I Love You, Kevin Hends

Chapter Twenty-four

 

Kevin's house is just as I remember it. Warm and inviting. His mom is waiting at the door when I pull up in Kevin's car. "Honey. Are you ok?" Carly Hends asks her son. Kevin is leaning against me. "I'm fine. I really am." He says in a tearful voice. "Do you want to tell us what happened today?" Kevin's father asks. Kevin nods and we walk in and sit in his living room where we had been not too long ago. This time the mood is completely different.

Kevin tells his parents about what happened outside the school with Addison Stone's psycho sister. Kevin's parents were on the edge of their seats as Kevin tells them about the gun, and Kolt, and Logan. The gasped when Kevin told them how Kolt and I were key players in taking down Miranda. "That is horrible." Kevin's mother says. "You were so brave, Oliver." Kevin's father says. I blush. 'Not a great time, Oliver.' My brain says. "It really wasn't that much. I just did what I had to." I say quietly. "You saved Kolt and Logan." Mr. Hends says. Mrs. Hends stands up and walks over to me. She kisses me on the forehead before sitting back down next to her husband. "I think that it would be beneficial to Kevin if you do stay tonight." Kevin's mother says softly. Kevin's father mutters in agreement and nods his head. "Thank you so much." Kevin says to his parents. Kevin and I go upstairs to get ready for dinner.

During dinner, Kevin's parents try to talk to Kevin normally and in a way that won't offend him or make him upset. It works I think. Kevin seems to be a little more cheerful than when we got here.

"Kevin? You doing good?" I ask Kevin as we walk up to his room. He nods. "Been better. Doing ok though." He responds softly. He takes a deep breath.

I open his door when we reach his room. I pull out my laptop and open video call. I call May and Anthony. May picks up pretty quickly but Anthony takes a moment to. "Hey." I say when both of my best friends are on. "How are you doing, Kevin?" May asks Kevin right away. Kevin is leaning back on a pillow while I am sitting closer to the laptop. "Doing ok." Kevin says in a voice that approaches his normal voice. "Glad to hear." Anthony says. Kevin gives a thumbs up. "Kevin? Are you being sarcastic?" May asks. "A little." Kevin admits. "It has been a hard day." I say. Kevin mutters in agreement. Anthony and May hesitate. "We just want to make sure you are doing ok. We are worried about you, Kevin." May says. "You don't need to worry about me." Kevin says. His voice is calm and reassuring. "We are your friends. It is our fucking job to worry." May says. She gives a half smile. "You doing good, Oliver?" May turns her attention to me. I nod. "I'm doing pretty good, all things considered." I say with a forced smile. "Oliver. I know your forced smilie. Tell me what's wrong." May says sharply. I groan and tell her that Kevin's family has been so welcoming and it just is so nice. "Then what's the problem?" Anthony asks. "I'm just worried about what happened today. I'm worried about my boyfriend. I know you said not to worry, Kevin, but it is priority number one for a boyfriend to worry." I turn to Kevin saying this. "That means so much, Oliver. Thank you" Kevin leans off the pillow and leans forward to kiss me on the cheek. I turn my head at the last second so the kiss lands on my lips instead. Kevin chuckles. "I was hoping you would do that." He says. "We're still here." May says.

We talk for another half hour before we end our call. Kevin and I strip and put on our pajamas and get into his bed to go to sleep for the night.

It takes a while for me to fall asleep in the silence but once I hear Kevin's breathing turn soft and I know that he is asleep that I can finally fall asleep myself. "I love you." I whisper in the dark.