Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:38:01 +0000
From: Steve Thomas <stevethomas535@hotmail.com>
Subject: Kyle's Out-Coming, Ch. 12

This is based on the author's feelings, beliefs, and in some cases
experience but it is a work of pure fiction. Come to think of it, it may
not always be that pure! There may be graphic sexual encounters at times
between men, so if this offends you or you are otherwise not allowed by
law, etc., you are invited to retreat. Otherwise ... enjoy!

Cast of characters:

Kyle Tragg -- That's me!
Kevin -- My older brother.
Ron -- my dad.
Chrissy -- my mom.
Mike Newberry -- New Best Friend.

Tommy Newberry -- Mike's Dad.

Bette Newberry -- Mike's mom.
Bob -- Old best friend.
Jorge, Ron, -- New friends

And Brian, Barry -- nurses.

 From Chapter 11:


Ron opened the door for me and when I walked in, he closed the door and
almost collapsed back onto it.  I looked at him querying, and he shrugged.
"I just never thought about you coming home with me.  Do you have any
expectations?"

"Not really."  I said.  He looked a little disappointed.  "Why -- did you?"

"I wouldn't know what to expect if I did!"

"Can we sit?'  I asked.

"Sure!"  He said.  "Have a seat!"

I sat on the small couch and he took the chair on the other side of the
table.  I smiled and patted the couch next to me.

"Go for it!"  I heard Mike's voice echo in my head.  I thought about how a
lot of guys my age would just go down with anything that presented itself.
I questioned that practice.





Chapter 12

Ron again looked a little embarrassed.  This was obviously newer to him
than it was to me.  He got up and smiled shyly as he sat beside me, and put
his hands between his legs.  I pulled out his right hand and brought the
palm to my face, my hand covering his.  With my other hand I tilted his
face up to meet my eyes.

He blushed deeply.  "I'll go slow."  I assured him.  He nodded and smiled.
"This is quite new to you, isn't it?"  I added.

He again smiled, blushed and nodded.  I kissed his hand that was warming on
my face.  Ron wiggled and adjusted his crotch.  "I just - " He started then
stopped.

"I know -- it gets that way, huh?"  I said and adjusted my own.  All the
while our eyes were locked.  He licked his lips.  I aped his action and
smiled.  This felt so sweet to me, I didn't want it to end.

"You -- you -- you're amazing."  He whispered.

"I am?"

"You do the smallest thing and it's so ... so ... sensual."  He again
adjusted himself and I giggled.  I tilted my head and he understood and
tilted his own.  Our lips were millimeters apart.  "Have you kissed
Michael?"

My eyes widened and I drew away from his face.  "Okay -- I'm sure there are
some basic rules about dating -- though I've never read them.  One has to
be ... you don't talk or ask about other guys your partner has been with."


"Yeah -- you are so right!  That was stupid!"  he said, pulling away and
assuming a repentant -- almost subordinate position.

"On the other hand, it's kind of sweet -- to me -- that you are so naïve.
You're so shy, I am wondering how you even got up the courage to follow me
that first day."

"I had a crush on Michael then."  He said, as if that were an explanation,
and blushed.

"And now?"

"Oh yeah -- now it's -- it's -- totally you!"  He said and for the third
time squirmed and adjusted himself.

"You do that many more times and your gonna have a mess to clean up in your
pants!"  I giggled, and I patted the generous bulge under his zipper.

He jumped a little and giggled too.  Again, I got ready to kiss him.  He
sighed deeply and closed his eyes.  Our lips met and his lips were tightly
closed.  I was about to tell him to open up when he took another breath.  I
licked at his lips, and pulled at the back of his head, so he'd be smashed
even closer to my face.

He opened his lips a little more and I pushed my tongue in a little.  He
met it with his own tongue.  I lay down on the couch and pulled him over on
top of me.  "Wa-How!" He whispered almost breathlessly.  Ron was slight in
body ... more skinny than anything.  He wasn't that much shorter than I but
he probably weighed 30 pounds less ... and I'm not that buff either.

