Only one

Homecoming and revelations

Kendall and Logan sat side by side in the first-class cabin of the flight to Texas, their hands casually intertwined between them. The secluded section giving them just enough privacy. Outside the window, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the clouds. It had been a whirlwind few weeks of planning, and now, as they cruised at 30,000 feet, the reality of what they were about to do was sinking in.

"You okay?" Logan asked, his voice soft, almost drowned out by the hum of the plane.

Kendall turned to him, offering a reassuring smile. "Yeah, just thinking. It's been a while since I've been to Texas."

Logan nodded, squeezing Kendall's hand lightly. "I know. It's been too long since I've been back, too. And now... well, this visit is definitely going to be different."

Kendall chuckled, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling up inside him. "That's an understatement. Do you think they'll be surprised?"

Logan smiled, his expression a blend of fondness and determination. "They'll definitely be surprised, but in a good way. They love you, Kendall. And they'll be happy that I'm happy."

Kendall took a deep breath, nodding. He knew Logan was right, but the nerves were still there, fluttering in his chest like a caged bird. He was about to take a step he never thought he'd be taking—coming out to Logan's family, not just as his friend, but as his partner. It was a big deal, and he just hoped everything would go smoothly.

The rest of the flight passed in comfortable silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts. When they landed in Texas, the hot, dry air hit them the moment they stepped off the plane. Kendall breathed it in deeply, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. Texas had always felt like home to Logan, and over the years, it had become a second home to Kendall, too.

As they walked through the airport, heading toward the car rental area, Logan glanced over at Kendall. "You sure you're ready for this?"

Kendall smiled, a little more confidently this time. "Yeah. Let's do it."

The drive to Logan's parents' house was familiar, the scenery flashing by as they made their way through the outskirts of town. The landscape was dotted with fields and clusters of trees, the horizon stretching out endlessly in front of them. It was a peaceful drive, the kind that gave Kendall time to reflect on just how much had changed between them in the past few months.

When they finally pulled up to the familiar two-story house, Logan turned off the engine and they sat in silence for a moment. The front porch light was on, and Kendall could see shadows moving inside—Logan's parents and sister were already there, waiting for them.

Logan took a deep breath, then turned to Kendall with a small smile. "Ready?"

Kendall nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Ready."

They stepped out of the car, grabbing their bags from the trunk before heading up to the front door. Before Logan could even knock, the door flew open, and his sister, Presley, appeared with a wide grin.

"There you two are!" she exclaimed, pulling Logan into a tight hug before turning to Kendall. "It's so good to see you again, Kendall!"

Kendall smiled, returning her hug. "Good to see you too, Presley."

Behind her, Logan's parents appeared, both beaming as they welcomed the boys inside. Hugs and greetings were exchanged all around, and soon they were all gathered in the cozy living room, catching up on everything and nothing. Logan's mom fussed over them, making sure they had everything they needed, while his dad asked about the band's new music and their upcoming European tour.

Dinner was a warm, lively affair, filled with laughter and easy conversation. Kendall felt at ease in the company of Logan's family, the love and familiarity between them a comforting presence. But as the meal went on, Kendall couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anticipation in the pit of his stomach. He knew what was coming, and as much as he tried to relax, the weight of their secret hung in the air.

After dessert, as they all settled back in the living room with coffee and tea, Logan glanced at Kendall, giving him a slight nod. It was time.

Logan cleared his throat, drawing the attention of his family. "So, uh, there's something we wanted to talk to you all about."

His mom's smile faded slightly, replaced with a look of concern. "Is everything okay?"

Logan nodded quickly, reaching for Kendall's hand. "Yeah, everything's great, actually. It's just... we've been keeping something from you, and we think it's time you knew."

Presley raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Okay, you're making this sound really dramatic. What's going on?"

Logan took a deep breath, his grip on Kendall's hand tightening slightly. "Well... the thing is... Kendall and I, we're... together."

For a moment, there was silence, the words hanging in the air as Logan's family processed what he'd just said. Kendall felt his heart race, every second stretching out into what felt like an eternity.

Then, Logan's mom blinked, her eyes flicking between the two of them. "Wait, together as in..."

"Together as in a couple," Logan confirmed, his voice steady, though Kendall could feel the slight tremor in his hand. "We're dating."

Presley was the first to react, her eyes widening in surprise. "Wow, really? I mean, I always thought you guys were close, but... this is amazing!" She jumped up from her seat, wrapping her arms around both of them in a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you two!"

Logan's mom let out a breath she didn't seem to realize she was holding, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Oh, Logan... Kendall... this is wonderful. I'm so happy you found each other."

Kendall felt a wave of relief wash over him as she came over to hug them both. Logan's dad was last, standing up from his chair and walking over with a serious expression on his face. For a moment, Kendall's heart skipped a beat, unsure of how he would react.

But then Logan's dad broke into a warm smile, clapping a hand on Logan's shoulder. "I've always known you boys were close, but this... this is something special. I'm proud of you, son."

Kendall felt his eyes well up with emotion as Logan's dad turned to him, pulling him into a fatherly hug. "Welcome to the family, Kendall. Officially, this time."

Kendall chuckled, feeling a mix of happiness and relief. "Thank you, sir."

As they all sat back down, the atmosphere in the room shifted, the tension from earlier gone, replaced with a sense of warmth and acceptance. The conversation picked up again, this time centered around Kendall and Logan, with Presley bombarding them with questions about how it all happened and what it was like keeping it a secret.

By the time the evening came to an end, Kendall felt lighter than he had in weeks. They had done it—they had shared their secret, and Logan's family had welcomed them with open arms. As they said their goodbyes for the night and headed up to their room, Kendall couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of peace settle over him.

As they got ready for bed, Logan turned to Kendall, his expression soft and full of affection. "You okay?"

Kendall nodded, wrapping his arms around Logan's waist. "Yeah. I'm more than okay. Thank you, Logan... for everything."

Logan smiled, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to Kendall's lips. "No, thank you, Kendall. For being here, and for being you. I love you."

Kendall felt his heart swell with emotion, the words filling him with warmth. "I love you too, Logan."

As they climbed into bed, Kendall felt a sense of contentment he hadn't felt in a long time. They had taken a big step tonight, and they had done it together. Whatever came next, he knew they would face it as a team—just like they always had.