"Darian," he gasped before my lips returned to his, moving with more force now as my hands ran over his body. He grasped a hold of my hair to pull me closer and deepen the kiss when my body pressed against his, pushing him harder against the bathroom stall's wall.

We were supposed to be working out.

But we were making out in the bathroom.

We'd been at the gym for two hours so far, and most of that time was spent in the restroom—making out. That was one of the perks of being a gay couple. Entering a bathroom together wasn't suspicious.

I smiled against his lips and brushed my thumb along his jaw, and his eyes opened to meet mine.

"This is so ratchet," he mumbled, and I kissed him some more before pulling away. "Who does this?"

We chuckled, but we didn't let go of each other.

"We do," I said. "You know what's really ratchet?" I ran my fingers down his arm and grabbed his hand in mine. "Fucking in this stall," I said while slamming our hands above his head and cornering him between me and the stall. Kenji bit his bottom lip as he watched me. "That would be ratchet." I leaned in. "But so hot."

"Fuck it." Kenji wrapped his free arm around my neck and crushed his lips to mine, pushing his hips against me.

We took another ten minutes sucking face before we pulled away from each other and got our acts together. Kenji's lips were slightly swollen, and I had a feeling mine were, too.

"Ready?" I asked while he ran his hands through his hair.

"I definitely need a shower after this," he said. "We've been in here too much, and I don't know how clean it is—"

I shut him up with my lips, and he relaxed against me.

"No, stop." He pushed me back. "We have to go." I smirked and wrapped my arms around his lower back. "We can't keep doing this."

We couldn't stay in this bathroom forever, but I hated being out there with him. I gave him a chaste kiss.

I couldn't do that out there.

"Okay, let's go." I released him and opened the door. Kenji and I walked out together, and we turned for the exit.

"The fuck?"

We glanced back to catch some white dude staring at us with a weirded out expression. His looked at the stall we just came out of before returning his gaze to us.

Kenji cursed under his breath.

The bathroom was empty when we first came in, but I guess that didn't last long. Then I frowned. Who did this motherfucker think he was?

"What the fuck you looking at?" I advanced towards the guy, but Kenji pulled me back.

"Darian—"

I freed myself from his grasp and continued making my way to the fucker. "If you have something to say, say it." The guy raised both hands up, and Kenji grabbed me again to hold me back. "You wanna stop and stare, dipshit?"

"Darian!" Kenji turned me around with a firm hold on my shoulders. "We're leaving. Now. Come on."

He led me towards the door, and I sent the guy the bird before we walked out. "Motherfucker," I muttered once we were back in the public eye.

"We should have walked out one at a time," Kenji said, "not together. That was dumb on our part."

"I don't want to have a clandestine relationship."

Kenji stopped and sent me look. "Darian, stop bullshitting." He lowered his voice and said, "We have to go to the bathroom if we want to make out. You're not publicly out yet, and that's okay."

I closed my eyes briefly and followed him once he started walking again. "I don't give a fuck what the public thinks. The only thing is, me being out publicly will eventually get to my father. He's the problem."

We weren't talking, but that didn't mean I wanted him to know about my sexuality. The public could judge me all they want or not care or be happy for me all they want. That didn't matter.

What mattered was what my father would do.

Kenji and I stopped at the weights section, and we made our way over to our spot that we had a tendency of abandoning. "Things still rocky for you guys?"

I scoffed. "You shouldn't sound surprised. I came out to my mom and sisters." His eyes widened. "River and Eva accept it and now, they're kinda thrilled about it. Eva even made a joke that she always secretly wanted a gay brother or gay best friend. She said it just sucks that I'm gay, without having the benefits of being gay."

Kenji smiled. "What are the benefits? Being flamboyant and gossiping and shopping?"

I shrugged. "I guess." We laughed at my sister's stupidity. "I'm just glad she can make jokes and come to terms with it."

Kenji crossed his arms. "What about your mom?"

"She's trying," I said. "She's been grieving."

Kenji's brows furrowed. "Who died?"

"Apparently, Straight Darian died."

"But you were never straight," he said.

"My point exactly," I said with a clap.

"At least she's trying," Kenji said. "She may not be reacting the way you want, but she's trying. Now, you have to focus on your dad."

I averted my gaze. "Let's complete another set."

"Darian—"

"Let's start with leg press this time," I interrupted him, "followed by a round of lying leg curls."

Kenji groaned. "You don't wanna talk about your dad."

We made our way over to the machine, and I helped him get into position. "Start," I said, and he started his leg presses while I kept an eye on him.

