Growing Together

Chapter 39

He had somehow managed to reverse the car—illegally—into the parking lot and parked somewhat decently. Reason had long since left his mind as he had rushed out of the car with Kao's phone tightly held in his hand. His mind was running a mile a minute over the 'what ifs'. What reason would Kao have to lie to him?

He knew he had a history of jumping into conclusions, but at the same time he feared losing Kao more. It was irrational, he knew that, Kao only had eyes for him but that didn't mean other's knew how to keep their eyes and hands away from Kao.

'𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘒𝘢𝘰, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵.' 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦, '𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦.'

His brows had knitted further together in anger at the scenarios running through his head, that he had not been paying attention to anyone walking past him down the steps until he heard someone call his name. He hadn't registered it the first time until the second time. When he had turned around he had noticed Pick half way down the steps on the other side of the railing from him.

"What are you doing here?" Pick had asked.

"Pick?" Pete had said just as confused as the man seemed to look. He hadn't seen him since the graduation a couple months ago. They had become friends thanks to Forth, but Pete hadn't tried to keep in contact with many of their friends since In was born. "What are you doing here?" He said climbing down the steps towards him.

"That was my question," Pick said as he rubbed the back of his neck as he said, "I was dropping someone of. What about you? I can't imagine you are just passing by, don't you live on the other side of town?"

"I do..." Pete said as anger was quickly being replaced with uncertainty. True, he did live on the other side of the city, but Kao's mom was closer to this side. That's why Kao had picked this location for his class. But that wasn't what had him suddenly getting a little weird. Pick had always had a very vocal opinion about gays, that it made Pete a little unsure how to even answer the guy. He was very defensive when it came to Kao and In and if the guy said anything he knew himself well to know that he wouldn't be able to keep the conversation civil. And that alone was pissing him off once again.

"You good?" Pick had asked raising a brow at the man. "You looked pi-..."

"Oh, papii you're still here!" A sweet voice had suddenly cut Pick's words short making them both turn towards the boy that was rushing down the steps towards them.

The cute short boy with plump lips had rushed over to Pick and without a care or hesitation had just patted Pick's front pockets before they quickly made their way to his back pockets, and pushing into the one on the left when he found what he had been looking for.

"Hey!" Pick had let out angrily as he pulled the boy's hand out of his pocket. There was a slight dust of pink on Pick's cheeks as he said "What the hell are you doing?!"

"I forgot my wallet, lend me some money," Rome—the short boy—had said to Pick as he held his hands out towards him giving him a cute little pout.

"I told you to pack it before we left," Pick said sounding annoyed, yet he was still pulling his wallet out of his back pocket and handing it over to the shorter boy without hesitation.

"Thank you, papii!" Rome had let out as he enthusiastically wrapped his arms around Pick's neck and pulled him down for a quick peck.

For some reason, the whole interaction had made Pete feel panicky in a different way. There was no denying that this short kid was more than just a friend to Pick, and he could some what see that Pick was uncomfortable having him know that because he had pushed the shorter boy away and whipped his lips. A part of him could understand Pick.

"Papii..." The boy sounded a little hurt and confused.

"I should get going..." Pete said motioning towards the building behind him. He didn't want to make things more awkward for Pick by staying here to witness anymore of their relationship. Who was he to worry about Pick when he had his own worries and reasons to be here? He had just turned to leave when the sounds of a baby crying had reached his ears. Kao was walking back out of the building with In in one arm and another crying infant in the other.

"Kao, who's-..."Pete said in a loss for words.

"Pete? What are you still doing here?" Kao had beat him to it. He looked confused to see him but when Rome had rushed up the steps passing him Kao had quickly turning his attention towards his new friend. "I'm sorry, Rome, he started to cry uncontrollably. I didn't know what else to do but come find you," Kao said with an apologetic frown as he tried to adjust the baby in his arms.

"It's okay, Arthit is very clingy with his mama and papa," The short boy had only taken the crying child from Kao's arms and had cuddled him close to his chest as he sooth the small infant in his arms with a, "It's okay Aioon, mommy is right here." His hand had gently patted the baby's back, which seemed to calm the baby a little bit more with each pat.

