This story is a work of fiction. It depicts a romance between two consenting adult males and may contain some descriptions of sexual acts. If you are not of legal age to read this kind of story, please leave now. If you reside in an area where reading stories that include sexual situations between two consenting adult males is illegal, please leave now. This story is for entertainment purposes only. Any similarity to any person(s) living or dead is simply a coincidence. The author retains all rights to the story. It cannot be reproduced in any form without expressed written permission from the author. Please contact the author for any requests. Copyright 2006.
Feedback...including criticism...is appreciated and welcome. Please respond to this story at: jaden.scott@adelphia.net
LOVER'S LANE
by Jaden Scott
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: JADEN AND LANE'S FIRST DATE
JADEN'S POINT OF VIEW
"How far away are you, honey??" my mom asked me. We were speaking to each other on our cell phones.
"I'm entering the airport right now, Mom." I replied. "I'll be there in a few...CRAP!!"
"What happened?? Is everything all right??" She sounded worried.
"I was in the wrong lane (mmm...Lane) and I missed the turned I needed to take to get to the pick-up area. There's too much freaking traffic!!" I looked around but couldn't find a solution to my predicament. "Mom, I need to get off the phone. I can't talk to you and concentrate on navigating through this airport at the same time. I'll call you back in a few minutes."
"Okay." She said.
I was at Boston International Airport. It was Monday night and I was trying to pick up my parents, who had just returned from their cruise. There was no discernable way to get to the baggage claim area from where I was at, so I decided to exit the airport, turn around, and re-enter. That appeared to be my only way out of this situation. I followed the signs and exited the airport. After I was back on the main road, I had trouble finding a place to turn around. After scanning the immediate area for police cars, I made an illegal U-turn and drove back into the airport. This time, armed with the knowledge of where I needed to go, I maneuvered my car into the correct lane (mmm...Lane). Once I was back on track, I called my mom.
"Hey." I said when she answered. "I should be there in about one minute."
"We'll watch for your car." She said.
"Cool."
I rounded a bend in the road and saw the pick-up zone located outside of the baggage claim. There were signs mounted at various points that listed different airlines. I drove slowly so I could read each sign. On the third sign, I saw the name of the airline that my parents had flown in on. I immediately looked toward the sidewalk, which was on my right, and scanned the various people who standing there. Where are they?? I finally spotted them. There was an opening I could park in about two car lengths down from where they were located, so I eased my car into that open space. I saw my dad recognize my car. He and mom gathered up their luggage and began walking towards me.
I put my car in park, opened the door, and got out. I reached down and pulled the lever that was located on the floor of the driver's side of my car. The trunk popped open. I ran over to my parents and grabbed the large suitcase my mom was struggling with.
"Hi!! Welcome home!!" I exclaimed.
"Jaden!! It's so good to see you!! We missed you!!" my mom said.
My dad and I loaded the luggage into the trunk. Once we were finished, I closed the trunk lid and gave my mom and dad a quick hug. We piled into my car, with my dad getting into the front seat and my mom sitting in back. I put my car into 'drive' and, after a few seconds, I was able to pull out of the space and back into the flow of traffic. Before long, we were on the main road leading out of the (very confusing) airport.
"How was your trip?? Did you have a good time??" I asked them.
"It was a blast." My dad replied. "We had an awesome time."
Wow...my dad just used the words 'blast' and 'awesome' in two consecutive sentences. I guess there's a first time for everything!!
"Where are Cliff and Robin at??" I asked.
"They left their car in the long-term parking lot. After they got their luggage, they hopped onto a shuttle that took them over there."
"Cool." I replied. "So, tell me about your trip. I want details people!!"
My mom spoke up and began describing everything that had happened to them since I had dropped them off at the airport a week ago. They had a relatively smooth trip down to Miami, which was the port their ship was leaving from. They told me about everything that happened after the cruise started, such as the food they ate, the excellent weather they had, and all of the different places they stopped at. It sounded like they stayed up late every night, drinking and dancing. I was a bit surprised by that; normally my parents were not heavy drinkers. I reminded myself that they were on vacation, so they were just having fun, which was the whole point. I never got upset when I saw my parents have a few drinks. Most of the time, they only had a glass of wine with dinner...maybe two glasses if it had been a particularly stressful day. Although I had made the personal decision NOT to drink based on what happened with Leon, I didn't expect my parents...or Lane for that matter...to stop drinking just because of my issues. Besides, I honestly couldn't say I would never change my mind about the drinking issue, mostly because I didn't know how my feelings would change over the next weeks, months, and years. Considering all of the changes I had made in my life over the past few months, I suspected I might reach a point where I would decide to have a drink every now and then. For right now, though, I was at ease with my decision.
My mom continued talking about their trip for a large portion of our forty-five minute drive home. My dad interjected at various points to add more details when he wanted to explain something more completely. They seemed happy, rested, and relaxed and I was very glad about that. They both worked extremely hard, so they had needed this trip to get away, decompress, and spend some quality time together.
It's funny, but sometimes it felt like they were more my friends than my parents. I think that was mainly due to how young they both were. Despite the fact that I owed my existence to a teenage pregnancy, I didn't believe in or support teenagers having sex, especially unprotected sex. However, I wasn't naïve to the fact that most teenagers experimented with sex at some point during high school, so I endorsed the idea that every high school in this country should give out free condoms to their students. I had to admit, however, that sometimes it was pretty cool to have parents that were so young. Barring a horrible accident or terrible disease, I was going to have my parents in my life until I was very old, which was something a lot of people don't get. I was comforted by that thought.
Our family situation was a unique one. Not many girls get pregnant at sixteen and end up marrying the guy that got them pregnant. Even if they do, most of those relationships don't work out. My parents were role models for having a healthy, monogamous relationship. Based on what they'd told me over the years, I knew that they were each other's first and only serious boyfriend/girlfriend. My dad had dated two girls before meeting my mom, and he told me...when I was eighteen years old...that she was only person he ever had sex with. My mom told me a very similar story. I think my parent's relationship was really quite rare to find in this day and age. I really respected and admired them, not just for the people they were today, but for everything they had been through growing up. After I was born, they finished high school, went to college, and started great careers. Despite all of that, they never made me feel like I was a burden...or a mistake. They loved me and they made sure I knew that. Now that I was over twenty years old, I think it was just as much fun for them to have a child as old as I was, especially now that I was an adult and in college. One of the bonuses to having Lane in my life was the fact that I could FINALLY try and mirror their relationship. I always hoped that when I got serious with someone, my relationship with that person would emulate the relationship my parents had.
It took about thirty minutes for my mom and dad to tell me about their vacation, although I was sure I'd be hearing more stories about their trip over the next few days and weeks as they remembered a funny or interesting situation to tell me about.
"So...how was the Christmas Eve party at Lane's house??" My mom asked me after the conversation about the trip finished. "How are Kathy and Mike?? Did you have a good time??"
