The Pick Up Page 13

  He thanked whatever god had given his daughter an iron stomach, because while he could handle most aspects of being a responsible parent, the one thing Olivia had always been in charge of was the handling of puke. She’d said years of hard partying through art school had made her immune to vomit, and Kyle had added that to the decidedly lopsided tally on who had the better half of the deal in their relationship.

  “No, Bean. We’re going to go soon,” he said. “Besides, you’re having a sleepover with Haley tonight, remember?”

  The sleepover had been a last-minute plan, solidified over burgers with Ben and Kirsten. After being cooped up with his sick daughter for most of the last four days, Kyle was going to enjoy some time on his own now that she was feeling better.

  “All set?” Kirsten approached with Lily in her arms. Haley and Ben followed shortly after.

  “You’re still okay to drive me home?” he asked as he walked toward the car. “It’s not too much out of your way? I could take a cab from here; it’s not that far.”

  “Of course not, don’t be silly.” Kirsten laughed. “We don’t—” Whatever was at the end of that sentence, Kyle didn’t hear it, because suddenly, mercifully, beautifully, he had a plan.

  A plan.

  Well, okay, half a plan. Or, rather, an extension of the plan he’d had before, which wasn’t much of a plan at all. More like a mantra.

  Talk to Adam.

  “One sec.” He spun abruptly and started back toward the house.

  “Kyle?” Ben asked.

  “Daddy?”

  “Get in the car, okay, Bean?” Kyle didn’t turn to see if she’d heard him, but he marched around the house. He scanned the people there until he saw the back of Adam’s dark head as he tossed a stack of paper plates into a garbage bag. Kyle’s half mantra, half plan solidified.

  “Adam,” he said.

  “Kyle! Hey! I haven’t seen you in—”

  “Are you sticking around much longer?”

  “No. Well, that is . . .”

  “Can you give me a lift home?”

  “A lift? Didn’t you come with—”

  “Ben and Kirsten, yeah, but Caroline’s sleeping at their place and my place is out of the way for them and it’s not for you, so I was thinking, I mean, if you don’t mind and I don’t want to rush you out of here so if you’re sticking around then I don’t mind staying but—”

  “No problem,” Adam said.

  “Oh.” Kyle’s brain turned to molasses again. His plan had worked and now . . .

  “Kyle?” Ben stood at the corner of the house, car keys dangling from his fingers. “Are you coming? Lily’s melting down and Kirsten wants to go.”

  Kyle held his hands out to Adam, like he was telling a dog to stay. “Adam’s going to drive me.”

  “Adam?” Ben said.

  “Yeah. Dad’s house is on the way to his apartment. He doesn’t mind. Come on, you should get going.”

  At Ben’s car, Kyle gave Caroline a hug and then waved as they drove away. But once the car disappeared around the corner, Kyle felt glued to the spot, stuck in indecision.

  “Ready to go?”

  Kyle jumped at Adam’s voice behind him. “No-ow?” The word came out in two syllables, and the second one squeaked in an undignified way.

  Adam frowned, his dark eyebrows scrunched together. “If you’re ready? It’s starting to get a bit rowdy, and Rebecca’s going to recruit me for fireworks duty if I don’t go soon.”

  “Sure,” Kyle said, pleased he didn’t squeak this time.

  Rebecca smiled and gave them each a big hug when Adam said they were leaving. Kyle thanked her for having him and Caroline, and promised to call on Monday to discuss her anniversary party. At least, he hoped that’s what he said, because his brain was focused on trying to come up with the next part of his plan, and he wasn’t sure what words his tongue and mouth were making. Rebecca seemed pleased with whatever he said though, so he thanked her one last time and then followed Adam back out to the car.

  He had been in Adam’s car before, the night he’d gotten drunk at Morrison’s. He didn’t remember the inside being so big. As they pulled away from the curb, Kyle felt a million miles away from Adam.

  “Did you guys have fun?” Adam asked as they drove.

  Kyle’s brain spun like a hamster in a wheel, so it took a second to understand what Adam had said. “Yes?” He cleared his throat. “I mean, yeah! It was really great of Rebecca to invite us. Caroline loved the pool.”

  “I could tell. You should sign her up for swimming lessons this summer.”

  “I should?”

