I agreed to meet up with Connor. Just coffee/tea.

My family agreed he didn't seem to want me to get hurt, he may have been slightly misguided but didn't actively participate in the dissection of my sexuality.

He asked how I knew I was gay, which was pretty standard.

So, there we were, sitting in a small coffee shop with hot chocolates instead of coffee.

"Thanks for agreeing to meet up with me," Connor thanked quietly.

I smiled a bit, "well, you seemed sincere."

"I meant it. I do genuinely love you. Have for ages. I thought the others did too and I knew you liked them too, so I was willing to share, even if I wanted you to myself."

That's considerate. But he shouldn't have had to force himself to be okay with it.

We were pretty silent for a bit, drinking our hot chocolates in peace before we headed out. The breeze was getting colder as winter approached us.

The end of another summer. The start of a fall.

"I know it's too soon to even think about it, but have you ever thought about dating just me?"

I glanced at him as we walked, then turned back to the path ahead of us. "I don't know Connor. I do still like you, but I can't get the thoughts of how hurt I was. How I felt like I was just your guys' toy."

He nodded, softly, "you're right."

"Maybe someday."

"Maybe."

I did still really like him. I just wasn't quite ready to spring into anything. So we kept walking.

"Ah, by the way, I haven't told my family that I was meeting you, so you shouldn't have to worry about them," Connor said suddenly.

Oh. He didn't? "Why is that?"

"Well, I don't want them to try to woo you. We all upset you, and I don't want things to become bad again."

Connor was the only one who seemed to actually regret what happened s he's the only time me who actually protested.

Why did that make my heart flutter?

Why was I so easily swayed by him.

"I actually do have a question, have you ever been with anyone besides that short time we were, intimate, I guess?"

"Uh, no. I just... read up in what to do if I ever got the chance."

"Are you gay too?" I asked.

Connor shook his head, "no, I'm definitely not straight, but I don't feel like I'm gay either."

"Do you like girls?"

"Sorta? Maybe? I don't know. I've been into you for as long as I can remember."

I smiled shyly at that, my face hot. "I mean, I've liked you forever as well."

"Yeah, but your first crush was my dad," he joked teasingly.

I groaned, "can we just forget that ever happened. Every time I think about it, I want to smack myself."

He laughed, smiling at me like we used to.

"Sure. Besides, I'm sure very one found my dad attractive. It grosses me out 'cause he's my dad, but eh."

And from thereC it felt like old times, I felt pretty happy. And somehow, that ended up with him in my manor, playing video games in the lounge. The only reason we were in the lounge is because my older brother was keeping an eye on him.

"You still suck at this," I joked with him as he died yet again.

He stuck out his tongue at me and continued getting his ass kicked by a fucking pink ball of goo.

And eventually, my brother saw nothing to worry about.

He knew Connor was the most sincere of the Grace household, so there wasn't much to worry about.

And the two of us ended up playing video games until we passed out on the couch.

We woke up about five hours later.

"What time is it?" Connor mumbled.

"Almost three a.m." I informed, sleepily looking at the click on the wall.

"Shit! I have to get h-"

"Yeah, no. You can stay the night. It's too early to leave."

"But dad-"

I shot him a glare, "he can handle you being away for a night. Besides, just tell him you lost track of time."

"But then he'll know we were hanging out!"

"It doesn't matter. I've forgiven you, not the rest of them."

He still seemed wary, but gave in with a sigh, "fine."

"Back to sleep we go then." I yanked him sideways so we were laying in each other, grabbing the blanket in the couch and covering the both of us with it.

"But I'm not sleepy after panicking."

I chuckled, cuddling into him. He happily let me. "Alright, then let's talk."

"About what? We've already talked so much today," Connor pointed out.

"Technically, that was yesterday. And I don't know, just tell me anything."

"Hmm, how about the time I realized i loved you?"

"Cheesy, I like it."

The both of us laughed and Connor let out the smallest of sighs. A rather content sigh. "I think I fell for you when i was fourteen. You were always entering my life and you were just so bright, I could never take my eyes away from you. And when I was seventeen, I realized I liked you. My heart beat twenty times faster every time you'd enter a room. And I just had no other explanation."

"That's adorable."

"What about you?"

I hummed softly, "well, you were always there, always by my side supporting me. I liked that. And I didn't even realize that my thoughts had become so full of you. To a point I would get lost in a daze thinking about you."

"Yours sounds cheesier than mine," he joked.

I laughed and looked at him, our faces close. "Do you really love me?"

"Of course!"

"Then please, don't hurt me again." With that, I leaned into him and kissed him. It was long, drawn out, because he held me back, keeping me close, as if afraid it was all just a dream.

I was afraid too.

But this was real. Connor was hear, holding me tightly, dearly.

When we kissed before, he was cocky, arrogant.

A year had changed him.

As I pulled away, he followed me, savoring every last second.

"I love you. I love you Tim, more than anyone else. I won't hurt you ever again."

I smiled, bringing my hand to cup his cheek, "I know." And I kissed him again, and again, until our eyes grew weak.

"I love you too Connor."

And he held me so tightly to him, protective.

And we stayed that way as we drifted off.