Chapter 16 Caught In The Act

LIFE with a broken leg could not have been better. Ellis whined in the beginning—who wouldn’t? But it didn’t take long for him to see the benefits of his particular broken leg. For one thing, he broke his leg, not his ankle. The orthopedist had said an inch lower and he might never have played soccer again. (At least not competitively.) It was also a lateral break to both tibia and fibula, yet clean enough to patch back together with a plate and eight screws, to the point Ellis could be back to normal in a few months.

Not bad!

Ellis had also gotten some one-on-one attention from his mom, which was rare, and something he’d enjoyed very much. Well, until he’d realized how much he missed a certain someone and then couldn’t seem to enjoy anything, even the homemade bread pudding. Ellis liked the attention from his mom regardless of what Rob and Russell might think. He hadn’t left home to live on campus to escape her; it was more to see what was out there. The guys didn’t quite understand that, and Ellis didn’t bother to explain. It didn’t matter. He’d sold his car for a chance to find himself and possibly find love.

And his roommate had turned out to be Cole.

Cole. He’d never thought one person could consume his entire reason for being so quickly and so completely until he met him. Deep down, he knew that he’d meet “the one,” and he’d fall head over heels. His mom used to tell stories about how it had happened that way for her and his dad, and Ellis secretly wished for the same love-at-first-sight experience. He knew he’d gotten his wish, despite his “freak out” over sex.

Sex… another incredible plus.
Ellis glanced at Cole where he lay next to him in his bed. He was reading—studying—and getting ready for finals week. He looked tired. Ellis was studying too, but he already read the same sentence three times because his mind kept drifting to Cole’s bare skin and the sex they’d enjoyed twenty minutes ago.

Ellis had never realized how much he’d think about sex, and want to have sex, until Cole convinced him to go with his instincts and push past the terror he’d felt the first time. Before, back when he was younger and yearning for the day he’d experience it for himself, Ellis hadn’t understood what the hype was about. Teachers and parents always warned not to “do stuff” with girls (not that he’d want to), but he didn’t quite get why they’d emphasized it so much. Sure, it felt good jerking off sometimes, but why flip out over him having sex? Ellis figured it was because Ben got a girl pregnant. (Ellis surely wasn’t going to do that!) But what was the big deal about having sex?

Now he understood.

Pictures on the Internet and touching himself might have been satisfying, but it was nowhere near the level of gratification that made his chest explode. Making love to Cole was just that! And he couldn’t get enough.

Ellis touched Cole’s arm and felt his stomach flutter. “You’re supposed to be studying,” Cole said.
“I am studying.”

Ellis closed the book and placed it on the nightstand. He maneuvered onto his side and looped his leg over Cole’s under the blankets. It was a twin bed; very tight for two people, so he was practically laying on Cole to begin with. He turned his hand over and ran his knuckles down Cole’s bicep while he let his eyes wander over Cole’s chest. He was thin. And pale. But his flat nipples made Ellis’s mouth water every time Cole had his shirt off. Ellis moved his hand and circled his finger around one nub. It hardened and Ellis sighed.

“If I fail this test, I will kill you.”

Ellis didn’t bother to reply. He chuckled and kissed Cole’s shoulder. One kiss would not satisfy his needy lips. One kiss against Cole’s skin was never enough. He leaned closer and kissed his collarbone over to his neck, and then behind his ear.

“Some of us have to work hard for our grades.”

“Uh-huh. Grades. Got it,” Ellis mumbled and slid his arm across Cole’s chest and swirled his tongue in circles over Cole’s artery. He nipped his skin just before latching on. He heard a textbook hit the floor, and Cole whimpered.

He sucked Cole’s neck as he wriggled his body on top of him. He slid his arms under Cole’s shoulders and pressed his groin into Cole’s. Cole caressed his back and moaned delightfully. Ellis had to admit he was hesitant to believe it could feel so different from the first time, but Cole was right. Ellis doing the fucking was what he’d needed. Not that Ellis deemed Cole less manly having his dick up his ass; it simply didn’t threaten his own self-image. Ellis wanted to be the one burying himself inside of Cole, and Cole’s eagerness to capitulate revved his engines.