  “Definitely. They offer them at the pool on Pine Street. The first session usually starts a couple weeks after school lets out, but you can check online. Water safety’s important. They take the kids for swimming lessons in the fourth-grade class as part of phys ed, but it’s better to get them started younger if you can.” Adam’s expression, as far as Kyle could tell in the dim car, was bland.

  “Sure,” Kyle said, but he was confused. What was Adam doing? His tone was completely off.

  “Are you signing Caroline up for any other activities this summer?” Adam asked. “Soccer maybe? Or day camp? The community center’s got a good day camp. It’s a mix of the usual arts and crafts and sports, and some fun field trips too.”

  “Maybe?” Kyle tilted his head, as if the change in perspective would make what was going on clear.

  “Keeping in mind though, you don’t want to over-schedule her. So many parents pack their kid’s days during the summer, and I think a little unstructured time is good, especially in the first couple weeks. Gives a chance to decompress, you know?” They passed under a streetlight, and suddenly Kyle could see it. This was Teacher Adam. This was honest to god Mr. Hathaway talking to Kyle the way he would any parent he ran into on the street.

  “Yeah.” Kyle wasn’t sure what he was agreeing to. “Yeah, probably.”

  The words dried up after that. Adam seemed fine with the arrangement, but Kyle’s mind raced as he ran through everything that had happened that day, and then everything that had happened since he’d spoken to Adam on the phone, and then everything before that, as he tried to piece together what was going on. Adam hadn’t been Mr. Hathaway around him since that first day at the school, and the change now was inexplicable.

  “We’re here,” Adam said, and Kyle realized Adam was pulling the car into Kyle’s driveway. The motion-sensor light above the garage flicked on as they arrived, making Kyle squint. Adam’s face was still neutral, but even in the harsh light from the garage, he was beautiful, with the same strong cheekbones, dark stubble, and blue eyes that Kyle couldn’t help but admire.

  Kyle looked back up at the house. His father’s house. Empty and dark, with no one home. He didn’t want to go inside.

  “Do you . . .? Do you want to come in for a bit?” he said.

  Adam smiled, the polite teacher smile, the same one he used when he talked to Caroline. “It’s getting late. I should get home. I have a lot of marking to do this weekend. There’s report cards and—”

  Kyle kissed him.

  This time there was no plan. Barely any thought at all, beyond the fact that Kyle’s last plan had failed and he didn’t want to go inside alone.

  Kyle kissed Adam, and as first kisses went it was pretty awkward. Adam was still speaking as Kyle lurched in, which meant their teeth clashed together and Adam’s tongue smashed up against Kyle’s lips. The force with which Kyle sprang forward caused his seat belt to catch him about the chest, limiting his mobility and keeping him from kissing as deeply as he would have liked.

  Kyle kissed Adam, and as first kisses went it was pretty spectacular, because Adam gasped and stiffened, and Kyle kept kissing until Adam exhaled and his lips relaxed, and then he kissed Kyle back too.

  Kyle squeezed his eyes shut tight and fought the corners of his mouth as they tried to tilt up into a grin that would make it impossible for him to keep on kissing. He ignored the
strap of the seat belt as it cut into his collarbone, because he wanted the sensation of Adam’s lips under his to last as long as humanly possible. He’d told Ben he’d pick Caroline up at ten the next morning. Could he could kiss Adam until then?

  Eventually though, Adam pulled away, and Kyle grunted. He leaned all the way back as the seat belt recoiled and threatened to choke him.

  Adam’s lips were parted, and his eyes were wide and glazed.

  And then the garage light flicked off, leaving them in total suburban darkness. They stared at each other in the dark car, enveloped in near silence for a full minute, with only the occasional ragged breath for a soundtrack.

  “Do you want to come in for a bit?” Kyle asked.

  Adam exhaled slowly. “Yeah.”

  Adam followed Kyle towards the house on autopilot. The turn of events over the last few minutes had him off-balance. The drive to the house had gone so well—Adam had managed to keep up an appropriate conversation—and he had been fully prepared to drop Kyle off and go home where Netflix was waiting to entertain him for the rest of the evening.

  And then Kyle had kissed him. It had been the most awkward, impulsive kiss of Adam’s entire life. The whole scenario reminded him of frantic teenagers trying to string the evening out for another five minutes, while parents lurked beyond curtains at the front door. He fought an undignified giggle as he followed Kyle up the front walk of the house.

