“Hunter if you don’t finish hanging that banner I am going to drop-kick you into a cow pile,” I called from the kitchen.

It was a month after our picnic date and we were getting things set up for Hazel and Robin’s gender reveal party. I had finally gotten everything done, made the cake, ordered supplies, and Hunter had gotten me the yarn I needed to make the blankets. I was planning to give them the blankets at their baby shower, so now, instead of watching documentaries every night, I knitted as Hunter sat next to me reading.

During this month I also started working in the library twice a week, currently alongside Allison, who I realized was a wonderfully funny woman, if not a bit of a worrier. Hunter would take me every morning along with breakfast he had made and I would always find lunch in the bottom of a special tote bag he had gotten me that was covered in tiny bees. When he picked me up, we’d spend the entire drive home talking and I’d make us dinner before we retired to the couch for our normal routine of reading and knitting. Hazel was known to call this “old people flirting” as we were both only in our early twenties and wanted nothing more than to be home, something she mercilessly teased us over.

“I’m already done,” Hunter called from the backyard, “you’re so impatient.”

“Everything has to be nice,” huffing, I walked over to the backdoor and was suddenly pulled into Hunter’s arms.

“It is nice,” he pinched my chin and kissed me softly, “because you made it.”

“So cheesy,” rolling my eyes, I did my best to hide my smile as I laid my hands on his chest, “One month until we go to North Dakota. And! Your birthday is in a week.”

“I told ya I don’t care about my birthday.”

“Well, I care about your birthday. I’m stealing you this year,” I played with the top button of his shirt and Hunter smiled, “we aren’t going anywhere fancy, but it’s just going to be me and you. A private birthday party for two.”

“Wow, that sounds dirty!” Hazel yelled from the front door and I immediately stepped away from Hunter, my entire face red.

“Goddammit, Zee,” Hunter cleared his throat, “it ain’t like that. I mean it is but…”

“It’s fine it’s fine,” Hazel laughed, walking into the house with Robin, “it’s sweet.”

“Whatever,” I grumbled, heading into the backyard, “Hunter?”

“What?” he followed after me, looking around, “I did exactly as ya said, Gray.”

“I know I was going to tell you that you did a wonderful job. You’re so grumpy today,” I smiled, taking his hand, “what’s going on?”

He bent down and softly whispered in my ear, “I hate havin’ this many people in our house.”

“I know,” I whispered back, “but it’s only for three hours. What can I do to make it better tonight?”

“Stargaze? We ain’t done it in a while.”

“That sounds wonderful. Absolutely. With buttered rum.”

“With buttered rum,” he repeated, laughing softly as he kissed the top of my head.

“Hunter? You… oh,” a strange voice called from behind us and Hunter froze, his grip on my arm increasing to the point that it hurt.

“Ow,” I hissed, “let go a little.”

“Oh shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?” Hunter rubbed my arm, panic but anger behind his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered.

“That voice can only belong to one person and I ain’t wanna see him. He must’ve come with Mrs. Grady. Can… can you…”

“I can ask that he leave if you want.”

“Please,” Hunter once again kissed the side of my head before going across the yard to sit with his parents, both of them staring at the stranger behind me.

Taking a small breath, I spun around, a welcoming smile on my face, “Mrs. Grady!” I kissed her cheek softly, “I am so happy you could make it.”

“You seem to be doing a lot better dear,” she softly patted my cheek and I nodded, “this is my grandson Dakota.”

“Yes. I’m aware,” I clenched my jaw to keep from snapping.

Dakota Grady was a bit taller than me, his entire body lean. He had the same dark hair as Mrs. Grady with deep brown eyes and when he smiled you could see he was missing his incisor and canine teeth on the left side.

From when Hunter knocked them out.

“It’s nice to meet you,” he held his hand out and even though it felt wrong of me, I shook it.

“Grayson Walker. Look, I don’t mean to be rude but… Hunter is uncomfortable with your presence here and I want to ask that you leave. I can bring Mrs. Grady home when this is over.”

“That won’t work,” Dakota shook his head, “I’m here to take her to my home. She can’t keep living alone. It’s not good for her health. But she refused to leave until she came to this party so…”

“I…” chewing my lip, I looked back at Hunter and I could tell that he was fighting with himself. Slowly, he made his way over and laid his hand on my shoulder, “Hi.”

“Hi. You… you can stay. For Mrs. Grady. But that’s it. Don’t… talk to me,” Hunter kept his gaze on the ground and I covered his hand, squeezing softly.