I couldn't help comparing: Mike was a little shorter than I, maybe about
the same as Ron, but Mike worked out and was heavier than me.  Both Tommy
and Jorge were fully grown men, and though both were fit, they weighed more
than any of us.

Ronny was just a -- a -- flyweight.  I would never have thought that I
would like that, but with him on top of me, he felt like a little kid.  As
this dawned on me ... and I realized that it turned me on ... I also felt
some shame!  Could I be aroused by a kid?  Is that even okay?

All this went through my head in a half-second.  And in the other half I
was over it ... and feeling his hardness swelling and throbbing next to my
own.  Ron's eyes were closed and he was breathing shallow -- through his
nose, as if maybe he might wake up.

"You've never been this close to a guy, have you Ronny?"

He opened his eyes and looked directly into mine.  He broke the kiss and
pulled back slightly and shook his head. "I think -- I think -- I love
you!"  He no more than breathed.

I pulled his face into my neck and held him close for a few minutes as I
thought about how to respond.  I took a deep breath.  "This does feel
good."  I said.  But trust me ... you don't love me.  But we definitely
made a connection, didn't we?"

He answered with a shuddering sigh.  "I don't even know what comes next.
Did you want to go steady ... or do guys even do that?  When can I see you
again?"

"Go steady?  Wo!  What -- what -- made you say that?"  I tried to say it
lightly.

"I've sure never been like this with anyone else.  Isn't this what
boyfriends do?"

"I -- g-guess they do.  But -- but -- boyfriends do a lot more too."  I
said.  How could I tell him I wasn't feeling the same things he was?  I
didn't want to scar him for life, but -- I also didn't want to -- encourage
this line of thought.

"What?  Do all guy guys do this ... with everyone?"

"I hope not.  I've only done it with 3 guys ... and not all of them may
even be gay."

"How long have you known you were gay?"

"Um -- not too long ... for sure.  I was 16 and fooling with the neighbor
kid when my brother caught us."

"You were in love with your neighbor?"

"Let's stop talking about being in love.  No. We were just -- just --
experimenting.  When my brother caught us, I was sucking Bob's -- well you
know!"  I said, suddenly embarrassed again.

"I never did that."  Said Ron.

"I figured as much."  I said.  "I'm not sure you're ready for it now."

"Oh."  He said, sounding more bewildered than hurt.  "I've just never
... um -- I mean -- what we just did brought up such -- um - strong
feelings in me -- you know?"

"We haven't done anything.  Look, Ronny, I like you.  But I don't want to
be the one to hurt you."

"Maybe ... maybe I have been too -- um -- wrapped up -- or something -- in
the moment.  I feel like an idiot.  Now that we are talking, I don't feel
nearly as ... um ... like I did a few minutes ago.  WO!  I can see what you
are talking about.  It's hard to think when my body is ... is -- telling me
things like it was."

"I know."  I said.

"Are you going to see Michael when you leave here?"

"Yeah, I want to give him some notes, since he won't be required to do
those experiments.  Also for whatever else he may want me for."  My body
reacted immediately to that.  I didn't mean it I that way, but I felt an
immediate swelling down south, which transmitted to me that my subconscious
caught it!

"Then I guess I'd better let you get going.  I'm in no hurry, but I don't
want to keep you from helping your friend out."  He said, exacting another
flexing down below.  "You've definitely given me a lot to think about."

"I hope I didn't overload you!"  I smiled.

"If you did, I'm open to more of that kind of overload!"  He giggled.

He walked me to the door and started to open it.  I backed into it,
effectively closing it.  "You didn't want your whole neighborhood to see
our good bye, did you?"  I smiled slyly

He almost jumped into my arms and hugged me close.  He drew a deep breath
and let it out slowly in an audible sigh.  I kissed his mouth and he melted
some more. I rubbed the pulsing lump in his pants. "Yeah, I wouldn't be
opposed to a lot more of that!"

I left, knowing somebody would be heading to the bedroom for some alone
time!

"Hi Mike!"

"Oh, Kye!"  Said Tommy turning.  It didn't dawn on me that he wasn't
wearing that hospital gown.  "Michael's in the toilet."  He strode to me
and hugged me close.  I felt his obvious reaction to seeing me.  I was not
far behind him ... having thought he was Mike!  Mike came out of the toilet
as we were still hugging.

