The Second Shot

Chapter Sixteen

"Eacker!" Hamilton called, opening the front door.

Snowflakes littered his curls, and his freckles still took over every inch of his skin. His hair was loose and curling around his head, and his smile was large and genuine. Eacker was glad to see Hamilton hadn't changed in the week that he'd been gone.

Hamilton stepped forward and wrapped Eacker up in a hug. Hamilton was smaller than Eacker, and had to stand on the tips of his toes to put his arms around Eacker's neck.

"How was Virginia?" Hamilton asked, letting go too soon, in Eacker's opinion.

"The same as every winter." Eacker said, going back to making breakfast "Cold, but not as cold as here, and racist, sexist, and homophobic."

"It sounds horrible." Hamilton said, placing his cloak on one of the hooks by the door.

"It is." Eacker replied.

"Well, while you were gone, Price found some guy that I think works with you, and is now trying to get in his pants." Hamilton said, leaning against the counter.

"What's they guy's name?" Eacker asked.

"David Jones, I think."

"Oh no, not David." Eacker said "His poor soul."

"What's wrong?" Hamilton asked.

"Jones is a nice guy, but he's not quite- how do I say this- the best prepared for someone like Price."

Hamilton cocked his head to the side.

"He's a sweet and quiet guy. He probably wants to settle down with a nice and calm girl and have a few kids. Price is kind of the opposite of that." Eacker said.

Hamilton shrugged and the room was quiet for a bit.

"Wait, Price is gay?" Eacker asked.

Hamilton shook his head. "No, he's pansexual, but he tends to go after guys more than girls or anyone in the non-binary or genderfluid spectrum, or anything."

"Oh." Eacker said. If Hamilton was fine with Price being pansexual, then would he be fine with Eacker being gay? Probably not- what straight guy would be pleased to find out the shared a bed with a gay guy more than once?

"Well how have- oh my, that is a child." Hamilton said, interrupting himself.

Eacker turned to see Maria coming down the stairs. "That's my little sister, she snuck onto the train with me."

Hamilton scooped her up in his arms, and Maria let him, probably because he was warm.

"She's so small!" Hamilton cooed. Maria rested her head on his shoulder.

"She was born a month earlier than she was supposed to be due. She's a bit small for seven years." Eacker said, walking over and placing a plate of toast on the table. Maria took a slice and nibbled at it.

As Eacker stood at the stove, cooking the eggs, he looked over his shoulder at Hamilton and Maria. For a second he could pretend that Hamilton and him were married, and Maria was their daughter, but he shoved the thought away. He was happy the way things were now. Besides, Hamilton was probably straight, so he and Eacker getting married was incredibly unlikely.