Short Stories

6) Together in Secret

"Sky, it's time we find you a girl," Julius suddenly said.

Skyler looked up confused, "But I'm gay?"

"What?" Julius exclaimed, dropping the pen he was holding.

"I thought you knew that." Skyler looked puzzled. "You guys knew, right?" He looked at the other people sitting around him. Most of them seemed surprised, though a few weren't paying attention.

"How would I know you're gay?" Julius stared at his friend, pen forgotten.

"I have a boyfriend." Skyler stared straight back.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend—can we meet him?" Sasha asked eagerly.

Skyler laughed and wiped his hair from his eyes, "You've met my boyfriend!"

"No we haven't," Julius answered, puzzled.

"You guys know Connor! He's from the book club and he hangs out a lot with us." Moving his hands through his hair, he shifted a little in his seat.

"Connor is your boyfriend?" Sasha asked bewildered, glancing at the others.

"None of you knew that?" Skyler's shoulders lowered, while his cheeks turned red.

"How would we know? You never mentioned him as your boyfriend, or even talk about him a lot."

"Uhhhhhh," Skyler hid behind his hands. He took a deep breath and explained, "We've been dating for a couple months now," the brown haired man trailed off. He took another breath, while moving his hands down to his lap. He continued, "We met the book club six months ago, you know that. I guess I asked him out." He looked up at the group.

"Five months?" Noa suddenly blurted out.

"Yeah?" came the tentive answer.

"I still can't think of you two as boyfriends," Sasha admitted. Skyler started rubbing the back of his neck and stayed silent. "I don't even think I've seen you touch, ever!" Sasha continued.

Julius shared a look with one of the others and said, "Well, I think you guys fit together well."

"Thanks," Skyler said softly.