And Cole’s moaning and begging certainly spurred him on. He reached for the lube and managed to pop the top, onehanded, without looking.

“Oh, Ellis! Yes. That’s so good,” Cole moaned as Ellis kissed across his neck while prepping him with two lubricated fingers. They were both writhing with eager anticipation, rubbing their legs together and thrusting their pelvises.

“Please. Don’t make me wait,” Cole begged.

Ellis chuckled and pushed in aggressively, causing Cole to arch his back and release a high-pitched cry of delight. Ellis loved that sound and thrust harder because of it. He knew Cole came unglued when he was rough. Not that he could ever imagine hurting him intentionally, but holding back his passion wasn’t necessary. He reached down under Cole and held his ass. He pulled Cole closer as he moved in him, and he gazed into Cole’s open eyes as the undulating momentum built between them. Cole’s breathing came quicker, and his eyes glazed over in ecstasy as he reached the edge.

Ellis felt the pressure mounting, and just as Cole started crying, “Yes, yes,” he felt his own release spread shock waves of electricity throughout his body.

Oh God, there was nothing that compared to an orgasm; but when it happened inside of someone he loved and who gave him purpose, Ellis finally saw that his addiction to Cole was going to get him into trouble if he couldn’t control his hunger. And, holy shit, did Cole make him ravenous!

He slowed his thrusting and his breathing came less labored. Ellis held Cole’s head in both hands and kissed him slowly, enjoying the aftershock of climax and the heat rolling through his extremities.

He thought he heard a noise in the other room.
“Was that the door?” Cole whispered.

Ellis smoothed Cole’s sweaty hair off his forehead and looked into his eyes. “I don’t know.”

 

They both turned their heads when they heard a gasp from the open bedroom doorway.

 

“Oh shit!” Ellis exclaimed, making eye contact with his mother.

 

She clamped her hand over her mouth and turned away.

“Mom!” he called after her. “Mom, wait.” Ellis let go of Cole and struggled to get out of bed without falling on the floor. His leg was still tender and wobbly after having the cast removed and in his need to get to her quickly he got all tangled in the sheets. He snagged his underwear off the floor and ran after her as fast as he could.

She’d told him over Thanksgiving weekend she would visit after the cast came off, just to see how he was doing; but Ellis didn’t know it would be today.

Ellis made it to the parking lot and caught up to his mother before she had the chance to get into her car. “Mom! Stop!” When she turned to face him, Ellis continued. “Please don’t go. I’m sorry you had to see that. I didn’t mean for you to find out this way. Please come back up to the apartment and maybe have some tea.” He lifted his eyebrows in hopes it would sway her.

She stared at him. Then, little by little, the hurt and frustration softened and she nodded in response. “Alright.”

“Good,” Ellis said with a smile. “I have Earl Grey. Remember how you used to make me that when I had a fever and stayed home from school?”

“You remember that?” She seemed shocked.

“Yeah, Mom. I remember lots of things.” Ellis offered his elbow and she looped her arm around his and they walked back up to Cole’s apartment.

“Can you promise me something?” she asked as they climbed the steps.

 

“Anything.”

 

“Will you promise not to run after me in your underwear again? It’s embarrassing.”

 

Ellis chuckled. If that was embarrassing, then what did she call walking in on them having sex? “Yes, Mother, I promise.”

ELLIS was really glad that she bounced back so easily. After catching them in bed together—which was the very last thing he’d ever want to happen—he figured he’d have to grovel for forgiveness or something. He made her tea, as promised, and she sat and drank it slowly.

“Do you want me to go?” Cole asked, lingering by the bathroom door.

Ellis wasn’t sure what was best. He didn’t want to make his mom more uncomfortable, but he also didn’t want Cole going anywhere. He wanted him here! “No,” he answered simply.

Cole held back, but Ellis’s mom ended their deliberation. “I don’t bite, Cole,” his mother said, patting the sofa cushion next to her. “Join us.”

Ellis smiled again, appreciative of her inclusive gesture. “You’re okay with that?” Asking, because if he assumed it was okay and it really wasn’t, then she could come back and blame him. He sat across from her on the coffee table. I think we really need to buy a chair or two, Ellis thought.