Did I have a good time?? Um...YES!! I wanted to shout my answer, but I held myself in check. Despite the fact that I was getting more and more used to Lane and what was happening between us, I felt myself start to blush a little when I thought about him. Luckily it was getting dark outside, so neither of my parents could see my physical reaction to that question. I couldn't, however, hide how I felt about Lane from my verbal response.
"The party was great and Lane's parents are well. Dinner on Sunday was nice too. Oh boy!! You should of have seen George. He had so much fun playing with Lane's nephews, Preston and Hunter. I had a really good time." And then...I sighed. I actually SIGHED...out loud...right in front of my parents!! I couldn't stop myself.
Even though the daylight was diminishing, I was still able to see my mom's face through the rearview mirror. She smiled brightly as it dawned on her what my 'sigh' was really about.
"And...how's Lane doing??" She asked in a singsong voice. She wasn't even trying to hold her curiosity in check. She wanted to know if anything had happened between us.
I paused, unsure how to answer her question. I was caught in an interesting situation. Both of my parents knew I was gay, and they also knew that Lane was more than 'just a friend'. Whenever there had been an issue regarding my sexuality that I HAD to talk about, I had always gone to my mom. Truth be told, I wasn't comfortable talking to EITHER of my parents about those issues but, when push came to shove, I chose my mom over my dad. Even though I knew, in my mind at least, that my dad accepted me for who I was, it felt weird to discuss anything to do with my sexuality with him. Obviously, my dad was straight; otherwise, I wouldn't be here right now and that made me wonder just how much he was able to understand about my sexuality. Because my mom was a girl, I felt she could, at the very least, have some sort of understanding what it felt like to be attracted to men, so I guess that's why I always went to her. Unfortunately, neither of them would ever know what it truly felt like to be gay, but there was nothing I could do about that.
After my mom asked me about Lane, I took a quick peak at my dad. He was staring at the road, watching the world pass by. He didn't react negatively to my mom's question, but he didn't react positively either. I decided to downplay my excitement regarding Lane, mostly to spare his feelings in case he was uncomfortable.
"Lane is good." I replied. I was trying to keep all emotion out of my voice, but that lasted about two seconds as I thought back to the Christmas Eve party. "Wait until you see the mountain bike he got for me. It's so cool!!"
"And...um...how are THINGS...between the two of you??" My mom asked, clearly getting a little bit embarrassed. She wanted to know what, if anything, was going on with Lane and me, but she wasn't sure exactly how to ask.
"Oh...well..." I still wasn't sure how to respond, but my problem was almost entirely the result of not knowing what I should or shouldn't say in front of my father.
I glanced over at my dad again and this time I caught him staring at me. Our eyes locked, but only for a brief second because I had to turn my attention back to the road. We might have only locked eyes for a second, but my dad realized instantly what was going on in my head and how I was feeling. I know he's my dad, so I might be biased, but I always thought he was the smartest person I'd ever known.
"Jaden...it's okay if you want to talk about Lane." My dad said. "I know how you're feeling right now, but you don't have to worry about me. You're my son, and you're gay, and...I still love you. I doubt I'll ever be able to completely understand your attraction towards men, but I've accepted your sexuality. I'll admit that it took me awhile, but I'm finally here."
I felt tears start to form in my eyes. What is going on with me lately?? I never used to be this emotional, but lately I'm crying at the drop of a hat. When I analyzed what was happening to me, I could only think of one word to sum up why I was changing so much...Lane. Ever since 'IT' happened, I'd kept an extremely strong concrete wall around my heart. Lane swooped in and demolished that wall. I guess that's why I was able to access my emotions more easily. It felt a bit strange at times because I'd acted like a robot for so many years. I wasn't used to experiencing all of these new emotions. Despite that, I was extremely happy because I believed the person I was transforming into was my true self, the person who would have been here all along if Leon hadn't injured him all of those years ago. Once I got used to being more open, I guessed these awkward feelings would dissipate.
"Dad, I...I don't know what to say. Thank you. Thank you so much. I really needed to hear you say that."
"I'm going to tell you something that you'll probably be able to understand more easily when you become a father but, ultimately, all a parent wants for their child is for him or her to be safe, healthy, and happy. If your child can achieve those things, you feel like you've hit the trifecta at the Kentucky Derby!!"
All three of us were silent for a few moments as my mom and I absorbed my dad's words. My mom reach forward and squeezed my dad's shoulder, a gesture indicating that she also appreciated what he said.
"So...if you want to tell us about Lane, I want you to know that you can tell us anything you want." My dad continued. He paused for a second before adding, "Well...no SPECIFICS, if you know what I mean!!"
"DAD!!" I yelled, shocked by his comment. We all shared a laugh, but I mean...EWWW. I'm not planning on discussing my sex life with my parents...EVER!! "Actually, there have been some developments between me and Lane, if you really want to know."
"I do!! I do!! I want to know!!" My mom exclaimed, suddenly very excited. My dad and I chucked at her.
"Well, even though we've never directly discussed my feelings for Lane, I know both of you aren't stupid. I'm sure that you've figured out that Lane is more than 'just a friend'."
"Go on!! Go on!!" My mom shouted, clearly anticipating some news.
"Without going into TOO much detail..." I said and smiled as I glanced over at my dad, "We...well, we've taken a big step forward. He...um...he kissed me at the Christmas Eve party, right underneath the mistletoe!!" I looked at my dad again to see how he was handling what I just said. He appeared to be fine. In fact, he was smiling!!
"Really?? Oh, Jaden!! Wow!!" My mom shouted. She sounded so happy for me.
"And...we're going on a date on Wednesday night!!"
"A...a date?? Did I hear that correctly??" My mom asked.
"Yep, a real live date. It's only taken me twenty-one years to get my first date. Is that, like, a record or something??" I was being self-deprecating, even though I was speaking to my parents. Obviously, they knew my whole history, but I still felt the need to make a joke at my own expense, mostly to take some of the sting out of how I felt about the fact that I was still a virgin and hadn't dated before.
"Honey, please don't worry about that." My mom said, getting serious. "After everything you've been through, it's completely understandable. You never need to feel embarrassed about that...especially in front of us."
"Absolutely." My dad added in agreement.
"I know, and I appreciate you...both of you...for saying that, but...I can't help myself." I said.
"Does Lane know about...'IT'??" My dad asked me. If a person who didn't know us had heard my dad's question, I doubt they would have understood what he meant, but I knew immediately what he was referring to. If the three of us, or any combination of the three of us, were talking, and if any of us stressed the word 'it' while speaking, that meant we were referring to my ordeal with Leon and the resulting consequences.
"I've shared with Lane most of the details." I replied. "He knows this is my first date."
