Stood Up

Chapter Seven

Kyle put Martin's coffee on the table and then sat down with his own. It was a nice and sunny day, so they opted for a table outside.
Martin took a careful sip of his coffee and then grabbed one of the muffins Kyle had gotten for them.

"So, we haven't seen a lot of each other since you started to date the hot married couple," Martin said between bites.

"Sorry."

"Pff, are you kidding? I'm only dying here to meet these two, but you don't have to apologize for being in a happy relationship."

Kyle smiled. "Two weeks ago we celebrated our four-month anniversary."

"Didn't know that was a thing," Martin said.

Kyle shrugged. "I guess you celebrate whatever you want in your relationship and what is important and this seemed like a milestone to Emily and Noah."

"Not you?" Martin asked.

Kyle's mind flashed back to that night and he fought a blush. It had been a milestone for him too.
"Not in the morning, but it turned into one as the night went on."

"Fucking spill," Martin said.

"I- am trying all kinds of things with them that I never even thought about – okay, I thought about these things – but I never had the guts to ask if my partner would be into it. I don't even know why, they were all really lovely women."

"Except for her who shall not be named," Martin said, nodding.

"Martin. Her name is Patricia."

"No," Martin said. "I am your best friend, and she did a number on you and I can hate her until I die. Anyhow, maybe you only dated a certain kind of women, one that wanted you to be the strong, dependable one. The one who took charge. The one who would care of them."

"Maybe," Kyle said. Things were different with Noah in the mix, because Noah liked both; he liked to take charge and Kyle loved it when Noah did, but Noah yielded as well to Emily and to Kyle. Things were different with them. Maybe because from the beginning Emily and Noah had been honest and open with him. He felt like he could and should be honest and open with them in return.

"So, when am I going to meet them?" Martin asked.

"I don't know. Soon?" Kyle replied. He wanted his best friend and his lovers to meet, and it surely was time, but neither Emily nor Noah had said anything about meeting friends and family. Until now they had been living in their own little bubble. Maybe Kyle had been waiting for them to tell him that this wasn't working after all, but he knew better now. The anniversary had shown him clearly that they were in this for the long haul, and they wanted him to know it. Kyle wanted to be with them for as long as possible.

"Soon would be good," Martin said. "I mean you showed me pictures, but it's really hard to believe they look that good in real life."

"They look better in real life," Kyle said. "Fuck, they are magazine cover worthy, Martin."

"Aren't you a lucky man? I wish your evil ex could see you with them. She would probably fucking explode with jealousy."

"She wasn't evil, Martin."

"She thought she traded up, Kyle. She thought your business was a pointless hobby and your home was never good enough for her. I don't think your friends were high end enough for her either."

"You are high end, Martin," Kyle said.

Martin grinned. "Of course I fucking am." He finished his muffin and eyed the other one. Kyle wasn't really hungry, as he had eaten breakfast already at home before the meeting with Martin. He shoved the paper bag in Martin's direction.