"Are you my personal trainer?" he asked.

I squatted with one arm on my knee. "No. I'm your boyfriend who's so very supportive."

He laughed.

I couldn't describe the feeling of having Kenji Kai as my boyfriend. The past week with Kenji had been great, and we spent practically every day together. Either on our driving lessons, or dropping him off to his classes—making him drive, of course—or the two of us just chilling in my apartment or working out at the gym.

I'd had sex with a couple guys, but none of them compared to Kenji. The wait—for this relationship and sex with him—was so fucking worth it.

"Where're the goons?" he asked, and I stood up with a brow raised. "The list says I should work out with Darian and the goons. Why do I only see Darian?"

My boys. Now that he mentioned it, I hadn't seen or spoken to neither Gavin nor Aaron since we ate Chinese that one time.

"I thought Darian was a goon," I said, but Kenji didn't look impressed. "Maybe I wanted you all to myself."

I almost bent over to kiss him, but I stopped myself.

I hated being in public with him.

"Come on," I said. "Lying leg curls are next."

We left the equipment just how we found it, and we walked over to the other one. When Kenji got into position, I had to control myself because thoughts started popping up.

"Stop checking out my ass." He peeked back at me as he started his set.

I wiped my thumb along my lower lip. "What a fine ass, it is. So fine, that if I could, I'll fuck you right here."

His jaw dropped. "In public?"

"In public," I said. "If it was legal."

        I had nothing to be ashamed of, and I didn't mind being watched.

"You love PDA, don't you?"

"What gave it away?" I brushed a hand against his leg, and he jerked slightly.

He was always so responsive to my touch, which was a good stroke to the ego. The best part of having sex with Kenji was making him feel good.

Getting some pleasure out of it for myself was only icing on the cake.

His set was over, and I handed him his bottle of water. "I'm not much of a PDA guy," Kenji said, "but since you like it, I'll meet you halfway."

"Compromise?" I brought my bottle to my lips.

"Compromise," he said. "But you're still in the closet, so we don't have to worry about that now, do we?"

         I guess not.

My grip tightened around my bottle. "I'm gonna get us more water." He nodded as I grabbed his bottle from him. "Be right back."

I walked over to the closest water fountain, and a familiar figure beat me to it, filling up his bottle with water.

"Gyan," I said, and he turned to look at me.

"Darian," Gyan said. "We have to stop meeting like this."

We laughed at the memory of us bumping into each other that time. It felt like ages ago. Back then, I had given up on all hope of ever being with Kenji.

"Are you here with your friends?" Gyan stepped aside, and I took over.

"No," I said. "I'm here with my boyfriend."

Gyan's eyes went round. "K-Kenji?" I grinned before nodding. "Wow." He clasped a hand on my shoulder and patted my back in approval. "Look who finally grew some balls."

"I've always had balls."

"But you finally used them," he said.

I used them all right.

"Kenji and I went through so much shit." I'd finished filling up both bottles, so we stepped to the side. "It's a miracle that we got to this point. I'm amazed neither one of us gave up."

Sometimes, Kenji gave up, but I was there fighting. Other times, I gave up, but Kenji fought. I was just grateful there wasn't a time where we both gave up.

Who would have fought then?

"Don't give up," Gyan said with his expression turning serious. "I'm rooting for you and Kenji." He smacked my arm with a smile. "I want you two to make it, with your cliché love story."

"What about you?" I asked. "What love stories are you going to be a part of?"

"None," he said. "I don't do love stories. I have fun."

"Love isn't fun?"

Kenji and I were having fun.

"It's fun until shit gets real," he said, and I sent him a sideways glance. "But you seem like one of the lucky ones. If you and Kenji have been through all the shit you say you have, and you still found your way back to each other, you're lucky. Once something like this is gone, it's hard to get it back. If you get it back."

Gyan was so supportive of me and Kenji. I knew what we had going on before wasn't serious or anything, but it was still something. However, he had no problem letting me go and rooting for me and Kenji.

"Why aren't you jealous?" I blurted out, and Gyan sent me an amused look.

"We weren't going to get married, Darian."

"I know," I said, "but you're so cool about this. Most people, even if they didn't give a fuck about me, would have felt something."

Gyan's lips tugged at the sides. "I told you before that I don't fight for my men. Never have. Never will."

Kenji and I fought for each other.

Gyan fought for no one.

"So what's the plan?" I was honestly curious. "Other than having 'fun,' of course."