"I want one of those!"  he said.  It took me only a moment to see that his
facial bandages were gone.  He was all a sickly yellow and
blackish/blue-ish/purple-ish around his eyes and nose.  "Yeah," he said,
seeing my reaction, "pretty gross, huh?"

There was something else different.  It took me a little longer to notice
that he was smiling without grimacing ... so much.  I said as much and he
said, "Yeah, taking the bandages off has freed up my facial muscles a lot.
It's still tender to the touch, but facial expressions are a lot easier."

He walked to me and I gingerly wrapped my arms around him.  He still had on
a neck brace and a cast on his right arm ... the main reason he wanted my
"help" under the covers.  He pulled himself as close as he could.  He put
his hands on my bum, so I did too ... only his was naked.  He giggled.

"He looks a lot better doesn't he?"  Said Tommy.  I think he was seeing him
through the eyes of a dad, plus wanting to encourage him.  He looked awful!

Oh yeah, it's good to see his smile again!"  I said.  Like Ron, earlier, he
relaxed in my arms and sighed deeply.  He almost fell, as he relaxed into
me.  I put my hand under his butt to help support him, and he sighed.

"I'm a little weak, huh?"  He said.

I lowered him to the bed.  "See you later, Pop!"  he said.

"I have a private in 40 minutes."  Said Tommy.

"And guess what else?"  Said Mike.  "He got a full time job at the course
as the head pro!"

"Yup!"  Said Tommy.  "Arnold Palmer finally decided to retire."

"That name sounds familiar ... should we know it?"  I asked.

"Arnold Palmer was an old golf pro when my grandpa was still golfing!"
Said Mike.

"It's not really him, but we teased him because he was so old."  Said
Tommy.  "It's Arnold Griffin.  He announced his retirement suddenly and
... well, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  I AM
the head pro there.  You guys will get to golf free from now on!"

"Very cool!  You didn't tell me that before!"  Said Mike.

"Well, gotta go, Kids!"  Said Tommy.  "Don't worry, I got time off tomorrow
to bring you home, Mikey!" And Tommy left.

"You're checking out on a Saturday?"  I said.

"Yeah.  Coulda done it this afternoon, but the doc wants another complete
MRI before I go."

"But -- with both your mom and dad working now ... who's going to take care
of you?"

"I was hoping you could help out some.  I'm okay by myself -- with all of
you having cell phones -- and being so close to the hospital -- I could get
an ambulance in a very few minutes if I needed.  The doctor really wants me
to stay here longer, but our insurance only covers what we've done so far
and ... mom and dad can't really afford to keep me here."  He paused a
moment to gather his thoughts.  It was obvious he could think clearly, even
if it came out kind of slurred.

"You were going to be coming over anyway, to study and ... stuff - " he
pause again, and smirked.  I liked the look of THAT smirk!  "So Mom is
going to just make sure there is plenty for both of us to eat."

"Maybe you'll help me out in that department too!"  I grinned.

Mike was still sitting on the edge of his bed, and looking at the floor.
"Um -- yeah -- about that."  Now I was worried!  "I hope it won't get weird
for you ... er ... us ... I want to ... um ... play some with you.  I need
to either get this out of my system or ... decide which way I want to go."

"Which way you want to go?"  I said.  I knew what he was talking about, but
I thought he was more ... sure about what he wanted, I guess.

"I've talked to Dad a lot today.  I see that this is going to be a
completely personal decision for me."

"I don't think - "

"I know how you feel, Kye.  You don't see this as a decision for you.  It
is what it is.  But for me ... I still am not sure if I am or I want to be
completely straight ... or completely gay.  The only decision I have made
is I don't want to be both.  I may be bi, but I'm not gonna straddle the
line, playing both parts."

"But I thought you wanted - "

"I DO want a family, Kye!  But I think that can be worked out either way."

"I'm not so sure."  I said, defeated.

Mike grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me to his nose.  "Between you and me
we'll work it out ... best friend!"

I wanted to hug him and tell him just how much I love him.  But I
restrained myself.  I didn't want to hurt him and ... I was afraid of
getting hurt in a very different way ... myself!