"Honey, I'm so proud of you!! My mom said. "If I hadn't met Lane yet, all of my doubts and fears about the type of person he was would have just been erased, simply because you felt comfortable enough to tell him about what happened to you. I really liked him after meeting him, but now my estimation of him just shot up one thousand percent!!"
"Hear, hear." My dad said, agreeing with my mom once again. They were always on the same page. I loved that about them.
I let out a mental sigh of relief. My parents were the only solid, real thing I had in my life until recently. If they didn't like Lane...well, I'm not sure what I would do. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about choosing between Lane and my parents. It would be extremely difficult to cut him out of my life now, especially after what happened between us at the Christmas Eve party. In fact, if I was confronted with that decision, I'm not sure I would have chosen my parents, despite our history. That thought made me realize just how important Lane was becoming to me.
"So, do you know where he's taking you on your date??" my mom asked.
Wait a minute!! My mom thinks that LANE ASKED ME out for our date!! I didn't get mad or offended by her assumption, however; in fact, I understood why she would think that. I was shocked myself that I found the courage to ask Lane out.
"Believe it or not, I ASKED HIM!!" I exclaimed. "I'm the one planning out our date."
"OH MY GOD!!" My mom shouted. "Jaden...I'm beside myself, I'm so proud of you. That's great!! Simple outstanding!!"
I knew that my parents had always been worried about me after 'IT' happened, but their enthusiastic reaction to my burgeoning relationship with Lane really drove home just how much they had been concerned about me. Otherwise, they wouldn't be THIS excited that I was moving forward with Lane.
"There's one thing I'm having trouble understanding." My dad asked me.
"What's that??" I asked.
"He...he ACTUALLY said YES??" My dad asked in a very shocked tone of voice. WHAT??
"Of course he said yes!! I replied defensively. I looked over at my dad and...he busted up laughing. DOH!! He got me!!
"Ha, ha. Very funny wise guy. You're a REAL comedian." I said sarcastically. We all shared another laugh.
Something occurred to me as I reflected on this particular conversation my parents and I were having about Lane. When I thought about it, I couldn't remember having this kind of conversation with my parents before. It had been serious and emotional, but also light, breezy, and...funny. By coming into my life, Lane had not only affected me on an individual level but, as I got better, my relationship with the other people in my life was changing...for the better. In order to have a successful relationship with anyone, there has to be an equal amount of give and take. I had definitely taken so much more than I had given to my parents over the last eleven years. My admiration, my respect, and most definitely my LOVE for my parents grew exponentially as I realized how truly hard the last eleven years must have been on them. Despite that, they never, not even one time, made me feel bad about how I reacted to 'IT'. I realized they must have cut me a TON of slack over the years, and it must have been difficult to deal with a child who was as emotionally closed off as I was. This single conversation was all the evidence I needed to prove to me just how different our relationship was becoming. It was changing in a good way...in an awesome way.
My first instinct was to feel bad about how I had acted over the last few years, and I wanted to be angry with myself, but...I refused to let myself feel that way. There was only one person to blame for all of this and, once again, I prayed he was rotting in hell. I don't consider myself to be a mean or vindictive person but, when it came to Leon, I couldn't hold back those feelings. I was taught at church that a godly person loves their enemies, and I really struggled with that concept over the years. As much as I had tried to, I couldn't find a way to forgive Leon. I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to get to that point.
"Have you decided what you're going to do on your date??" My mom asked me.
"Dinner for sure. I made a reservation this afternoon at Jimmy Daddona's."
This morning, after I worked out, I sat down and began brainstorming ideas for my date with Lane. I actually got out pen and paper and started writing down ideas. That might have been a bit too much, but I was nervous!! I wanted to pick a good restaurant, and I wanted to do things that Lane would enjoy. After driving myself crazy for a few hours, I finally realized that I could schedule a trip to the dentist and Lane wouldn't care, just as long as we were together. At least, I hoped that was true!! I made my choices and finalized a plan. I decided to keep the rest of my plans from my mom and dad for the time being. I probably would tell them everything about my date on Thursday but, for now, I didn't want to jinx anything!!
"That's a great choice, kiddo." My dad said. There's that word again...kiddo. My Dad and I needed to have a serious conversation about that word. I knew it was a term of affection, but...I hated it!!
We didn't have time to discuss my date anymore, because we arrived home. George greeted my parents enthusiastically when we entered the house, and the remainder of the evening was quiet. Tuesday was family day, and my parents and I celebrated Christmas together. I invited Lane to come over if he wanted to, but he couldn't because he'd made plans. In the earlier part of the day, he was doing a few things with his parents; later on, he was spending time with Connor and Veronica. I didn't get upset or disappointed that he didn't come over. Actually, not seeing him made my anticipation for our date on Wednesday all the greater.
Tuesday seemed to fly by. My parents and I exchanged gifts in the morning, as we re-created our normal Christmas day traditions. Of course, both my parents and I got a ton of stuff for George. He ended up with a bunch of toys and bones to chew on. Based on his reaction, I'd have to say George was in doggy heaven. The big present my parents got for me was an beautiful black leather jacket. It fit me perfectly, and I decided to wear it on my date with Lane. After we opened gifts, we spent a quiet day together as a family. In the early evening, my mom made a spectacular meal and, after we were done eating, my dad and I cleaned up all of the dishes. My feelings from Monday regarding how my relationship with my parents was changing was confirmed by the interaction between all of us on Tuesday. There was an easiness amongst all three of us that I had never experienced before. This new and unexpected development made me very, very happy.
I thought I would have trouble sleeping on Tuesday night because of my nervousness about my date with Lane. But, I fell asleep almost as soon as my head touched the pillow. My obsessive thinking about the date transferred into my subconscious, and I had a very vivid dream in which Lane and I were on our date. When I woke up Wednesday morning, I didn't remember all of the specific things that had happened in my dream, but the overall feeling was a positive one. Believe it or not, having that dream actually made me feel less nervous, especially as the day wore on.
I worked out on Wednesday just like normal. Sure it was a huge day in my life, and I could have used that as an excuse NOT to work out, but I actually liked to exercise and sticking to my routine helped me maintain my sense of balance. During the afternoon, my dad and I ran to the computer store. He needed to get a few things for work and I needed the distraction, so it worked out perfectly. We didn't get home, however, until 4:30PM, and I started freaking out a little bit. I only had two hours before I needed to leave!! I forced myself to stop and take a deep breath. I had to laugh at myself because...it normally took me only twenty minutes to get dressed, so two hours was more than enough time!!
My mom came up to my room and helped me chose what to wear. I was glad to have her...she definitely had a better fashion sense than I did. We methodically looked at each article of my dressier clothing and, after some debate, I ended up choosing to wear a pair of black dockers and a beautiful olive green, long-sleeved, button down silk shirt my mom had purchased for me last Christmas. I had only worn this particular shirt once since she had gotten it for me. It wasn't even an article of clothing I took to school with me!! I completed my outfit with a pair of black loafers, my gold chain, and my expensive, 'dressy' watch. I didn't have a lot of other jewelry. I wasn't pierced anywhere on my body, and I didn't wear any rings on my fingers.