The whole interaction had Pete confused, but he didn't seemed to be the only one who was confused on what was unfolding before them. Especially when In had started to gurgle out 'Da-da' towards Pete until he was being handed off to Pete.

Pick had raised his hand up to scratch at the back of his neck as if the action helped sort the confusion before he was saying, "Hold on, Pete...is Kao you're husband?" Pick asked trying to settle the situation for both of them.

"No," Pete had said, which had Kao frowning for a second at the answer, "We're engaged, so not yet." Pete said sounding shy for some reason.

"So, this is your kid?" Pick had said motioning towards In.

"Yeah, this is our son, In," Pete said finally regaining that prideful smile of his at the mention of his son. He had adjusted In a little in his arms so that he could show him off to his friend. Which, In had only all too happily clapped his hands together and giggled, showing off his little teeth peeking out from his gums. When In started teething, Kao had stopped breast feeding. One bite is all it took for Kao opting to pumping instead.

"Please be careful," Kao had said worriedly when Pete had switched In to one arm. It made him worried that Pete was standing on the stairwell and only holding their son with one arm.

"He's fine, Kao. He likes it, see," Pete had argued back as he looked down at their son.

"I guess our friend group is a piece of work," Pick said with a small chuckle as he wrapped his arm around the shorter boy's waist a bit more confidently now. Out of the group, Pete and himself seemed to have always leaned towards girls the most. So it was ironic that they were both in similar situations despite their past hypocrisy. "This is Rome, my wife, and our son Arthit," Pick said formally introducing his spouse and child.

Rome, had only given Pete a smile before he was looking towards Kao with a similar playful smile, "I guess now I know why you never wanted your fiancé to come pick you up before."

𝘖𝘩, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵? Pete had perked up at those words and turned towards Kao with a questioning look but Kao had turned away from him. He supposed he would have to ask him later, for now, "You forgot your phone in the car."

Now that had Kao turning towards him, "Oh? I hadn't realized I left it," Kao said turning towards Pete. A light dust of pink was over his cheeks as he tried to act normal after getting caught. He had always said he didn't need to pick him up and used the excuse that he would go visit his mom after, but the reality was that everyone lingered outside to talk for a bit while they waited on their ride. When Pick had picked up Rome the first time, Kao was left to hear the embarrassingly thirsty comments about the man. Most of the mothers there were married or dating, but that didn't stop them from talking about the attractiveness of the other members spouses. The little green monster in him didn't want them to ever meet Pete since then. He didn't like the idea of them ogling his fiancé anymore than Pete liked other men doing it to him. So, he had always told Pete that he would make the short cab ride to his moms house.

"Have you really been going to class?" Pete had asked in a low whisper as he stepped closer to Kao. He couldn't help but have that little itch of doubt return.

"I was," Kao said looking guilty, "I just wasn't going to my mom's house all the time. Sometimes, I would go to Rome's house for a play date," He said with a sheepish look. He didn't have to say it, it was clear he and Rome had become close friends over the past few months. They both had similar situations with Kao and Pick and that had bonded them, but he didn't want to tell Pete that.

"You could have told me, I thought you were cheating," Pete said with a small sigh as he grabbed hold of one of Kao's hands and brought it up to his lips to press a kiss to his knuckles.

"I wouldn't cheat on you Pete," Kao said with a frown, "Why would you think that?"

"Because I saw the message on your phone," Pete admitted, which had Kao looking down at it to see Rome's message popped up on his notifications.

Kao couldn't help but let the frown settle into a gentle smile, "You always jump to conclusions, Pete," Kao said pressing a kiss to his cheek, "I love you, and I'm not going to jeopardize our relationship for a fling, not when it took us so long to be here like this."

The little sweet moment had been broken when Rome's voice had yelled out "Papii!" In a scolding manner. They had completely forgotten about their friends in midst of it all. Rome seemed to have been mad and red over whatever Pick had done or said to him, while Pick had a complete smug look on his face. "We're leaving!" Rome had huffed and moved closer to them to grab Kao's wrist.

"Ah, Rome and I are going to have lunch together. So, I will be home later than usual," Kao said quickly before he was taking In back in his arms and placing another kiss to Pete's lips, "Please, find something to eat and don't get buried in work."

"I won't," Pete promised as he watched Kao follow behind Rome back up the steps and back into the building.