"So do you suppose this ambient sexual tension in the room can be
sublimated for now -- and we can wait until tomorrow?"  He said half
grinning ... which he seemed to be able to do without pain now without the
bandages in place.

"What's that supposed to mean?"  I asked.

"I means I'm still horny as a hound dog and need ... no WANT ... to get
off!"  He chuckled.  "But it could wait for tomorrow when we get home."

There was so much implication to so much of what he said.  To include me in
his concept of "home" excited me, but I decided not to make too much of it.
Dammit, I KNOW he loves me ... the question is ... what does he want from
life?

"Welllll ... "  I finally said, "We caould have it both ways, if I closed
the door and ... pull this curtain like ... "

"SO!  I hear you're leaving us tomorrow -- oh!  You were wanting ... um
... I can come back later!"  Said Nurse Barry.

"No!"  said Mike.  "Come in.  We're fine.  When did you get here?"

"My shift just started ... I just came."

"That's the way I'D like to start a shift!" Said Mike.

"Heh!  You're right on top of it today, aren't you.  So you must be psyched
that your going home."

"I guess I am."  Said Mike.

"Never mind the nurses who have looked forward to coming in each day to
take care of you!"  Pouted Barry.

"Oh ... are you talking about the nurse who's only a nurse because he wants
to be a hospital administrator someday and is CERTAINLY as straight as an
arrow?" said Mike.

"Hey!  I can be your friend!  I definitely want to stay in contact with
both of you!  Call me gay friendly!"  Said Barry.

"Are you calling ME gay, then?"  Said Mike and they both looked at me!

It was obvious to me that Mike and Barry had worked up a good friendship in
his short stay in the hospital.  I was ashamed of the more-than-slight bit
of jealousy I was feeling.

"Why are you looking at me?  I'm not gonna settle your silly little spat!"
I said, to try to deflect the attention.

Look, I'll get out of your way, so you two can do whatever two best friends
do ... and I'll talk to you later, Mike.  See yah, Kyle!"

He walked out whistling and closed the door behind us.  "He'll keep a
lookout for us." Said Mike.

"We better do this quick!"  I said.

He grabbed my hand with his left and put it on his already stiff wood.  I
said, "Let's just cut to the chase!"  and I dove right at his meat with my
mouth.

"Omigosh!"  exclaimed Mike.  "You know how to surprise a guy!"

I didn't take time to answer.  I bobbed and sucked and stroked all at once
as fast as I could.  At first I heard shortened panting breathing, then a
faint whimper and then, "Uck --ah -- um ... oh!  Here it ... um -- uh - "
then all he could do was a series of grunts and gasps as he stifled his
sounds.

When he stopped bucking and erupting, I kept sucking as he grew softer and
softer, the light fuzz in his thigh tickling my face. Then I came up and
smiled.  He grabbed my head and pulled me to him and kissed me like he
never had before.

"I'm getting even with you tomorrow!"

"We're already even as far as I'm concerned, Mike!"  I said.

"Kye-Kye -- we'll never be even as far as I'm concerned.  "GOD, I LOVE
YOU!"  He said shifting from eye to eye.

I was speechless.  When I COULD talk, I said, "We better look at those lab
notes.  I have some ideas for your other classes too."

We spent at least 2 ½ hours with school work, and then I went home.  I was
too late for dinner and didn't want to put Mom out, so I stopped at the
In-And-Out Burger on the way home.  After I left the drive-trhu, I just
broke down and bawled all the way home.  I just could not hold in all the
emotions I was feeling.  I was happy, I was confused, I was scared he would
come down and regret what he said.  I KNEW he couldn't sustain that feeling
quite the way he felt it at the time.

When I walked in the door, I was met by my dad and mom, who were watching
20-20 on TV.  Are you okay, sweetheart?"  Asked my mom.  You look very
tired.  You're such a good friend to help out Michael like you have been!"

"Are you okay, Son?  Well, you definitely look beat.  I hope you can be
happy with the surprise in your room."

"There's some goodies in the fridge if your interested, Sweetheart."  Mom
said.