  Kyle cursed softly, and Adam watched, still dazed, as Kyle bent down to pick up a set of keys off the ground. Kyle’s long fingers shook as he tried twice before he managed to get the key in the lock. They stumbled inside.

  Neither of them bothered to turn on a light as Kyle closed the door and Adam crowded him up against it. If he was going to break his rules, he was going all in. His hands came up to hold Kyle in place so he could kiss him like he needed. The hair on his scalp prickled, and he felt dizzy as Kyle pressed their lips together. If the kiss in the car had been good, having the space to explore made everything better. Kyle’s fingers threaded through his hair and tugged him forward, and Adam used the momentum to bring his body closer. Their mingled breaths in the hall were loud.

  He nudged Kyle’s head to the side and kissed down his neck to the collar of his shirt. The skin there was as warm and inviting as Adam had hoped.

  Kyle squirmed and tried to get his mouth back on Adam’s. Adam growled as he grazed his teeth along Kyle’s collarbone and refused to give up the inches of skin he’d won.

  “Mr. Hathaway, I had no idea you’d be so pushy.”

  Mr. Hathaway. The name made Adam moan as he licked over Kyle’s throat. Kyle gasped, and Adam took the opportunity to fit his lips back over Kyle’s again and slip his tongue inside the other man’s mouth. He swallowed the next gasp as he explored the warm wet inside.

  “This is a bad idea,” Adam whispered against Kyle’s lips.

  “Don’t care,” Kyle said. His palms slid down Adam’s shoulders and along his sides.

  “You’re a parent, Kyle. This is inappropriate.”

  “Don’t care.” Kyle’s hands, those broad hands and long fingers that had fascinated Adam since the first time he’d seen them, slid under the hem of Adam’s T-shirt and spread across the small of his back. Adam pushed his hips forward as Kyle thrust to meet them. The ridge of Kyle’s erection ground against his thigh.

  “Fuck.” He groaned as he tried to find a way to grip Kyle and increase the pressure against his body. “How the hell do you keep that tucked away in skinny jeans?”

  Kyle laughed and rocked against Adam’s hip again. “Hidden talents, Mr. Hathaway.” He kissed along Adam’s jaw while his fingers burned a trail along Adam’s skin. Adam lifted Kyle onto his toes, seeking the right friction, although it was starting to matter less and less. His erection was already at full mast, and everyone still had their clothes on. His hips rocked mindlessly, and he whimpered as Kyle’s nails raked over his back.

  “I don’t think I’m good for anything but quick and dirty tonight,” Kyle said, but Adam was barely following as he continued to hump the other man against the door.

  He staggered as Kyle’s hands came up his chest. Kyle turned him, and something solid hit the back of his knees and he sat down on a low bench. His head was covered in swishing fabric. Kyle cursed as he tossed it to the floor, diving back in on Adam’s mouth as he climbed up into his lap to straddle his hips.

  Adam wasn’t capable of more than a strangled “huuuhhh” as Kyle’s broad hands came up to cup Adam’s face, while his hips continued to grind. Kyle stroked a thumb across one of Adam’s cheekbones, below his eye, then let it drift until it rested on the edge of Adam’s lower lip and tugged softly.

  Adam’s eyes adjusted to the dim light of the hall. He could see Kyle, silhouetted against blue light that filtered through the window by the front door. His dark eyes were wide, his mouth parted as he took in shallow breaths. Adam’s lips tightened around Kyle’s thumb, and he sucked it into his mouth, letting his tongue swish around it. He forced himself not to bite down when Kyle’s hips jutted forward at the sensation, then reveled in the animal noise that came from the back of Kyle’s throat.

  Adam explored with his hand, until he felt the length of Kyle’s erection outlined against the front of his jeans. He couldn’t be certain until he saw it, but Adam was pretty sure Kyle’s dick was going to be like the rest of him: long and lean and irresistible. As he stroked, Kyle made the same needy sound in his throat again and pulled his thumb from Adam’s mouth. He set his hand on Adam’s shoulder instead, struggling for stability as he rocked against Adam’s palm.