I took my time while I showered and shaved. At one point during that process, I stopped and remembered that this way my first date, which was very special, and it was with Lane, which made it doubly special. I wanted to make a memory and that included the process of getting ready. I used some gel to style my hair, which was something I normally didn't do, but I wanted a change, so I decided to use it. I thought it made me look good...at least, I hoped it did!! After I was finished in the bathroom, I got dressed in my room. As a final touch, I applied a small, but respectable, amount of Drakkar Noir, my favorite cologne.
When I was finished getting dressed, it was 6:25PM, so I had five minutes before I needed to leave. 'I'm glad I had those two hours' I thought. Before I left my room, I stopped, looked in the mirror above my dresser, and gave myself one of my infamous 'pep talks'.
'Okay, Jaden. Here's what's going to happen. You're are going to go downstairs and let your mom and dad fuss over you as much as they want to. This is your first date and they are almost as excited as you are, so let them have their fun. When they're finished, put on your new leather jacket, grab your wallet and car keys, and leave the house. You're going to get into your car and drive over to Lane's house. Remember to compliment him on how he looks, no matter what he's wearing!! You're going to be nervous, but remember...you're getting to spend time with Lane. Even though this is a formal event, remember that you are comfortable around him. Be yourself. Above everything, make sure you ENJOY yourself. You're supposed to have a good time tonight!!'
I finished my little speech, studied my appearance one more time in the mirror, and headed out of my room. Just like I expected, my parents were excited when I came downstairs...especially my mom. She had the camera out and forced me to take a few pictures. Truth be told, I didn't mind, especially since this was the first opportunity she ever had to do this kind of thing. I didn't go to my prom, or any of the other high school dances for that matter. After she was finished, I put on my new leather jacket and kissed my mom goodbye. My dad walked outside with me.
"Jaden, I want you to take this and use it tonight." He said.
I looked down at this hand and...he was holding an American Express card. I looked up at him, my eyes wide with shock.
"Dad..."
"Take it, use it, and have FUN. Got it?" He commanded. I took the card from him.
"Thank you." I replied. I put the credit card in one of the slots in my wallet.
"Have a good time, kiddo!!" He said, and slapped me on the back. GRRR...kiddo.
"Thanks dad."
I got in my car, started it up, backed out of the driveway, and drove away. My dad didn't turn around and go back into the house until he saw I was safely on my way. The actual drive over to Lane's house went by smoothly...and quickly. I realized when I pulled into Lane's driveway that I had virtually no memory of the entire drive over to his house, probably because I was so preoccupied thinking about the date. I'm glad I didn't get into any accidents!!
It took me three deep breaths before I was able to get out of my car. I told myself to move after the first two breaths, but I was frozen in place. Once I was able to move, I got out of my car and walked slowly up to the front door. SHIT!! I didn't have anything to give Lane, like flowers or candy. Was I supposed to do that?? Do the rules for straight couples also apply to gay guys?? I wasn't sure. There wasn't anything I could do about that now except hope he didn't expect anything from me. I didn't want to start this date on a sour note!!
I took one last deep breath and rang the doorbell. After a few seconds, Kathy opened the door.
"Hi, Jaden!! Please, come in." She said, greeting me.
She moved aside and I entered the house. Once I was safely out of the way, she shut the door. "Lane will be down in a few..." She started to say.
"JADEN!!" Lane shouted from the top of the stairs, interrupting his mother. "I'll be down to two seconds."
"Okay!!" I shouted back. Rather than offending me, it made me feel good to know that Lane wasn't ready yet. Did that mean he was just as nervous as I was?? I hoped so.
"Come into the kitchen with me." Kathy said.
I followed her down the hallway towards the kitchen. My eyes immediately looked for and found the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. I remembered, in almost vivid detail, that first amazing kiss that Lane and I shared. It was exciting to think there was a realistic possibility I was going to get to experience more of those. 'Hopefully for the rest of my life' I thought. Once we were in the kitchen, Kathy and I sat down at the table.
"Are you excited about tonight?? Any nerves??" She asked. Then...she winked at me!!
"A little bit of both, actually." I replied, smiling.
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I told Lane the same thing earlier when he was freaking out."
"MOM!!" Lane screamed in horror. He suddenly appeared in the kitchen. "Why are you telling him that??"
I stifled my laugh the best that I could. I didn't want Lane to feel any more embarrassed than he already was. Despite how Lane felt, I was glad to hear Kathy say that. I needed to know he was just as anxious, excited, and nervous as I was and, as that realization came over me, I could feel my own nervousness leave my body. I liked the fact that we were starting out this date on equal footing.
"Don't worry about it, Lane. I'd be nervous too if I had a date with me!!" I exclaimed. Kathy laughed at my comment. Lane, who was standing behind his mother, gave me 'the finger'. OH MY GOD!! My first middle finger!! YAY!!
"Jaden, you're going to fit in VERY nicely with our family." She told me. It made me feel great to hear Kathy say that.
"Okay, mom. We have to go now!!" Lane said in an annoyed tone of voice. He had a smile on his face, however. "Are you ready, Jaden."
"Yep." All three of us started walking down the hallway towards the front door. Once again, I couldn't stop my eyes from glancing at the mistletoe. I really liked that spot in the hallway. In fact, I think that was my favorite place in the whole house.
"Have a good time tonight, boys." Kathy said when we reached the front door. Lane and I exited the house. We'd made it most of the way to my car when Kathy suddenly shouted to us.
"By the way, Jaden, Lane's curfew is at midnight. Make sure you aren't late!!"
"MOM!!" Lane yelled. This time, I could hear a subtle difference in his voice. He was truly starting to get annoyed. I decided not to laugh and keep my response very short. I was not about to piss Lane off before our date even had a chance to get started.
"Okay, Kathy." I shouted back.
"Bye." Lane said in a tone of voice that clearly indicated he was DONE talking to her.
"Bye boys!! Have a great time!!" Kathy said, ignoring her son. She waved, and then retreated into the house.
I looked at Lane, who was shaking his head in a mixture of humiliation and relief. I studied Lane for a few seconds before we got into the car and I was able to get my first really good look at him. HOLY FUCKING SHIT!! Was this my date?? Am I about to spend an evening with the god?? He was ON FIRE!! I mean, he always looked good, but this was ridiculous. He was the simply the most beautiful creature I ever had the good fortune to lay eyes on. The fact that he took so much care in his appearance tonight spoke huge volumes to me, in terms of how he felt about our date. He was wearing a tight, and I do mean tight, long-sleeved black shirt. It was literally molded to his body. I thought for a second that he could've just gone shirtless and achieved the same effect, but I realized there was something incredibly sexy about being able to see the shape of his muscles without seeing them directly. In my opinion, his shirt made him look all the more enticing. He was also wearing a pair of tan colored jeans, brown shoes, and a leather coat, which was the brown. I also noticed that he'd gotten his hair trimmed, something he must have done since I last saw him on Sunday.