I wondered what that could be.  Any other time I might have ran to my room,
but I just didn't feel much like it this night.

"Hi Kye-Kye!"  Kevin was reclining on my bed.

"Oh ... it's you!  I smiled. What're you doing home?  Don't you have a game
tomorrow night?"

"Nice to see you too!"  He said sarcastically.  I walked to him and he got
up and wrapped me in his arms.  I melted into them.  "Oooo!  It feels like
my little brother needs some of this!"  He said as he started to massage my
neck and shoulders. "How is your friend, Mike?

"He's coming home from the hospital tomorrow morning."

"He must be better then.  Pop told me that he was pretty bad off."

"The doctor wanted to keep him longer in the hospital, but his parents
don't have the funds to keep him there any longer.  He will be alone only
in the mornings.  I'll go over afternoons and his parents will be there at
night.  He's ... a lot better, actually.  But his speech is slurred ... a
lot!"

"Wow!  Brain damage?"

"I guess.  They say other parts of his brain can pick up the slack, but it
takes time.  He has no problem thinking.  It's only getting it from there
to his mouth."


"And how about Kye?  Are you okay?"  He released me from his embrace and
pushed me down on the bed.  Are you still -- um -- (is it dating?) that guy
-- Jorge -- the Mexican?"

"I haven't seen him since your game up in San Jose."

"Ohhhhh!  Well, I have a friend I want you to meet."  He said as he started
to rub the middle of my back.  He straddled me and sat on my butt.

"Um -- oh!  Um -- you mean -- er, I mean - "

"Yeah, he's gay.  I've told him all about you."

"You -- um -- told him I'm gay?"

"Yeah ... is that okay?"

"Yeah ... I guess.  It's just weird.  I never thought about someone I don't
even know, knowing I am gay.  I guess it's okay ... yeah!  It's kinda cool,
actually.  Um -- why - er -- why are you -- um -- did you want us to ... um
... date or something?"

"Naw.  He just came out to me last week and he's pretty lonely ... doesn't
have anyone to talk to."

"I know that feeling!"

"I thought you would understand.  Will you be coming to the game tomorrow
night?"

"Tommy and I are thinking about bringing Mike"

"Who's Tommy?"

"Mike'd dad.  Remember he came up to - "

"Oooohhhh yeahhh -- you and he kind of got thrown together one night,
didn't you?"

"Anyway, we were talking about bringing Mike in a wheel chair."

"That'd be very cool!  They have special ... almost like ... boxes,
especially for the handicapped and their parties.  They're not very low,
but they are near the 50 yard line!  Great vantage point to watch the game
from.  Do you think Dad could sit with you guys?"

"Do you think he'd want to?"

"Oh, the handicapped section is a great place to be.  It's almost like a
box, in that you can order all kinds of goodies that most people usually
have to go to the snack bar for.  The only difference is it's not glassed
in."

"Will your friend want to sit with us?"

"Who ... Karstin?  No he's our offensive running back!  He could get MVP
this year.

"Is he ... out?"

"Ohhh NO-ho-ho!  Not even close!  He's afraid to tell any of the other
guys."

"Why did he tell you?"

"Oh -- we just sort of hit it off.  We got put in the same room together
last weekend and after the game, we talked most of the night.  He had more
beer in him than I did and I ... kind of guessed."

"So he just outed himself to you like that?"

"Not exactly.  Like I said, I kind of guessed so I told him I had a brother
who was gay ... just to see what he thought about it.  He immediately
picked up his enthusiasm.  He asked me how I handled that and when I told
him I didn't care ... he asked me if I could keep a secret.  Guess what
that was?"

"So, when did you want me to meet him?"

"After the game.  I told him you wouldn't do anything to embarrass him, but
that I'd tell you about him beforehand.  He's a little scared, actually,
but I assured him that you're cool.  He mostly just wants someone to talk
to."

"Okay."  I said.  "That should be easy.  I sure as hell don't want anything
like what happened to Mike to ... um ... you didn't tell him about that,
did you?"

"No.  I thought that would surely freak him out!  Anyway, if you know
you're coming ... call ahead and tell them you have someone in a wheel
chair."

