Reaching Out

Chapter 10: Jason and John Conspire

By Grant Bentley

Jason's Part

I was still feeling tired from all the activity last night, so I headed for the living room and my favourite chair. I was sitting back with my eyes closed, just relaxing, and had almost fallen asleep when suddenly someone was in my lap. My eyes flew open and I was staring into Jason’s smiling face.

I smiled back at him and said, “This is really nice and all, but don’t you think we're both a little old for this?”

“I had to get your attention some way and this seemed like as good a way as any to do it,” he giggled.

“Okay, what’s going on?” I asked. “You’re up to something and I’m probably not going to like it.”

“No, I’m not. I just want to ask you something,” he replied.

“Okay, what?” I asked, knowing full well that I was probably going to regret asking.

“You’re gay, right?” he asked.

“I thought we established that a long time ago,” I replied.

“Yeah, I guess we did. So, what if John’s Dad is gay?” he asked.

“He isn’t,” I responded.

“I didn’t ask you if you thought he was. I asked, ‘what if he is,’” he said.

Then, before I could say anything else, he said, “You really like him, don’t you?”

“It doesn’t matter if I like him or not,” I replied, sounding a little irritated. “He’s straight.”

“Don’t be so sure,” he responded.

“He was married for thirteen years–to a woman, I might add–and they had John. That seems pretty straight to me,” I said.

“Yeah, well, you haven’t noticed the way he looks at you, then,” he stated emphatically.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

He giggled and pinched my cheek, then said, “You know how you look at him, don’t you?”

I immediately turned three shades of red.

“You do, don’t you?” he laughed. “Well, he looks at you the same way,” he stated firmly, “and don’t try and deny it cause he’s straight. Both John and I have seen how he looks at you. John noticed it first and told me to watch him. Sure enough, when he thought no one was watching, he would look at you like John and I look at each other–or like you look at him.”

“We know he likes you a lot and we know you like him a lot,” he said. “So talk to him or something.”

“I can’t do that,” I exclaimed. “He’ll freak out if he thinks I’m interested in him like that.”

“No, he won’t,” Jason argued.

“I think that's just wishful thinking on your part,” I argued back.

“No, it's not. John and I can see it and feel it, even if you can’t. You guys deserve each other. You’ve gotta do or say something,” he almost pleaded.

Just then, the door opened and Ian and John walked in. Jason jumped off my lap and ran to the door. I breathed a sigh of relief. Jason’s ‘attack’ was over–at least for a little while.

The next thing I heard was Jason exclaiming, “Yes! I knew it!” before both boys ran down the hallway to Jason’s room.

John’s Part

As they were driving down the street towards their new home, John looked over at Ian and said, “Dad, I don’t want to move.”

“I know,” Ian replied. “Neither do I.”

John looked at his Dad for a few minutes and smiled.

“You like Chris, don’t you?” he asked.

“Of course,” Ian replied. “He’s a great guy.”

“No, I mean you LIKE Chris, not like Chris,” John stated.

Ian almost drove off the road as he turned to stare at John in amazement.

“Watch the road!” John exclaimed. “I’m not ready to die just yet, okay?”

Ian quickly pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the car. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

“Oh, come on,” John replied. “Jason and I were talking. We’ve seen how you look at Chris when you think no one is watching. And, in case you're interested, we’ve seen how he looks at you, too.”

Ian just sat there for a couple of minutes and then leaned back and brought both hands up to cover his eyes. “Oh God,” he sighed.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” John asked, a huge grin appearing on his face.

Ian sighed again and looked at John. Seeing the huge grin on his face, he asked in amazement, “That doesn’t bother you?”

“Bother me?” John asked. “Are you kidding? Why would it bother me, I think it’s awesome.”

“Really?” Ian asked, stunned.

“Yeah, really. You guys hit it off the instant you met. You enjoy each other’s company. You have lots in common. You’ve both been alone far too long. You both need someone to love who will love you back, just like Jason and I do. And neither one of you is getting any younger, you know,” John managed to rattle off without taking a breath.

“You know what that would mean though?” Ian asked.

“That my ‘Old Man’ is gay?” John asked with a chuckle.

Ian sat totally stunned for about two minutes. Finally he looked into John’s eyes and broke down. He was in John’s arms in an instant. They sat there for at least five minutes before Ian could speak again.

“You knew?” he asked. “How?”

“Well, I am pretty observant. And my gaydar works just fine,” John laughed.

“I guess so,” Ian chuckled. “I can’t believe I gave you hell for not trusting me enough to come out to me and I’ve been doing the same thing.”

“I understand, though,” John responded.“It’s hard enough to come out to your Dad, I can’t imagine how hard it would be to come out to your son.”

“So, are you going to let Chris know how you feel, or do Jason and I have to do that for you too?” John asked with a giggle.

“Don’t you dare!” Ian exclaimed and paused for a few seconds before asking, “So he looks at me too?” he asked.

This caused John to start laughing until there were tears running down his face. When he could finally say something, he said, “He not only looks at you, but a couple of times I think he was almost drooling,” he choked out before he lost it again. Before long he was holding his stomach, complaining that it hurt. Ian hadn’t seen John laugh like that in years and soon found himself laughing along with him.

Finally John got himself under control again and reminded Ian that they should get going. They had told Chris and Jason that they would only be about half an hour, and they had already been gone for nearly an hour.

Ian put the car in gear, looked at John and shook his head before he turned the car around and headed back to the condo.

As they walked in the door, Jason ran over. Looking at John, he simply asked, “Well?”

John just smiled.

“Yes! I knew it!” Jason exclaimed, before dashing off down the hallway to the safety of his room with John right behind him.

Just then, I walked out of the living room and into the kitchen. Ian looked at me and his face went bright red before he had time to turn away.

Chapter 11