We got in the car and I started it up. I glanced down and I noticed that Lanes coat and shirtsleeve had pulled up. He...he was wearing the watch I had gotten him for Christmas!! Oh, wow!! 'That's so cute of him' I thought, but I didn't comment directly to him, however. It was enough for me to know that he was wearing it. I turned my head so I could look directly at him.
"Lane, you look absolutely SPECTACULAR tonight."
"You're easy on the eyes too." He said, smiling. He paused for a second. "All joking aside, I wanted to ask you something before we leave."
"Sure. What is it??"
"Well, first of all I wanted to tell you that I'm really, really happy we are going out tonight. I wish it could have happened sooner, but I understand why it took this long for you to be ready. Bottom line, I'm really excited. But, I wanted to know how are you doing. Are you feeling okay??"
He was worried about me and he wanted to make sure I was all right!! Gosh...he's so special. In fact, he's absolutely perfect.
"I'm great. I'm a little nervous, but that's understandable. The main thing is I'm glad to be here...with you."
"Me too." We stared at each other for a few seconds. I wanted to lean over and kiss him!! Slow down, Jaden!! You haven't even left the driveway yet!! If I was feeling this way already, what kind of state was I going to be in later on tonight?? I realized, depending on how the night went, that I might end up in a situation in which I was going to need to exert a massive amount of self-control. I decided not to worry about that and, instead, focus on what was going on right now. I put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway.
It took us about twenty minutes to reach the restaurant and we made small talk the entire way there, mostly about what we had done the last few days. Our conversation was very easy and natural, which helped to keep my nervousness from returning. By the time we pulled in the restaurant parking lot, I felt really good.
"Jimmy Daddona's!! Cool!! I love this place!!" Lane exclaimed when he saw what restaurant we were at. "I haven't eaten here in a long time."
WHEW!! I was so happy that he liked this restaurant. Now, I didn't have to worry if he was going to enjoy his dinner. We exited my car and walked up to the entrance. Lane opened the door for me, being the perfect gentleman. Once we were inside, we made our way over to the hostess stand.
"Good evening." The hostess said cheerfully to us.
"Hi." I replied. "I made a reservation for two at 7:30PM. It should be under Jaden Scott." The hostess scanned her list. In those few seconds while I waited for her to find it, I got apprehensive that the reservation wouldn't be there. Another first date faux pas!! I should have called to verify!!
"Here you are." She said. I was instantly relieved. She took her pen and made a check mark on her list, I'm assuming next to my name. "Follow me, please."
We entered the main dining room, which was surprisingly crowded for a Wednesday night during the holidays. We followed the hostess to the back of the dining room. Our table was the last one in the far left corner. The chair I chose to sit in had me facing the main dining room, which meant Lane would be facing the back wall. The sidewall was to my right and Lane's left. There was another table containing two people directly across from us, but it was about ten feet away. I felt like Lane and I could talk openly during dinner and not have to worry if someone was listening to our conversation. We took off our jackets, draped them over the backs of our chairs, and sat down. The menus were already sitting on the table.
"Enjoy your dinner." The hostess said. She left quickly.
"This is really nice." Lane said after we both got settled.
"I agree."
We picked up our menus and started looking through them. After I finished reading about one of the various pasta dishes on the menu, I glanced up and stared at Lane, whose attention was still on the menu. I looked around at my surroundings. Wow!! I'm on a date!! I can't believe it!! I thought back to the second day of school this year, when Lane first tapped me on the shoulder. If you would have told me that four months later, I'd be sitting in a restaurant on a date with him, I'd have laughed at you.
I went back to looking at the menu. I noticed some movement and, when I looked up, I saw a young girl around my age walking up to our table. She had long blond hair, and she was quite attractive.
"Good evening!! My name is Katie and I'll be your waitress this evening." While she was talking, I noticed that she was only looking at me. That struck me as odd. "Can I get you something to drink??" I noticed that she directed that question to me.
"I'll have a Bud Light." Lane replied. She didn't acknowledge him verbally, but she did write down his order.
"And...for you?? She asked me. I wasn't sure, but I thought I heard a certain tone in her voice.
"I think I'll try a Vanilla Pepsi." I said.
"Great choice!! That's one of my favorites!!" She replied excitedly. "I'll be right back to take your order." I noticed she said 'order' and not 'orders'. She was clearly only speaking to me. Hmm...interesting. She left to get our drinks.
"Vanilla Pepsi??" Lane asked me after Katie was gone. "I don't think I've ever seen you drink a pop before. Isn't that against your diet??"
Lane was right; I normally didn't drink pop. But, that was my choice, my lifestyle choice. Even though I wasn't trying to lose weight, I really didn't like the word 'diet'. In my opinion, it was just as dirty as any of those so-called 'four-letter words'. The decisions I made in terms of the foods I chose to eat was simply part of my lifestyle. Using a word like 'diet' to describe how I ate wasn't how I liked to refer to my eating habits. I think that people who did need to lose weight should start approaching their eating habits in much the same way. It's much more palatable to call how you eat a 'lifestyle choice', and it might make it easier to stick with it.
"Tonight is a special occasion." I replied. Lane smiled brightly. I got a little shy and quickly returned to looking at my menu.
"What looks good to you??" Lane asked me a few seconds later.
'YOU!!' I shouted...but only in my head. I knew he meant the menu!!
"I'm thinking about the chicken parmesan and a salad. How about you??"
"Scallops with a side of pasta and a caesar salad." Lane replied.
"Yum, a caesar salad sounds good. I think I'm going to get one too."
Katie the waitress returned with our drinks and set them down.
"Are you ready to order now?? She asked. Once again, she only looked at me.
"Go ahead." I said to Lane.
As Lane placed his order, Katie couldn't have been less interested in what he was saying. He asked a question about the scallops and she answered him snippily. Apparently, she wasn't a fan of Lane!!
"What can I get for you??" She asked me after Lane finished. The tone in her voice was back, and this time I recognized it as a flirtatious tone. I didn't have very much experience with girls, except for Kaylie. I think...I think she was...FLIRTING with me!! Oh no!! I hope she didn't like me!! I'm on a date...with a guy!!
"I'll have the chicken parmesan and a caesar salad." I said.
"Awesome selection!!" She exclaimed. "The chicken is really good. Very tasty." As she said this, she put her hand on my shoulder, which made me very uncomfortable.
I glanced over at Lane and he was smiling. In fact, I realized he was actually trying to stop myself from laughing. I guess he caught on to how Katie was treating me. 'Bastard!! I'm glad he getting so much pleasure out of my discomfort.' I thought sarcastically.