“Yes. It’s fine. I want to get to know the person my son is involved with.”

She wasn’t cold, but her voice wasn’t chirpy-happy either. Ellis felt like he had to take this like a Q & A session for a magazine article and allow her all the information necessary to make things right between them. “Do you want me to do the talking, Mom, or would you prefer asking the questions while we answer them?” Her face relaxed more. Perhaps she likes having the ball in her court?

“If I ask, will you be truthful?” she asked.

 

That question hit him wrong. “When have I not been honest?” he asked suspiciously.

She reached across and touched his knee. “You don’t need to get defensive, dear. I’m just wondering if this secret you’ve had is something you are willing to own up to? And if so, how much you’ll be willing to share?”

He wasn’t sure what that exactly meant, but he figured how much worse could it get? “Just ask, Mom. You’ve already seen more than I ever want to repeat. So now that it’s out, I’m ready to deal.”

“Okay.” She sipped her tea and sat there.

Ellis was itching to divulge everything and he wasn’t sure he could contain himself while she took her sweet time sipping tea. “Mom?”

“Yes, dear?”
“Are you going to ask something?” he pressed.

“I will,” she answered, all smug and confident of her upper hand.

 

“Like today?” Cole added.

She lifted an eyebrow in his direction and set her teacup back on the saucer. “Where did you get a teacup as lovely as this, Ellis?” She studied it as she asked.

“Um, it’s mine,” Cole offered.
She cocked her head. “Really?”

Cole nodded. “Yes. My mom loves tea and over the years I acquired a taste for it. I like English Breakfast, Chamomile, and Lady Grey, Tibetan Tiger, and some others. When I moved on campus, she said I could take a cup or two to drink it properly.” Cole offered his best British accent and stuck out his pinkie for demonstration. Ellis’s mom giggled.

Ellis inwardly sighed. “Would you like some more, Mom?” “Yes, dear, I would.”

After the second cup was in her grasp, Meredith looked directly at her son. “So, how long has this been going on?”

Ellis, who thought he was ready for the questions, suddenly stuttered. “Um, what do you mean? Me being gay, or going out with Cole?”

Cole mused out loud, “Ellis, is it considered dating if we haven’t actually gone anywhere?”

 

Ellis glared. “No comments unless they simplify the conversation.”

 

“Which would be easier for you to start with?” asked Meredith.

“Cole, I guess,” Ellis answered, feeling less sure of himself now that he was expected to say something. “He’s been my boyfriend now for what….” He looked at Cole. “Two weeks?”

“Are you asking me?” said Cole.

 

“Sort of,” Ellis whined. “I’m not really sure what date to count.”

 

She asked, “When did you start having a relationship?” Ellis scratched his head. “I’m still not sure how to answer that one.”

 

“Ellis,” his mother warned. “If you’re going to tell me that I walked in on you and… Cole… and that this doesn’t mean any—”

“No! Mom! It does. I swear. I love Cole. I’m only having difficulty figuring out what to call ‘the beginning’ of our relationship.”

“What are the choices?” she asked.

 

“First kiss,” Cole offered easily, holding out his open palm with one finger extended.

 

Ellis asked, “When I kissed you or you kissed me?” “Oh, I guess when… no wait, you kissed me both times,” Cole pointed out.

“Oh, I did, didn’t I?”
“Yup. How about first sex?” Cole suggested.

Ellis skeptically pointed out, “First time we did it, or first time I enjoyed it?”

 

“Ouch.” Cole cringed.

 

Meredith held up her hand. “How about when either of you had feelings for the other?”

 

“Oh, easy.” Ellis grinned at his mom.

 

And just as he opened his mouth to give the answer, Cole piped in and they said in unison, “When I first looked into his eyes.” Ellis snapped his gaze over to Cole. “Really?” He was shocked and surprised to hear it was the same time, and in the same way. “Yeah,” Cole gushed.

Color blushed over Cole’s cheeks, and Ellis reached over and touched his knee. Cole grinned and looked away, and Ellis heard his mother clear her throat. He took his hand back. “Sorry, Mom. Is there another question?”