“I was going to apologize for how I treated you near on 10 years ago now but I see you’re still incapable of having mature conversations,” Dakota rolled his eyes and I shoved him as hard as I could in the chest.

“You are so fucking rude. You hurt Hunter, caused him to be so closed off from everything that he had to wait for 8 years for me to show up and show him that he is wonderful the way he is. He never felt shame until you.”

“Keep your hands off me, you… you little…” Dakota took a step toward me again and I did the same, glaring at him.

“You don’t scare me,” I hissed.

Hunter suddenly picked me up by the waist, carrying me to a chair and setting me down roughly, “stop it. Please. You’re makin’ a scene.”

“I wasn’t going to sit here and let him insult you, Hunter!”

“I don’t care. Let him say what he wants.”

“But I do!”

“I know,” he kissed my forehead and I shoved him hard, “Grayson?”

“Just go.”

“Gray…”

“Stop it,” I whispered, staring at the table, “just… start the party. He can stay. I’ll be inside.”

“Don’t… go,” Hunter tried to grab my arm as I got out of my seat and I shook him off, heading into the house.

As soon as I was in my bedroom I slammed the door and turned the television on. I was now thoroughly uninterested in spending time with a large group of people, wanting to be alone. Needing to calm.

I was just trying to defend you.

Why the fuck can’t you do that for yourself?

There’s a difference between being gentle and being a pushover.

The party continued without me, the sound of voices carrying through my bedroom window and I sighed, angry with both myself and Dakota.

He didn’t need to come to the party.

He just wanted to see Hunter.

But why?

Oh.

Maybe…

Maybe he wants him now.

That’s probably why he got so mad all those years ago.

He couldn’t accept his own sexuality.

Fighting with my own thoughts continued for hours as I lay in bed, doing my best to drown out the sound, guilt deep in my chest. The bedroom door opened and Robin suddenly came in, grabbing me from my spot by the front of my shirt.

“Jesus fucking Christ what the hell!” I gasped, panic filling me.

“Fix Hunter. He has sat in the corner the entire time, angrily ripping up napkins and running his hand through his hair to the point I’m pretty sure he’s about to rip all of it out. I don’t blame you, but you’re both so fucking stubborn. He needs you, Gray. Not any of us. Trust me, we fucking tried.”

“Okay okay just let me go!”

“Are you going to fix it?”

“I promise!”

“Good,” she smiled, letting go of me, “the only people here are me and Zee. Everyone else left. We’re going to get the leftovers together and stuff. Also, thank you. For everything. It was beautiful,” she walked to the door before looking at me again, “I just wish you had been there to see it, Uncle Grayson.”

A tear rolled down my cheek due to my guilt of missing out and I followed her from the room, hanging my head. Once I was on the back deck I scanned the yard where I found Hunter leaning against the gate at the far left corner, watching the cows.

I slowly made my way to him and came to stop on his right side, leaning my forearms on the railing as well, “hi.”

“Hi.”

“Do you want to talk?”

“Not really.”

“Wanna take a walk with me?”

“No.”

“Okay.”

We stood there in silence for a few more moments before Hunter reached over and took my hand, dragging me in the direction of the pond. I had to jog a bit to match his pace and when he realized I was struggling to keep up, he slowed enough that we were able to walk side by side, his grip on my hand never relaxing. The gazebo came into view and Hunter suddenly stopped, pulling me close to him, his lips finding mine in a desperate kiss that left me panting.

“Jesus,” I whispered, my eyes closed, “what the hell?”

“I’m mad at you,” he whispered back before kissing me again, “you abandoned me at the party,” he leaned down just enough so that he could pick me up, my legs now tight around his waist, “you left me there with someone I can’t stand. I’m… fuck Gray why’d ya do that?”

“I was angry,” I sighed wrapping my arms around his neck as he carried me to the railing of the gazebo, setting me on it but never removing the grip he had on me, “I didn’t want to make the party any more awkward than I had.”

“But it wasn’t about Dakota. It was about Zee and Robin. We coulda ignored him the entire time. He sat in a corner on his phone. He ain’t wanna be there either. I needed you.”

“Then why didn’t you come in the room and get me? Why did Robin?”

“I don’t know,” he sighed, “I just…”

“Hunter,” I rubbed his cheek softly, “did seeing Dakota bring back those memories?”

“Yeah. A bit.”

“Did you think me hiding in the room was rejecting you as he had?”