"I'll be right back with your salad. Okay??" she said. She did it again. Salad, not salads. Amazing. I couldn't believe how blatant she was being.
"S...sure." I stuttered. She smiled at me and walked away.
"Well, well, well, I think someone has a crush on you." Lane teased me after Katie was out of earshot.
"Shut up!!" I exclaimed.
"I'd bet she'd go out with you if you asked her." Lane said, continuing to tease me.
My face was beet red. I was SO embarrassed.
"Uh...sure. Whatever." I said.
"I'm SERIOUS, Jaden!!" Lane said.
"Well...I don't know. Why would she want to go out with me??" I asked.
"Jaden, have you taken a good look in the mirror lately?? You're HOT!!" Lane exclaimed.
I still had a hard time accepting compliments like the one Lane was giving me. Despite his comment, some old insecurities suddenly blossomed inside of me. What did the waitress see in me?? For that matter, what was Lane doing here with me?? Doesn't he know that I'm damaged goods?? I wasn't sure what to say, so I sat there, silent and uncomfortable. Lane noticed my mood shift.
"Jaden...I know you're embarrassed, but you shouldn't be. Who cares if the waitress finds you attractive?? Well, guess what?? I understand exactly where she's coming from because...I think you're really attractive too!!"
Despite how I was feeling, I started to laugh. Lane was developing this ability to recognize when I was regressing back to my old way of thinking, and then he was able to set me at ease. He was starting to really understand me and what made me tick. For the umpteenth time in the last four months, I thanked whatever higher force brought him into my life.
I realized that I needed to get my head out of my ass. I didn't want to ruin our date because of my issues. I decided to try and change the subject.
"So...how 'bout them Patriots??" I asked. Lane laughed at me.
"Fine, I'll let you off the hook...for now. But, I still think you're hot!!" Lane said.
I wasn't going to get out of this one, so I decided to play along. If you can't beat them...
"You know what?? You're absolutely right. I am hot!! In fact, I'm on fire!! Lane, don't deny it!! I know that's the real reason you're here with me tonight!!" Lane expression immediately changed and he got a serious look on his face.
"I'm not here because of how you look. You know that, right??"
"I know." I replied. I paused for a second before continuing. "But, just to let you know, I'm only here with you because of how hot you are!!" That made Lane laugh out loud.
I felt back at ease again. Lane always made me feel good, and his ability to do that had intensified lately. I was glad we'd moved past whatever funk we had fallen into during the last few weeks of college. I never thought I would feel this comfortable around someone. It was a great feeling.
Katie returned with our salads a few minutes later. I didn't make eye contact with her or acknowledge her in any way, except with a curt 'thanks' after she put my salad in front of me. I could tell by her body language that she got the picture. She seemed very disappointed by my rejection and left quickly.
Dinner progressed and the conversation between Lane and I was going really well. I never felt pressure to find things to say. We jumped from topic to topic with no problems, and we laughed a lot. It seemed like Lane had a never-ending stream of stories to tell, mostly about the things he did with his family while growing up. His family was so close-knit and, while I was happy for him, I felt a twinge of jealousy pass through me as I thought about my own family. I was even more determined to make my relationship with my parents better. When she brought out our main meals, Katie made an effort to talk to me, but I continued to ignore her. I felt bad about that, but I didn't want to give her any encouragement. Both of our meals were excellent. I gave Lane some of my chicken parmesan to taste, and he gave me a couple of scallops to try. I was extremely satisfied with my choice of restaurant and, from now on, Jimmy Daddona's was going to hold an extra special place in my heart. We ate at a nice, leisurely pace. I felt very relaxed and I think both of us were having a great time. You know what?? I could get used to this dating thing!! Of course, what really made it special was the fact that I was with Lane.
Katie definitely got the message I didn't want anything to do with her. She only came by once during the entire time we were eating dinner to check on us, which was perfectly fine with me. Usually I like a waiter or waitress to pay more attention but, in this case, I was glad she stayed away. I had been a bit nervous at first that other people in the restaurant would realize that Lane and I were on a date, but by the time we finished our meals, I wasn't even thinking about that anymore. My entire focus, in fact my whole universe, was Lane. I couldn't stop looking at him. There were plenty of times I wanted to touch him, or hold his hand, but I stopped myself. While 'society' as a whole was much more accepting of homosexuality these days, I wasn't sure if they were ready for overt displays of public affection between two guys. I know that many gay people didn't like the fact that they had to stop themselves from doing something a straight couple might be able to do with ease, but I wasn't that upset about it. Maybe in the future I would be but, for now, I was content to eat in a restaurant with Lane and not have anyone stare at or bother us. That was enough for me.
"You know, I really wish we could have met each other while we were in high school." Lane said.
His comment was thought provoking. I wasn't sure that I agreed with him.
"Maybe." I replied.
"Maybe?? What...don't you wish we could have known each other back then??" Lane sounded a little hurt.
"I didn't mean it that way, Lane. To be honest with you, I think we met each other at the perfect time, at least for me. I don't know if I would have been ready for you when I was sixteen or seventeen years old." I tried to explained.
"But, maybe THIS, " Lane started pointed back and forth between the two of us, "could have happened a lot sooner." I knew exactly what he meant by 'this'.
"Do you remember what I was like when we first met?? Well, I was a hundred times worse in high school. I know you think it sucks that we only met this year, but I really believe I wouldn't have been capable of...you know...back then." I said.
"Capable of what??" He asked. I noticed he started to smile.
"You know...THIS." I said, repeating the gesture he made a few seconds ago.
"THIS...what??" He was smiling widely now, so I knew he was playing with me. Once again, he wasn't going to let me off the hook.
"Of what's going on between us!!" I said. I was exasperated. "There, happy now??"
"Is...is there something going on between us??" Lane asked innocently.
AARRGGHH!! In frustration, I picked up the last piece of my dinner roll that I hadn't eaten yet and threw it at him. It struck him directly on his chest.
"HEY!! BE CAREFUL!!" Lane said. He brushed off the spot where my roll had hit him, and then he let his hand linger on his chest. He started caressing himself. "This is some prime merchandise!! Don't ruin the goods!!" Oh my god!! What a dork!! But, he's MY dork, which made it okay.
"I guess I understand what you're saying." Lane said, getting serious again. "It still sucks, though."
I appreciated the sentiment, but I still believed we met each other at the perfect time. As much as I wanted to share in his disappointment about when we met, I couldn't. Meeting Lane now ultimately gave me the chance to have this date with him tonight, a chance I most likely would never have gotten if I had met him in high school. I guess we were going to have to agree to disagree.
After we had finished our main meals, a busboy came by and cleared the plates. Um...where's Katie??
"So, do you want any dessert??" Lane asked while wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. I laughed at him.