“We’re still debating the first one. We’ve established there is a ‘first kiss’ confusion, and I don’t want to think about first sex, so is there another first? First date, maybe?”

“I already pointed out that we haven’t dated. Unless you count breakfast?”

“Oh yeah!” Ellis said. “I guess we could, but we didn’t go alone. We were with the guys and we didn’t sit together. I didn’t even pay.”

“Who says you have to pay?”
“Uh, I do,” Ellis emphasized.
“I could pay too, you know.”
“No.” Ellis shook his head. “Not gonna to happen.” “But you don’t have any money, Ellis.”
“I have money.”

“Good thing, since you owe me a ring.” Cole pointed it out and then snapped his fingers. “There’s a good ‘first’ to refer to, Ellis asked—”

Ellis raised his hand and tried to interject, but Cole was faster at finishing his thought.

“—me to marry him.”
Meredith exclaimed, “He what?”

Ellis winced. His mom’s voice actually jumped an octave higher than when she’d walked into the bedroom. Oops. Maybe that wasn’t the worst thing in the world. “Sorry, Mom. Maybe I should have started with the day I moved in.”

“Maybe.” She sounded sarcastic.

His mom didn’t look good, but he wasn’t sure what her expression was. It wasn’t sickness, or repulsion, or even anger. She looked strained, and he wasn’t sure why, since he was the one in the very awkward situation.

“Mom, are you sure you want to hear all this now? You don’t look good.”

“No, no, I do. I think I’ve missed out on way too much, and I’m glad you’re willing to talk to me finally. I want to know you, Ellis. I don’t want this wall between us to get any thicker, so start wherever you like and tell me as much as you want.”

Wall? Ellis didn’t like the sound of that. “What are you talking about, Mom? You know me. And since when is there a wall between us?”

“Since always. You never talk to me about anything. How am I supposed to know you?”

It pained him how mouselike his mom’s voice had become in mere minutes. She was confident when she thought she could ask anything, but now she looked petrified of that very notion. “Mom, I never talk much. I’ve always been like that.”

“Trust me,” Cole added. “He’s very difficult to drag information out of.”

 

“You mean, you’re not shutting me out of your life on purpose?”

 

“Mom! No, never. Where did you get that from?”

“I just thought…. You don’t need me. You only call because Russell bugs you to, and even then you only say three words.” She started to cry. “I know you’re grown up now, and I’m in the way.”

He quickly switched his seat, pivoting around to squeeze between her and Cole. (Cole kindly moved out of the way.) He put his arm around her. “I always need you, Mom. I don’t know why you’d think I wouldn’t. I’m sorry if I don’t open up the way you want, but I don’t talk to anybody. I just don’t have loads to say.”

“You don’t?” She sniffled. Cole grabbed the box of tissues from the side table and handed them to her.

“No. I don’t. I thought you understood that better than anyone. Russ’s mom bugs the shit out of him for every detail of the week; you never did. I thought you understood how glad I was.” “No,” she peeped, looking absolutely forlorn and miserable.

“Oh, Mommy, I love you,” Ellis assured her, hugging her to him as securely as he could. “I’ll always love you. I never meant to make you think I didn’t care. I didn’t build any walls. I think we have the best relationship ever!”

“You do?”

Ellis pulled back. “Yes, I do!” He caressed her cheek. “Even when Ben was going through all that crap with Rachel, you always had time to help me with homework. Remember?”

“Yes.”

“And when Sara told you about Lori, you never told me not to be like her or that it was about time I found someone, like other moms told their kids.”

“No, I didn’t.” Her voice was lightening.

“You were supportive and you let me be the quiet kid I wanted to be. You never pressured me to be something you wanted, only the person I wanted.”

“I do want that for you.”

“Well, guess what? I am the person I want to be. It took me a long time to figure out why I felt different. Why girls really didn’t interest me. Why I preferred reading over alcohol. And why, even though I’m a kick-ass soccer player, I’d rather teach English and be poor than travel the world playing for Milan.”

Ellis heard Cole chuckling at his embellishment, but he let it go. He knew he’d never make a professional team, but for the sake of explanation, he wasn’t about to alter his words.

