He couldn’t look over.San Francisco took third place on Ben’s personal list of worst American cities to drive in, right after Washington, DC and Boston, but he thought maybe Charlie smiled.
“I can’t promise you I have all the answers or any idea how we’re going to do this,” Ben tacked on.“But I can promise that you’re safe to be yourself with me.”
It was a very heartwarming moment.Unfortunately, ten minutes later, Ben pulled into Phil’s driveway and realized he had absolutely no idea how Phil felt about trans people.He didn’t even know how Phil felt about gay people.Professional athletes were not a group known for their inclusivity, so Ben was inclined to be cautious.On the other hand, Ben had kissed him on the mouth two days ago, and he’d said nothing about it since, so Ben was also inclined to be very fucking confused.
A light still shone in the kitchen window, which meant they had to face this moment.Ben debated whether he ought to prepare Charlie somehow, but what would he say?I’m staying with this guy who may or may not be a homophobe.We can leave if he is, but it will take a few days.I am hopeful he might be okay with gay people though—and into me since he did kiss me back when I laid one on him because I had to get him to stop talking about my secret undercover job.Also, I’m unfortunately attracted to everything about him.Ben would be ashamed to post that on an anonymousRedditthread, much less lay it on a child who was now his responsibility.
In the end, he said nothing at all, and led Charlie inside, carrying the suitcase.It was pale pink and had a luggage tag that read, “If found, please return to Charlotte Sutter,” with an address in rural Utah.
Charlie would need something different when he and Ben found a permanent place to stay.Maybe a duffel bag.Charlie seemed like he would be into the aesthetic of something he could carry on his shoulders.
“Hey,” Phil called from the kitchen.“You hungry?I’ve got some cornbread and chili heating in the oven.”
“Is it your meal service shit?”Ben asked without thinking.“Uh, I mean, stuff.”
Charlie, unlacing his boots in the entryway, shot Ben an extremely disdainful look.
“No,” Phil said, coming out of the kitchen.“I promise I used sugar in the cornbread and beef in the chili.”
“All right, then.Uh, this is my nephew, Charlie.Charlie, this is Phil, my…landlord?”
“I’m not your landlord.”Phil held out a hand.“Nice to meet you, Charlie.”
Ben breathed a silent sigh of relief as they shook hands.
“So,” Phil said as they went into the kitchen.He made for the oven, but Ben stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.Phil rolled his eyes, then sat, put his leg up, and let Ben do the serving as Charlie also settled in at the table.“Charlie.Do you like hockey?”
Ben groaned, taking his seat.
“Uh, I don’t think I’ve ever watched it.”
With his spoon sticking out of his mouth, Phil said, “It’s the best game on earth.I’ll take you next time the Sea Lions play.You’ll see.”
“Sea Lions?”Charlie asked doubtfully.“Aren’t they kind of a shitty mascot?”
“I’m gonna tell Frankie you said that.He’ll show you.”
“Frankie’s the guy who wears the Sea Lion suit at home games,” Ben explained.He found Frankie to be palatable in five-minute increments.He imagined he would feel the same way about anyone who chose to wear what amounted to a knockoff furry costume and make themselves ridiculous in front of a crowd of thousands for a living.
To each their own, but the goal horns were bad enough without doing a stupid dance every time he heard one.
Charlie frowned down at his plate, crumbling the cornbread with his fork.“Grandma didn’t say you worked for a hockey team.”
“She doesn’t know.”
“So what do you do?”
“I’m the head coach.”
Charlie squinted at him.“They let people like us do that?”
Ben snuck a look at Phil, but Phil was watching Charlie studiously and didn’t so much as glance in Ben’s direction.“I’m not out at work.”
“I thought after the stuff you wrote it would be hard to hide?”
Ben swallowed heavily.“Your parents let you read that?”
“The school library had internet access.”