I flipped out my phone and punched in Tommy's speed dial. "Yeah, hi!  Did
you go back -- oh you're there now!  Good.  What do you guys think about
going to the USC/Washington state game tomorrow night at the bowl?"

I pushed the mute and told Kevin that Tommy was asking Mike.

"You have your friend's dad's number in your phone?"

"It's easier while Mike's in the hospital."  I hedged.  "Besides, he's a
very cool guy.  He's only 35!"

I hadn't noticed how animated I was talking about Tommy.  Kevin did!  He
started to smirk and say something but Tommy came back on the line.  "Yeah,
he wants to go for it!  I told him I wouldn't do it unless he went in a
wheel chair.  He's kind of bummed over that, but - "

"Tell him that wheel chair gets us in to a very special place at the bowl.
Well, okay, this is gonna be fun!  I'm inviting my dad too, so we can all
sit with Mike in the handicapped box."

I hung up and turned to Kevin, who still had not stopped smirking.  "Mike
wants to go!  This is gonna be great!"

"You gonna ask Jorge?"

"I hadn't thought about it."  I said.

The smirk came back.  "You -- like this -- Tommy -- don't you?"  He pushed
a row of knuckles up my spine.  I groaned.

"I -- that is -- oh!  That feels great!  What're you doing?"

"A friend showed me how to knead the soft neck tissue with my finger tips
... and you're trying to change the subject.  Is old Tommy gay?"

"35 isn't that old!"  I defended.

"You ARE into him!  Does he know that you ... like him?"  I couldn't see
his face now, but I could hear the grin in it!

"<<SIGH>>!!  Kind of.  Mike wants us to ... get together."

"WHAT!!??  MIKE wants you to -- omigod ... he wants you to effin' screw his
dad?"

"Kev!  SHHH!.. Mom and dad!"  I turned halfway under him.  He pushed me
back down

"Take off your clothes."

"What?  You want me naked?"

"I didn't mean everything.  You can leave your shorts on."

He got off me and I started to remove my clothes.  He stepped over and
closed the door and turned off the light.  "What the hell, may as well get
comfortable.  Take `em all off."  I did, and he shed his as well, the
stepped back to the door and locked it.

Then he again pushed me down and climbed on top.  I couldn't help the wood
that was pushing up between my abs and the sheet.  Kevin leaned down and
gave me a full body hug, wrapping his arms around the front of me and
squeezing my upper torso.  Then he sat back up.  "I sure do miss you ... a
lot, Kye-Kye!  You just can't get this close with other guys ... unless
they are your brother!"

"I do ... with Mike.  He's my best friend.  We don't keep anything from
each other."

"Damn!  I wish I had a friend like that!"  He said then back pedaled.
"Wait a minute ... whaddaya mean ... you don't keep ANYTHING from each
other?"

He was working his way down to my lower back.  "I -- I -- I mean we -- um -
"

"You twisted little pervert!"  He said, almost in a whisper. "Is Mike
nailing you?"

"NO!"  I protested.  We only ... only ... we don't go that far!"

"Sheesh, Kye!  You're effin' getin' more sex than I am!  Jorge, Tommy and
Mike too?"

"Kev ... no!  I'm not -- it's not like ... Mike's just my best friend.  And
I haven't really done anything with Tommy.  We just - "

"OHOHO!  I've heard that one before.  We REALLY weren't doing THAT much!"

"Kevin!  Shit!  Are you calling me a slut or something?"  Kevin couldn't
know that I felt like crying.

"Wha -- aaat?  No, Bro!  Not EVEN!  I've prob'ly effin' nailed more girls
since coming here than ... than I knew was possible!"

"Then why did you say ... that I'm probably getting' more than you?"

"It was just an expression, Dude!  Don't max over it!  I just meant
... well ... in truth, lately -- I dunno -- I just got kind of tired of
it!"

"What?  Tired of sex?"

"Well, Yeah ... I mean, no, not really!  Tired of the game.  And fuckin' my
brains out in the same ten sluts that have been with at least half the
football team ... and probably more than that when you consider the med
students and the dental students over at U.S.C.  It just gets boring!"

