen to go home instead. While they wanted to see their families, a major reason for making the 100-mile trip was to be with their roommates lying out by the quarry and making out. Having quality time with their buds was more important than finishing the job. It would still be done a couple of days earlier than they'd promised.)
When they came home for lunch, they found Michael in the spa with a boy whom he introduced as Ryan Smith.
Ryan was a handsome lad with dark hair and a big smile which could have been featured in a toothpaste ad. The part of his body, not obscured by the water, looked to be well-muscled. His broad shoulders had likely been developed by his sport.
Paul said that Kyle and he would make lunch for everyone and they could eat out on the deck. They went in to prepare sandwiches, chips, and fruit for a quick meal.
Looking out the kitchen window toward the deck, Kyle called Paul over to check out the scenery. The high school boys were toweling off after emerging from the hot tub. Obviously, both had enjoyed the water without wearing anything. They were soon donning swim suits.
Ryan turned out to be not only good-looking but also well-mannered. He thanked his hosts for the food and helped carry in the trays back to the kitchen. He would have washed the dishes, had they let him.
Deciding that the two boys would probably like more time alone, Paul and Kyle said they'd be going out to bid a few jobs and would be gone for a couple of hours.
The minute the younger teens were alone again, Michael got brave and did something which would change their relationship. They'd played a bit of grab-ass in the city pool after their competitive swimming class had ended that morning. It had continued in the locker room. Both had been horny and had engaged in more physical contact than usual. Upon coming to the Stephen's house, they'd become shy again, shucking their swimwear only after they were immersed in the roiling water of the spa. Before they'd had a chance to get playful again, Paul and Kyle had returned home.
Michael got a big grin on his face, and Ryan knew he had something devious in mind. Before he could figure out what it was, Michael had stripped him of his trunks. In retaliation, he did the same thing to Michael.
They rolled around on the deck, as if trying to get the better of the other. Eventually, Ryan pinned Michael and proclaimed himself the victor.
In reality, it was Michael who was the winner because he was lying on his back, skin to skin, underneath the boy he had a crush on. Instead of trying to dislodge his buddy, he pulled their faces together and kissed Ryan's full lips.
For a split-second, Ryan tensed up but quickly gave in and returned the kiss. Then he pulled back to look into the eyes of the boy he'd been friends with for a long time. What he saw were tears.
"What's the matter Mikey?" he said using a childhood nickname.
"I'm sorry I pushed you into something you might hate me for."
"Am I complaining? I wanted to do something at scout camp, but I chickened out. I didn't have the balls to let you know how much I wanted to play with your body. I wish we could be like playmates, um, if you know what I mean."
"Really? Then, let's!"
"Um, won't your dad go postal if he suspects we're getting closer?"
"I seriously doubt it. I've been talking to Paul and Kyle about what it's like being gay and they said Dad already suspects that I am, and he wanted them to let me know he's okay with it."
"Didn't they freak out?"
"No, they're gay and they said I could tell you if I wanted to."
"Wow! This is great! My parents already know I'm not really into girls, at least not yet. They cautioned me to keep a low profile until after we've become Eagle Scouts. The court of honor is only a few weeks off and I've worked so hard for it that I want to get it."
"Me too. Do you suppose the scouts will ever change?"
"I'll bet they do in a few years. Things are getting better. I wouldn't be surprised if guys get to marry one another someday, even in this state."
"If they do, would you consider becoming my husband?"
"That's a possibility. Hey, we'd better put our suits on or get into the spa. We don't want the guys to catch us with boners," Ryan said, changing the subject.
"Mine's pretty well deflated from all this talking. Besides, I don't think I'd be embarrassed if they did see me hard."
"Maybe we should get back in the water and see if we can pump them up again," Ryan grinned.
"Sounds like a plan!"
When Paul and Kyle came home about two hours later, they were treated to the sight of two naked 16-year-olds stretched out on the deck asleep holding hands. It was evident that Michael had gotten his wish.
Fearing the pair would get sunburned, but hating to awaken them, the guys carefully covered them with a bed sheet.
Author's notes: Thanks to the following who emailed since last posting --
Tony C, Geoff (2), Tommy G, Ott H, Chandra B, Andy R, Peter S, Frank k, Allen, Mendy D, Joe W (2), Si R, John L, Paul R, Jim W, Hotrod, CaryandKen, Brad W, and Al M. Those of you who have followed my stories over the years know how much a appreciate your encouragement.
Thanks for reading this story. If you enjoyed it, please feel free to contact me a dlee169@hotmail.com and let me know. Your emails are the only reward I receive for writing. Please put the story title in the subject line in case your email goes into the spam folder.
Thanks to David S for editing. He finds the typos and missing words! He also makes valuable suggestions.
Thanks to Nifty for providing this free service. It costs the site to do it, so please consider donating to defray their expenses.
https://donate.nifty.org/
Thanks,
David
P.S. I have a chronological list of all my posted stories which I can email to you if you have an interest.