Page 28 of Ginjuh

“Not a lot.” Austin smiled back. “But I know shame when I see it. Your dad was ashamed of what he said.”

We sat there for several moments, a warm breeze blowing down the path in the corn. Austin bumped his arm against mine.

“What if Grandpa tells me something really bad?” I asked softly.

“What if a meteor strikes the Earth?” Austin shrugged. “I mean, ignoring it won’t solve the problem.”

I chuckled. Austin stood and held his hand down to me. I snorted at him, incredulous that he would even think he could help me up. He shrugged but didn’t pull his hand away. Slowly, I lifted my hand and let it slide into his, the hardened skin of my hands sliding across the newly calloused skin of his. His hand gripped mine as electricity traveled through my forearm and he braced himself, helping me to my feet. I rose to my feet to stand in front of him, just inches between us. Austin looked up into my eyes as I looked down into his. I reached up to pushed that dark swoop of hair away from his eyes.

“I like that you’re a queer.” He grinned impishly.

“Why do you write in your notebook?” I asked, moving my lips to brush against his. “Please tell me.”

Austin moved his head gently side to side so that our lips moved against each other’s.

“I’ll tell you some other time.” He breathed against my mouth. “You need to talk to Mr. Pelton.”

I moved forward a centimeter so that our lips pressed together and Austin’s hands immediately found their way to my hair, his fingers tangling in it again. My hands went to his sides, holding on for dear life as we did our best to drink each other in. Austin’s hands played in my hair for a while, then traveled down to my chest, to feel my pecs, then play along my abs through my shirt. I felt a groan escape my mouth as his tongue slid between my lips and his hands went up my shirt. His rough fingertips slid over my stomach as we fed at each other’s mouths.

“We have to stop.” He pulled away, way too soon. “We can’t just—just—”

“What?” I asked hoarsely, gripping his sides and pulling his body into mine, crushing him against me. “We can’t do what, Austin?”

“Zach.” He gasped against my mouth. “Mr. Pelton is waiting.”

I bit my bottom lip and smiled at him playfully.

“How long do you think he can wait?” I asked.

Austin pushed away from me playfully, forcing me to let go of his sides as his hands slid out of my shirt.

“No.” He chastised me, but his heart wasn’t in it. “This…this isn’t really a thing. Yet.”

“Yet.” I gave an upward nod.

“Right.” He smiled.

He reached out and grabbed my hand, letting his fingers slide between mine as he looked up into my eyes.

“Steps.” He nodded slowly.

“Okay,” I said. “I can do that.”

He smiled.

“Can I kiss you anytime I want?”

“Yes.” He breathed out.

Together, hand in hand, we walked the pathway in the corn towards the house. Grandpa was waiting on the porch when we arrived. We were still holding hands but Grandpa didn’t even blink an eye, though it was obvious that he noticed we were holding hands. He was in his rocking chair, looking down at us as we approached. It was hard to meet his eyes.

“Zach,” Grandpa said softly. “I want you to take Austin on home. Come back and talk to me, son. All right?”

Austin started to say something. Probably to ask if he was no longer needed to work at Grandpa’s farm, but he stopped himself.

“Okay,” I said. “Um, yes, sir.”

Grandpa nodded.

So, Austin and I got into my car and I drove him home.