“No?”
“No. I think we’re going to have a difficult time topping this one.”
Hugo finally smiles. “I have some ideas.”
“So you said. Are you going to let me take you out sometime?”
He nods. “You can if you want to. We can take turns. Or just… whoever has an idea. But just so you know, I also love to stay home with you. Tonight is just because I want to take you somewhere you could enjoy yourself without having the added stress of too many people around.”
“You’re the best, Hugo. You know that?”
Hugo smiles. “I’m not, but thanks. I’m really happy you think so.”
I don’t just think so. I’m confident it’s a scientific fact at this point. I’m not sure how science can prove it, but I bet it can.
We lay on the blanket, our heads on blow-up pillows as the sun goes down and a plane takes off every so often. I’m sure there’s a specific interval between take-offs I could probably find if I wanted to take the time to look. But all that matters is being with this man.
“Are you my boyfriend?” Hugo suddenly asks.
My breath catches and my stomach twists. Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten so much. “Do you want me to be?”
He shifts so he can look at me. “Yes. Is that okay?”
Ugh, this man! “Yes.”
His smile is radiant as he leans in to kiss me. “Good.”
I can’t wipe the smile off my face as he lays back down and pulls me close. I nearly jump out of my skin when another plane flies overhead; even though I’m expecting it.
“Where do you think that one’s going?” Hugo asks.
I shift a little to look at it. It’s a domestic plane and relatively small, so it must be somewhere close. “Seattle,” I decide. “Or maybe Denver.”
He hums. “Where do you want to go?”
Sighing, I shrug. “Anywhere. I’ve never been out of California except on a few trips with the team.”
Hugo nods. “I’ve been a lot of places, but I rarely see anything. A day here and there isn’t long toseea place, you know?”
I nod again.
“Oh!” He lifts himself onto his elbow again to look down at me. “Did you know there’s a gay island resort?”
Grinning, I nod. “You mean Kala?”
“Yes! You haven’t been there, have you?”
“No.”
“My friends go every summer.” He pauses. “Actually, Noah goes every summer. It’s a stop on his gay athlete trip. I guess not all gays, go there but it’s a gay place. Like… no bachelorette parties and stuff.”
I laugh. “You know why girls go to gay clubs, don’t you?”
Hugo shakes his head.
“Because there’s almost no chance they’re going to be hit on. No one will grope them or harass them or drug them. There’s a very small chance of sexual assault or harassment. They feel safe there.”
His eyebrows knit together. “That’s awful.”