"What did you have in mind??" I shot back, trying to be equally as suggestive. I think I caught Lane off-guard, which was awesome. I loved surprising him by saying or doing something that he didn't expect. He was a speechless for a few seconds, but he did smile at me.
"Um...um...how about some cheesecake??" He said after he found his voice again.
"Nah, that's okay. I think I have all the 'cheese' I can handle right here!!" I said. Lane laughed at my comment. I loved making him laugh.
"Jaden, I'm having a really good time tonight." He said.
"I am too." As we were staring at each other, Katie suddenly came swooshing by and dropped off of the check. She didn't bother to say anything to us. She just threw the check on the table and left. Lane tried to grab the check, but I was a split second quicker than he was.
"JADEN!! Let me pay the check!! I insist!!" Lane shouted.
"Sorry, hombre, no can do. I asked you out tonight, so I'm going to pay." I said. Lane looked frustrated.
"But..." He started to say, but I interrupted him.
"Besides," I said, lowering my voice, "my dad gave me his credit card!! So, actually, dinner is on him!!" I don't know why I felt the need to lower my voice. It's wasn't like anyone around us was listening to our conversation. Lane busted out laughing. What was so funny??
"Dude, you're not going to believe this, but my dad gave me his credit card too!!" He exclaimed.
"Are you serious??" I asked. Lane nodded his head and continued laughing. This time, I joined him. That was hilarious!!
"Well, since I asked you out, we'll let my dad pay for dinner. Is that cool??" I asked.
"Sounds good to me. I'll let my dad pay next time!!" Lane said and chuckled again.
Next time?? There's going to be a next time!! YAY!!
As soon as I put the credit card out with the check, a completely different waitress came by and grabbed my payment. I guess Katie was finished with us.
"So, what are we going to do next??" Lane asked me. He was still smiling, and he sounded excited. I decided to have a little fun with him.
"Oh...were you expecting to do something else??" I asked as straight-faced as I could. Lane's smile faltered. I could tell he was disappointed, but he was trying his hardest not to show it. He failed miserably.
"No...I mean, um, if you're ready to take me home, that's...that's cool." Lane said. He tried to sound upbeat, but he couldn't pull it off.
"Am I missing something?? I thought our date was to go out to dinner. I know I don't have much experience, but I thought that was all a date was supposed to be." I said as innocently as I could, continuing my ruse.
Lane was struggling to even smile at this point. In fact, the expression on his face was more of a grimace. Suddenly, I felt horrible. He was trying so hard to make sure he didn't say or do anything to upset me or make me feel bad and here I was trying to make a joke. I think I might have crossed the line a little bit.
"Lane...I'm just joshing you!!" I said. I laughed, trying to play this whole thing off as a joke. Lane smiled, but didn't laugh. He just looked really relieved. "Don't worry, I have some other plans for us."
"Cool." He said. He paused for a few seconds before continuing. "I'm really glad. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to you yet."
Gulp!! He has such a way with words. He knew exactly what to say, and when to say it. While I still felt that I deserved to have Lane in my life, I also felt incredibly lucky. This awesome person was here...with me. He wanted to be with me!!
The other waitress returned with my dad's credit card and the receipt. I decided to give Katie a generous tip, despite the lack of service we received from her. I decided that she couldn't help it if she felt an attraction for me. I mean, according to Lane, I'm hot!! As I was putting on my coat, I looked at my watch for the first time all night. It was 10:00PM!! I didn't realize we had spent so long eating dinner. Time had flown by, very pleasurably I might add. As I briefly reviewed the last three-plus hours in my mind, I realized that I hadn't stuttered around Lane at all tonight. I expected that to change after we reached our next destination.
After we were safely in my car and driving, Lane began acting like a little kid.
"Where are we going?? Where, Jaden?? Where??" Lane started asking me.
"It's a surprise!!" I said.
"NO FAIR!! I WANNA KNOW!! TELL ME NOW!! NOW, NOW NOW!!" Lane said. He voice took on the tone of a little boy. In fact, he reminded me exactly of Hunter and Preston.
"Did you learn to act like that from Preston and Hunter, or did they learn from you?? By the way, I suspect the latter." I teased him.
"They definitely learned from the master!!" Lane joked. "Hey!! I'm the baby of my family and, therefore, I've been incredibly spoiled. I've acted this way for years!!" I had to laugh at him. I loved it when he was being goofy like this.
"SHOCKING!!" I replied sarcastically.
Suddenly, Lane reached over and grabbed my right hand. Before I had time to be shocked by this action, my fingers instinctively interlocked with his. I glanced at our hands and then up to Lane's face. If I hadn't been driving, I'd stake my life on the fact that he would have kissed me. Shoot!! I wish I wasn't driving right now!!
We didn't speak for the next few minutes. I concentrated on driving the best I could, since most of my thoughts centered on our hands, and the feeling of Lane rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand in a slow, circular motion. I didn't think it was possible for heaven to be any more perfect than this moment.
"Hey...we're in Hudson Valley!!" Lane commented once he realized we were in my hometown. "Are you taking me back to your parent's house?? Is that where we're going??" The childish tone was back in his voice.
"We're not going directly to my parents house, but someplace close to it." I said. That was the only clue I was willing to give him right now.
I turned onto the street my parent's house was located on. As we passed by my house, I slowed down and pointed it out to Lane.
"So, that's casa de Scott. Very impressive. But, Jaden, do you think it was a good idea to show me where you live?? It's going to make stalking you SO much easier." Lane joked. I loved his sense of humor.
"Well, since you put it that way, I'm rethinking this whole decision." I ribbed him back. He laughed and squeezed my hand. I never wanted to let go.
The street came to a dead-end about twelve hundred feet past my parent's house. There was a car barrier covered with reflectors located there. Beyond the car barrier was a wooded area. A gravel patch surrounded the barrier, and that's where I parked my car.
"Are we here??" Lane asked excitedly.
"Almost. Come on, Laney-boy. It's time to get out of the car!!" I commanded.
"You know what?? When Connor calls me that, I usually beat his face in. Don't think you're going to get any special treatment just because I'm out on a date with you. That was your one freebie. I won't be so nice about it next time!!" Lane said.
"Oh no!! I'm SO scared!!" I said in a fake frightened voice. Lane laughed.
"So...what are we doing here exactly??" Lane asked.
"There's someplace I want to show you." I let go of Lane's hand and got out of the car. Lane followed me. After I locked up the car, I walked over to Lane. "It's just a short walk from here. Are you game??"
"ABSOLUTELY!!" Lane shouted.
"Quiet!! The neighbor's will hear you!!" I scolded him. Lane looked contrite. "Follow me."
"Sir, yes Sir!!" Lane replied and I had to laugh at him.