“Mhm,” he nodded, his eyes growing damp, “I can’t handle the idea… it…”

“I promised you I’m not going anywhere,” I wiped a tear from under his eye before kissing him softly, “I’m so sorry.”

“I forgive ya,” he rubbed his nose with mine, “but don’t do that to me again. Ya scared the fuck outta me. I thought you were packin’ up your stuff…”

“Nope,” I wrapped one of his curls around my finger, “you’re mine, Hunter. I’m not letting you go and I won’t let anyone take you from me.”

“We’re just datin’. But I agree,” he kissed me sweetly, his fingers tracing my lower back and I groaned, wrapping my hands in his hair and deepening the kiss, biting softly at his lips. Hunter pulled me as close as he could before he stopped, confusion clear on his face, “Gray?”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask somethin’ a little… um… uncomfortable?”

“I suppose.”

“Do I… not… turn ya on?” he whispered, his entire face red.

“Huh? Yeah, you do. Why are you asking?”

“Well, we… we kiss a lot. Especially when we’re on the couch and ya lay on top of me. I know ya can feel me… but I never…”

“Oh I… just… I’m really good at hiding it I guess…”

“Gray?” he looked into my eyes, cupping my cheek, “are ya lyin’ to me?”

“No, it’s just… I… think you don’t feel me because I’m not… it’s not very big that’s all.”

“I… don’t know what to say to that,” he cleared his throat, “I’m sure it’s… fine… I bet it’s… um… never mind.”

“Well I know yours is… uh… bigger. This is really awkward.”

“Super awkward,” he laughed, “wanna talk about somethin’ else?”

“Okay. Are you still mad at me?” I whispered.

“No. Never,” he kissed my forehead, “I wasn’t really mad when ya left to go inside. I just missed ya and wanted to spend a family event together. It was the first one after all and… you weren’t there. I hope ya won’t abandon the babies when you’re upset… I’ll need your help with… our niece and nephew.”

“We aren’t even a couple,” I wiped my nose on my sleeve, “I feel so guilty. I don’t… I haven’t earned the right to be Uncle Grayson…”

“Yes ya have,” he kissed me gently, rubbing my jawline, “ya went above and beyond for Zee and Robin. Ya didn’t have to do everythin’ ya did. So why did ya do it?”

“Because I care about them and always wanted to have a family around me,” I whispered softly.

“There ya go. You’ve earned the right to call the babies your niece and nephew. To call Hazel your sister. Stop this… self-hatred,” he pressed our foreheads together, “You’re wonderful, exactly the way you came to me, Gray.”

I started to cry and threw my arms around his neck, squeezing tightly. Hunter began to rub my back gently, whispering calming words to me, lips pressed softly to the top of my head.

“Thank you,” I hiccuped, “I… really hope we can reach a point where I get to call you more than the guy I’m dating.”

“We will,” he smiled before cradling my face, “just be a little patient. We’ll know when it’s right.”

“We’ll know when it’s right,” I whispered.

We stayed near the gazebo for a bit longer before making our way back to the house, Hunter carrying me on his back as I pressed gentle kisses to the nape of his neck, making him laugh.

"Oh, so you can smile," Hazel huffed when we reached the backyard.

"I'm sorry, Zee," I whispered, "I… just didn't like seeing Hunter upset and not standing up for himself."

"I know. But next time… try and keep it in check."

"There won't be a next time," Hunter shook his head as he put me down, "he ain't ever comin' back and if he does I'll ask him to leave."

"Well… good," Robin winked at me and I smiled.

"I'm only ever sending Grayson when you're pissy. He seems to know how to fix it," Hazel huffed.

"I just let him kiss me rather aggressively. Seemed to work well," I shrugged.

"Disgusting," Hazel gagged, "we're leaving."

"Alright," laughing, I hugged both Hazel and Robin, "we'll see you next weekend."

"Okay, be good to each other," Robin patted my head before hugging Hunter.

"We always are," Hunter smiled, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as I hooked an arm around his waist, leaning into his side.

"Well not always. But we figured it out," I smiled up at Hunter and he leaned down to kiss me.

"Seriously stop that in front of me it's nasty!" Hazel huffed, grabbing Robin, "I love you both. Just stop being all… touchy."

"Never!" I snorted, "Hunter likes it too much."

"Ugh. Bye," Hazel rolled her eyes as they left.

"Well… what do ya want to do now?" Hunter kissed my nose.

"Clean up then stargaze?"

"Perfect."