When class is over they all clap and some of them even whistle. It’s cute. A few stick around for the free swim but most head out. Jane and Leslie invite me to grab smoothies with them at the juice bar around the corner, but I politely decline and promise them next time.
As I grab my towel off the hook and wrap it around my waist, Chase walks over. “I’m beginning to think you don’t do this for their benefit but to boost your own ego.”
He laughs and flashes me a sheepish grin. “It’s a perk. So was having you show up.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d be cool with it, but I just really wanted to see you,” I confess, and he leans his shoulder against the tile wall beside me.
“I really wish our lives weren’t so busy this week,” Chase whispers. “I’ve wanted nothing more than to see you every single night this week.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Wanna do something now?” Chase asks. “I usually swim a few laps, but I’ll skip it if you want to hang out. I’m sure I can find a way to get my cardio another way.”
My dick hears that and twitches in my trunks. I groan. “I had a hard time slipping away at all this morning. We have a whole crap ton of farm work to do today. We’re starting the seeding for the crops.”
“Argh,” Chase let’s out a strangled sound. “When can I see you again?”
“Tomorrow night? I’ll be tired and sore but you could swing by and we could chill in the room over the garage. Play with the guitars.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “Make a little music up there.”
Chase lowers his voice. “That sounds like such a fabulous idea I can forgive the ridiculous pun.”
“Aren’t you two adorable.”
The light drops out of Chase’s face like a fuse has blown behind his eyes. His smile disappears. He turns to see Johanna standing there, wrapped in a towel with her floral bathing cap. Myrtle is beside her smiling brightly. Chase blinks. “What?”
He’s panicking. Never mind that his tone is suddenly curt and his voice abnormally deep, I can feel the panic radiating off him. “You two. You’re so cute the way you smile at each other. You remind me of my grandson and his boyfriend.”
“We’re just friends, Johanna,” Chase says, his voice firm like he’s reprimanding her. “He’s in my band.”
Myrtle swats at her friend. “Of course, Jo, don’t you remember? We saw Chase in the paper with that Miss Baldwin who is running for mayor.”
Johanna pinches her eyebrows as she thinks about it. “Oh dear. Right. I remember now.”
I wait for Chase to correct them. I know he won’t say I’m his boyfriend, but he could explain to them he’s not dating Lacey. But he doesn’t explain anything. He just keeps blinking and frowning. Now Johanna’s cheeks get red. “I didn’t mean to offend. I just… I made a mistake.”
“I’m not offended,” I pipe up and give her a gentle smile. “I’m gay.”
“I’m not,” Chase says before I can even close my mouth after speaking.
Myrtle and Johanna both nod and then Myrtle leans towards me. “Well, if you’re single, my nephew is gay, and probably near your age.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, ma’am.”
She smiles and walks out of the pool area pulling Johanna with her. Neither look at Chase again. He frowns. “Is she mad at me?”
“Yeah. Maybe,” I admit, and he looks crushed. “You get so adamant it sounds kind of homophobic.”
He looks wounded now, like I’ve just hurt his feelings. I feel guilty, but I have to speak the truth. I didn’t with Trevor. I swallowed too much down and it made things worse. He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to sound like my brother or any other asshole like that. I just… I panic.”
“I know.” I pause and try not to say anything more, but I can’t help myself. “And you let them say you were dating Lacey.”
“They didn’t say I was dating her,” Chase replies, his voice firm but flat. I stare at him. He blinks again. “They just said they saw me with her. Don’t you think it would have been worse if I corrected an assumption they didn’t actually say out loud?”
“What a very political answer,” I snap and he looks even more wounded than before. Maybe I’m being harsh but this is all too familiar in the worst way. Trevor used to use these tactics too, avoiding responsibility by splitting hairs and confusing the issue.
“I’m sorry.”
“You said that.”