Lane and I jumped over the car barrier. We started walking single-file down a very narrow path that led directly into the woods. Less than a quarter mile in, the thick trees thinned out and there was a small clearing. In the middle of this clearing was a pond, about forty feet in diameter. On the far left side of the pond, there was a gigantic oak tree. Directly beside the tree, a large, flat rock sat on the ground. It was about two feet high. We were here. This was my secret place...my sacred place. When I was younger, before 'IT' happened, I found this area one day while I was exploring these woods.
Once we were in the clearing, I stopped and Lane walked up and stood by my side.
"We're here." I said.
"It's beautiful!!" Lane exclaimed. An almost full moon was out tonight and, because there wasn't a single cloud in the sky, it was shining brightly, illuminating the whole clearing.
"This is my sanctuary. When I was a teenager, this was where I came to escape from the world...and myself. Whenever I was feeling depressed, or I had a bad day at school, or a particularly gruesome memory of 'IT' was lingering in my mind, I came out here to get away from the rest of the world."
"Jaden...wow!! I'm speechless!!"
I grabbed Lane's hand and I guided him over to the large oak tree. We stood next to the tree and stared out at the pond for a few minutes. Eventually, I turned and faced Lane.
"Earlier, at dinner, you said that you wished you could have met me in high school. Well, look around. This place was a BIG part of my life back then."
"I don't know what to say. I'm honored that you're willing to share this with me." Lane said.
"I...I wanted to. Lane, you've become incredibly important to me. I can't imagine my life without you in it, and I'm having a hard time remembering what life was like before I met you which, by the way, is a very good thing!!" I took a step closer to him. I was extremely nervous, but I had some things to say to him and I was determined to get it all out. "You are so amazing. You're this...this...force of nature and, like a tornado, you came roaring into my life. You obliterated the wall I had around my heart and I was powerless to stop you. The truth is...I didn't want to."
"Jaden..." Lane began.
"Please, let me finish." I interrupted him. He nodded his head, never taking his eyes off of me for one second. "I...I wanted you to know how thankful I am. You have been SO incredibly patient with me, which was exactly what I needed. I don't know if you'll ever truly be able to comprehend just how much that helped me get to where I am now, so I can be standing here with you. The way that I feel about you, well...I never knew I could feel this way about another person. You've taken up residence in my heart and now...I never want you to leave."
"Trust me, I'm not going anywhere, baby!!" Lane said empathically.
I promised myself that I wouldn't cry, but a single tear escaped from my eye and ran down my cheek. Lane reach out and gently wiped it away.
"Lane...I don't know if I'm supposed to say this, especially on our first date, but I can't help myself. I'm...I'm falling IN LOVE with you."
"Really??" Lane asked. I could tell he desperately wanted to believe it was true.
"Absolutely." That was it. I couldn't stand one more second not having his lips on me. I put my hand around the back of his head and I pulled him into me. Lane's lips eagerly sought out my own. Similar to the kiss we shared underneath the mistletoe at the Christmas Eve party, we were both tentative at first. The action heated up fairly quickly, however. My hands were all over the place, either in his hair, or on his neck, or caressing his back, and a few times I even ventured down to his butt. His lips were so soft. Unlike our previous kiss, I was expecting and even anticipating his tongue. When I felt his mouth open, I timidly opened my mouth in return. A powerful jolt of electricity surged through my body when I felt his tongue touch my own. Somehow happened to me in that moment. To put as simply as possible, I let go. I let go of all my insecurities. I let go of my inhibitions and I fully embraced my desire for this man. I became possessed...I couldn't get enough of him. My head was swirling in a jumbled mass of sexual desire for Lane. Nothing else existed but Lane and me. Once Lane realized I was into this kiss as much as he was, he turned up the intensity about one thousand percent. He began kissing me forcefully. He was staking his claim on me, and I was more than willing to help him succeed.
He grabbed my arms and forcefully moved me over to the rock beside the oak tree. He stopped kissing me for a brief second as he pushed me down so I was sitting on the rock. Then, he literally jumped on my lap, and my head fell back until it was resting against the tree. I must have sat on this rock a thousand times in my life, but this was the first time it had ever been this exciting. Lane started kissing me again and our tongues wrestled for dominance. My hands found their way to Lane's back, and I started pulling into me, trying to maximize our closeness. I couldn't get enough of him.
This went on for a few minutes. Luckily, my head cleared for a moment, and I realized that this situation could get out of hand very quickly. As much as I wanted something more to happen between us, I knew that I needed to back off a little bit. I remembered thinking earlier in the evening that I might end up in a situation in which I was going to need to exert a massive amount of self-control. Well, I was in that situation right now and, even though it was really hard, I manage to slow myself down. Lane must have felt me pulling back, and that caused him to ease up. Our kissing continued to settle down until we finally stopped kissing altogether.
WOW!! That, all of it, was absolutely amazing. I was panting, completely out of breath. It felt like I had just run ten miles. Lane was having a similar reaction. He was looking at me with pure, unadulterated lust in his eyes. It was the sexiest thing I had ever seen and, for the first time in my entire life, I started to understand what it felt like to WANT to have sex. This was huge step forward for me in my recovery process. I was relieved too, because during my teenage years, I felt like an asexual being. It was good to know that Leon hadn't destroyed the sexual part of me. I'd heard the phrase 'in the heat of the moment' before, but I never really understood what it meant until right now. As scared as I still to have sex, I felt like if Lane and I kept on kissing like we were, it would lead to us eventually performing some sort of sexual act. My body clearly wanted Lane, but my mind wasn't ready yet. I think Lane realized what I was thinking and forced myself to stop too, further proving to me how much he really cared about me.
Lane rested his forehead on mine, while he regained his breath. Neither of us spoke for a few minutes.
"Wow." I finally said.
"Double wow!!" Lane exclaimed.
We both started laughing. Lane leaned back so he could get a better look at me, but he remained sitting in my lap.
"I've got to ask you something, and I can't wait another second." He said.
"Shoot."
"Jaden...I want to make this official. Will...will you be my boyfriend??" He asked. Despite what had just happened between us, he still seemed slightly nervous. Even though I had suspected this was coming, I still thrilled and filled with an incredible amount of excitement when he asked me.
"Absolutely. One hundred and ten percent...YES!!" I shouted.
"Awesome!!" Lane yelled.
He leaned back in and started kissing me again, but this time we both held back, which was perfectly fine with me. I wasn't sure if I would be able to survive another one of those mind-blowing kisses like the one we just shared.
"For the record, I want you to know that what you said before wasn't too soon. I feel exactly the same way. I'm falling in love with you too, Jaden." He leaned down and hugged me tightly.
It's official. I, Jaden Scott, have a boyfriend!! Lane is my boyfriend. OH MY GOD!! LANE MCNEIL IS MY BOYFRIEND!! And...HE'S FALLING IN LOVE WITH ME!!
I guess the big question now is...when will I be ready to consummate this thing??
TO BE CONTINUED...