  Adam leaned in, sucking at Kyle’s collarbone as he moved to unfasten the button of Kyle’s jeans and tug the zipper down. He slipped his fingers under the elastic of Kyle’s boxers, and his own breath caught as he gripped Kyle’s dick.

  “Oh god.” Kyle gasped as he thrust into Adam’s fist. “Oh god, Adam. This is going to get— Huh . . .” He sucked in a breath. Adam continued to mouth at whatever part of Kyle’s neck and shoulder he could get at, considering that he hadn’t bothered to unbutton Kyle’s shirt. Kyle sucked in another breath. “This is going to get embarrassing really quickly if you . . .” another gasp, “if you don’t slow down. I haven’t . . .” His fingers clenched against Adam’s shoulder, and Adam increased his rhythm and tightened his grip. Kyle’s voice cut off in a strangled gasp. He was thrusting in earnest now.

  “Come here.” Adam mashed their lips together. There was no finesse left in him. His fingers tangled in Kyle’s hair, holding tight, and forced their mouths to stay connected. Kyle was losing control, and Adam was only too happy to take it from him. His tongue licked at the inside of Kyle’s mouth, demanding, and he suppressed a shiver as Kyle bit at his lip. Kyle trembled against him, and the way he was coming apart made Adam want to see how far he’d go. His hand picked up the pace around Kyle’s cock, making Kyle moan.

  “Gonna . . . Oh god, Adam, I’m . . .” He let out a noise like a sob, and Adam’s insides caught fire.

  “Do it.”

  Kyle thrust once, twice, and then his hips stuttered and lost their rhythm as he groaned against Adam’s cheek. Warm come spread across his hand and fingers. Heat spread through Adam, though his own body was still strung tight. He let Kyle set his own pace as the orgasm passed, and then his head flopped to Adam’s shoulder, his mouth slack, panting, his whole body going soft. Adam tilted his head against the wall, eyes closed. He listened to the ragged sound of Kyle’s breathing in the silent house.

  As Kyle seemed to collect himself, one of his hands slid down the front of Adam’s jeans toward Adam’s own still hard dick. Adam tried to shift away, but there was nowhere to go on the tiny seat they occupied, so he settled for putting his free hand on Kyle’s wrist.

  “It’s okay,” he said.

  “But you—”

  “I think we’ve made enough of a mess already, don’t you?” He pulled his sticky hand out of Kyle’s pants. He grimaced at the cooling we
tness coating it.

  Kyle laughed and pushed himself off Adam. He made no motion to zip up his pants, but instead leaned forward and kissed Adam, just a quick peck.

  “One sec.” He shuffled away down the hall. A minute later, he returned, a wet cloth in his hand, which he passed to Adam. “I’ll be right back. Feel free to turn on a light!” He jogged up the stairs.

  Adam felt a little giddy as he located the whitish shape of a light switch to the left of his head. He flipped the switch and blinked until his eyes adjusted.

  He was sitting in the Fenton’s front hall, the same mundane everyday hall he’d stood in the night Kyle had invited him for dinner. The bench was very firm, and his spine began to ache. He planted his feet to stand. He shifted, and one of his shoes slid out from underneath him. There was a small coat, yellow and shiny, beneath his foot, and Adam knew if he picked it up, there would be big multicolored buttons on the front. He knew this, because he had seen the same coat hanging in his class’s cloakroom when Caroline had worn it to school.

  Holy shit.

  Holy fucking shit.

  He had . . . Adam’s blossoming panic was sidetracked for a second as he tried to come up with a word for what had happened. He hadn’t exactly had sex with a parent, but he had . . .

  “Okay!” Kyle called as he came back down the stairs. He wore a pair of shorts and a T-shirt that said Will Cook for Sex, but Adam could barely let it register over his growing panic.

  Holy fucking—

  “I think this calls for a drink. What do you say?” Whatever expression was on Adam’s face made Kyle frown. “What?”

  “We shouldn’t have done that.” Adam’s voice came out as a croak.

  “Excuse me?”

  “We shouldn’t—I shouldn’t have done that.” Adam closed his eyes and tilted his head back against the wall again. Maybe if he kept his eyes closed, he’d wake up at his apartment, dozing in front of the TV.

  “What?”

  “I shouldn’t . . . That wasn’t . . .” Adam couldn’t come up with another way to express it.