“So, you think I’m a good mother?”

 

“Yes. The best. Who’s been filling your head with these notions of inadequacy? It’s not Dad, is it?”

 

“No. It was something on a talk show about ‘the middle child’ and opening lines of communication.”

“Can you do me a favor? Don’t watch any more of those shows. They don’t know shit. I’m just fine, and our communication level is just where I like it. But I do promise to fill in more details just so you don’t go through this phase again.”

“Okay,” she said. She sniffled and wiped her nose again. “So, you asked Cole to marry you?”

Ellis felt warm pride. He looked at Cole affectionately and touched his knee. Cole squeezed his hand and smiled at him. “Yes,” Ellis answered, smiling back at Cole. “I did.” He felt so sentimental about it he had to kiss him.

Meredith stood up and walked toward the kitchen, and Ellis jumped up and followed her. She started washing out her cup as he reached her side.

“Mom? Are you alright?” Ellis asked tentatively. “Are you really okay with me… being… you know, gay?”

 

“Why wouldn’t I be?” She set the wet cup in the dish drain next to the sink.

 

“I don’t know. You’re sort of quiet. And you did walk in on us when we were—”

Her hand came up to silence him. “Can we, maybe, not mention that part? I know that my children are all grown up. Ben is a father, Sara’s been living with Lori, and now you… I know you’re adults. But I don’t want to think about you having sex any more than you want to picture me and your father.”

Ellis recoiled. “Eww, no!”

“Specifically my point,” she admitted. “I want to forget that part. If you want to kiss Cole while I’m in the room, I think I’ll be fine with it once the image of you two naked and in bed together fades from my memory. I’ve never seen anything like that, and frankly, it’s a tad unsettling.”

Cole murmured from behind them, “A tad in space terms is half a million miles.”

 

Meredith looked at him. “That’s a quote from Airplane. Surely, you’re too young to know that movie.”

“ Airplane II, actually. I watch a lot of movies and I memorize dialogue easily. It’s a gift.” Cole shrugged casually. “And please, don’t call me Shirley.”

Ellis’s mom laughed and held out her hand to Cole. He walked over to her. Ellis watched as she took one of his hands in her left and touched the side of his face with her right. She smiled at him. “So you’re the one he loves.”

“Yes. I guess so. Although the reason why evades me.”

“Cole!” Ellis warned. He knew Cole was cynical about lots of things and self-deprecating at best, but he didn’t need to give his mom that as a first impression.

“Let me tell you something, Cole. If my son says he loves you, then you never need to doubt that. He’s always been kindhearted, but he’s very selective in the friendships he makes.”

“I am?” Ellis asked, but she kept talking.

 

“I think he has a sixth sense of knowing who he can trust in his life.”

“That didn’t work with Mike,” he mumbled.
She looked at him. “Mike Foster? What happened with him?” “Oh, nothing,” Ellis said, trying to avoid the subject for now.

Cole did not pick up on that and said, “Nothing except smashing my car to bits after seeing us kissing on campus. I think Ellis’s sexuality was offensive and he took his anger out on me.”

She gasped, “Oh dear! Really? How awful. Are you all right? What happened to Mike?”

Ellis shrugged. “He was arrested. Turns out he’s some sort of Hitleresque psychopath. When the cops went to his house, they found two pounds of marijuana and crystal meth. His mother is now in rehab, his dad was arrested for possession with the intent to sell, and his sister was taken in by the Davenports. That’s something, at least.”

“Oh, sweetie,” she sighed, reaching up to stroke Cole’s cheek again. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

 

Cole tilted his expression Ellis’s way and scowled. “You are just like your mom, aren’t you?”

 

Ellis grinned. “I think so… sweetie.”

 

Cole groaned and Ellis laughed out loud.

ALL in all it was a good visit. Ellis was glad his sexuality was out in the open, even if he’d have preferred a gentler method. His mom took a shine to Cole, which made him happy, and she even invited him over at Christmas. And he even managed to get some studying in over the weekend before finals. Life was looking pretty sweet, and Ellis could not have been happier.