Free Of Love by Sean Michael

was your day?” he asked, going for something not baby related.
    “It was good. It was a running day, and I did thirty miles in four hours.”
    “Wow. That’s impressive.” It honestly was.
    “Thanks. I’m going to the Thanksgiving triathlon in California. It’s a charity run. I was actually hoping you’d come with me. Once the race is over I’ll have time to sightsee with you.”
    “I’d like that. You still want a ride to the race on Wednesday?”
    “I do. You can still go, right?”
    “Sure. I’ve cleared my schedule.” His head was beginning to throb, pounding from throwing up.
    “You’re looking a little grim, sweet. Turn around and let me at your shoulders.”
    “You sure?” He felt weird. Like he’d done something wrong. He hadn’t meant to; he’d just…. He hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly, so he hadn’t mentioned it. Maybe he should have. He was going to keep on top of things from now on because he was going to be a dad.
    “Of course I’m sure. Although maybe we should just have makeup sex—that’s supposed to be wild and amazing after an argument, right?”
    “I…. Would you be pissed if I just asked for a back rub and to sit together for a few minutes? It’s been a crazy day.” He hated to turn Dex down, but he was whatever the polar opposite of horny was.
    “No, that’s totally doable. Take your shirt off for me, though, so I can give you a proper rub down.”
    He pulled his shirt off, then handed Dex the remote and stretched out on the sofa. Dex found an easy-listening station and began rubbing his shoulders, hands digging in.
    “Oh….” Kent let his eyes close and prayed a little that he could just not think.
    “You’re all tight.”
    “Yeah.” This was a day of firsts.
    “Is that my fault? Because we… well, argued?” Dex asked.
    “I feel bad, like I screwed you over. I didn’t, though.”
    “Sweet, we didn’t make lifelong commitments to each other or anything. And I can date a dad, right?”
    “You can.” He didn’t think Dex would want to, but they had time to have fun now. “It would suck if dads couldn’t date.”
    “Yeah. Yeah, I guess it would. There are a lot of single ones out there.” Dex found a spot of knots in his back and worked it hard.
    “Oh!” Kent’s legs trembled, shaking hard as the knot let go.
    “Damn. There’s another one here.”
    “S-sorry.” Whoa.
    “For what?” Dex asked, working that knot insistently.
    He shook his head. “I don’t know.”
    Dex kissed the back of his neck. “Let’s watch a movie or something and order pizza.”
    “I’d love that.” He grabbed Dex’s hand. “I’m sorry that I disappointed you, honey.”
    “I don’t have any right to be disappointed by your life decisions, Kent. Besides, I was just surprised, you know?”
    “Yeah. Yeah, I know. I do.” He did.
    “Cool. And good. I was just thinking you were too perfect to be true. Now you’re not perfect, so I know you’re real.”
    “Yeah.” Kent nodded and finished his coffee. That was him, the fucked-up one.
    Dex found a show to watch and tugged him in close. He let himself lean, let himself breathe.
    As they watched the movie, laughing and holding each other close, things began to feel normal again. At least as normal as they could be.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    DEX WAS going to finish the race, but he wasn’t placing in the top ten like he’d hoped. It was his own fault too. Races were usually a meditation for him. He’d clear his mind and let his muscles take over. He’d been having trouble centering this time, his mind constantly circling back to the stunning news that Kent was going to be a dad. On purpose.
    He’d been growing more and more sure they were going to be a couple; now he wasn’t so sure. Dex wasn’t exactly the paternal type.
    Growling at himself as he rounded the last corner to the final straightaway, he forced his mind to calm and put on speed, determined to catch up to at least one person ahead of