Gyan thought about it for a second. "I'll probably marry an Indian woman, have some kids, and have a gay lover or two on the side."

He grinned.

I watched him to see if he was joking. His demeanor and expression didn't change.

"Relax." He shook my shoulder.

"You're not gonna be happy that way," I said. "Not coming out to your family. Marrying a woman. It's not gonna give you happiness."

He smirked. "Did you miss the gay lover part?"

"Gyan..." I sighed. "I'm serious."

"And I'm not?" Gyan said with a chuckle. "I'll see you later, Darian, and tell your boyfriend I said 'hi.' Hopefully he'll shake my hand now that I'm no longer a threat."

"You were never a threat," I said.

"Tell Kenji that." He smirked, and we gave each other dap. Before he could turn to leave, he stopped. "Darian," he said, and we faced each other again. "If you and Kenji ever want a threesome, you know who to call."

"Dude..."

"Now, that will be fun." He patted my arm and walked off while I shook my head at him.

Gyan was something. He was an attractive guy, and a threesome with him would be hot, but it wasn't going to happen.

I turned around and returned to Kenji, who was rubbing his neck. "I'm tired."

"Then let's go."

He and I started to grab our stuff.

We'd been at the gym for hours, anyway. I didn't want to tire him out, especially since he was just getting his energy back, little by little.

"Was that Gyan?" he asked while we walked for the exit.

"Yeah," I said, "we were just talking, and he said 'hi,' by the way. You can shake his hand now, and he's available when we want a threesome." Shock overtook Kenji's face, and I grinned. "Relax." I squeezed his hand for a second and let it go. "Like I said, I want you all to myself."

"You should talk to Clay," Kenji said while I pulled into his apartment complex. "Everything else is falling into place. Clay and Alissa are back together. Me and you are finally together. Now, you and Clay have to work on your friendship."

I groaned. "How can I talk to him after everything that happened?"

Before, I was so angry at Clay and wanted nothing to do with him. Now that I had Kenji, it all seemed irrelevant. I was just too embarrassed and bothered by my behavior to face him.

"Clay is a pretty chill guy. He forgives easily. You just have to talk to him."

I pulled into a parking spot near his apartment, and I killed the engine. "I was an asshole."

Kenji removed his seatbelt and focused on me. "That's exactly why you should talk to him." 

I wiped my hand down my face with a long exhale. "Everyone wants me to talk to someone. You want me to talk to Clay. My mom wants me to talk to my dad."

I had to admit that talking to my father was more frightening than talking to Clay.

"Maybe you should listen to us," Kenji said. "The only way you can resolve problems is by talking to people. Me and my mom are in a better place now."

        He told me that they'd been talking to each other again. I was happy for Kenji. The boy loved his mom so much, and all that beef and tension between them wasn't good for him.

"You guys talked?"

He nodded. "If we didn't, we'd probably still be avoiding each other. Plus..." He rubbed my leg. "If you and I didn't talk, this wouldn't be happening right now."

I gently placed a hand on the side of his neck to pull him close. "Oh, yeah?"

"Mmm-hmm." He stared into my eyes. "No kissing." I nuzzled my nose along his cheek. "No fucking." His hand moved near my crotch but came back down. "No going to the gym together or anything." He massaged his hand along my neck while both of mine held his face. "Talking is good."

Our lips were almost touching now. "I guess so," I said before closing the distance between us in a kiss.

It only lasted for less than a minute because he pulled away. "Kenji..." I whined.

"Nope," he said while opening his door. "I have to go, and you have to talk to Clay. Maybe your dad, too, while you're at it."

He stepped out, and I leaned back against my car door, watching him. "See you sooner than later."

"Later if you don't talk to Clay and your dad."

"Oooooo." I shook my head slowly. "That's cold."

He winked and closed the car door behind him. I watched him make his way up the stairs to his apartment.

I still couldn't believe this was happening. Kenji was finally mine. The sex was amazing, but the best part of it all was spending time with him and knowing he felt the same way.

I didn't want to think about what would have happened if he didn't come to my apartment to talk things out.

I took out my phone and found Clay's number. I hadn't contacted that number in years, but it was time to change that.

I brought the car back to life and reversed out of the parking space.

        Talking was good.

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* How do you guys feel about Danji's "honeymoon" period? Darian's and Gyan's talk? Darian's text to Clay?

* I'm gonna aim to try updating near Friday-Monday for all my stories because that's when I'm most free.

* Song is "It's Gotta Be You" by Isaiah