"Well, that's not what my sex life is like.  Not quite anyway.  I sure as
hell am not tired of it!"  I said.  "But actually ... I'd like to have just
one ... one guy that I can depend on to be there."

"And none of the guys you're ... um ... seeing ... could fill that bill?"

"Geez!  You're making me think too much, Kev!  I'm only eighteen.  You're
almost 22.  But -- um -- well, I guess I'm kind of waiting for ... one guy
-- to see what -- um -- see what he wants.  Do you think it's wrong to keep
seeing the other three?"

"Well -- not as long as you haven't promised anyone that you ... that
you're not seeing anyone else.  That way ... uh - hey!  Wait a minute!  Did
you say the other three?  I thought there WERE only three!"

He stopped scrunching my glutes for a moment.  "Oh.  Didn't I mention Ronny
... er Ronald?"

"No ... you didn't!"  I heard a definite grin that time!  On second thought
maybe you are becoming a slut!"

"KEV!"

"I'm JOKING, Kye-Kye!  Who's Ron?"

"It's actually someone who was also maxing over Mike ... not knowing he was
straight."

"Do you think he is ... straight?"

"If he isn't ... he's - " I stopped.  I was going to say he's mine!  I may
as well have said it ...

"Mike's the one!  Right?  He's the one you're waiting for!"

"Kev, please don't make too big a deal of this ... mostly because I'm
trying not to.  I don't want to set myself up to get hurt!"

No one knows me like my brother does.  And as surely as I can hear a grin
in his voice -- he could hear the hurt in mine.

"You're already hurting, aren't you, Kye?  You want him so much you can
taste it."

My silence told him he was right.  "Well, what the hell?  If you want to
insulate yourself by dating several guys at once, not committing to anyone
... why not?  I love you more than anyone else -- at least any of my
friends, Kye.  But please try not to hurt anyone else ... I mean too much.
Probably some of those other guys are waiting for you to settle down and
when you do ... someone's gonna get hurt one way or the other."

He continued: "But ... if you can ... I guess I'm just a little selfish.  I
don't want for Karstin to get hurt ... he's only a junior and that could
play with his head enough that it might affect his game.  Oh I guess I
don't care that much about him ... not like I do you.  But he's just such a
nice guy ... you know?"

Kevin was now working on my calves.  "Turn over Kye."

"You're gonna want me to reciprocate ... do this for you, aren't you Kev?"

"Not now.  Maybe tomorrow night ... after the game ... if you'll be coming
home."

"If you need me to massage you, I'll be here!" I said.

He patted my thighs and laid on top of me to hug me.  "Love you, Kye-Kye!"

"I love you too, Kev!  Hey, Mom said there were goodies in the fridge."  I
said.

Oh -- yeah -- Mom and Dad were at a church social earlier.  They brought
home some mini-cream puffs and chocolate covered strawberries, and stuff.
They're good."

"Let's get some!"  I said.

"I've had too much already!  I'll wait in here for you."

I slipped on my robe and went to the kitchen.  Mom and Dad were already in
bed.  When I got back, Kevin was asleep on top of the covers with the light
on. He always slept with me, since Mom turned his room into the den.  When
we were younger, and they thought we needed our own rooms, he moved out of
this room, and they got each of us king sized beds.  So it was plenty big
for both of us.

I took off my robe and pushed Kevin over.  He got under the covers and I
turned out the light and slipped in between the sheets.  As soon as I was
in, he snuggled up to me.  "I miss this the most, Kye!"  he said sleepily.

"The most?"  I said.

"Yeah -- you know -- there's no one to cuddle with -- well not like we do
-- in our on-campus housing."

"I'll bet there's something else you like better!"  I said, smiling.

"Oh yeah -- there's always that."

I showed him my appreciation for his special attention earlier.  Afterward,
we spooned to sleep.

Notes: Some brothers are like two ships passing in the night.  Others are
like Kyle and Kevin.  And then there's Mike ... and Ronny ... and Tommy
... and ... Jorge.  Comments are always welcome.  Please send them to Steve
at stevethomas535@hotmail.com.  Thanks and ... Love, Steve