Chapter 8

Finally after loading dad's truck with everyone's surf boards and my sports wheelchair we're at the ocean, parked in the parking lot and unloading the truck. Everyone else is pulling their wet suits on, I put mine on before we left the house, I lay my board across my legs as I stare out at the water.

"Dude, stop spacing, we're ready to go," Archer says slapping me gently on the shoulder.

Looking up at him I can't help but stare at his sexiness as his wet suit clings to his muscular body. I nod at him as Drake, who I asked to push me out to the edge of the sand while I'm holding his board, too; starts pushing me.

Locking my brakes, I hand Drake his board before tossing mine on the ground by the water to stand and walk out to the water with dad's help while I carry my board on the opposite side.

Pulling myself up onto my board I paddle out farther along with the others. I've learned over the years to surf on my board lying on my stomach like the others standing on their boards on the waves. Three hours later all of us are sitting on the sand, eating snacks and drinks that we had stopped and grabbed on our way here.

Shifting my position on my ass cheeks, I notice Archer staring at me out of the corner of my eye with a lusty look. Ignoring the look because there is no way he would ever look at me like that, I turn my attention to dad when he taps me on the back.

"Noelle was wondering if we would like to meet her and Gavin at the playground tomorrow night after I get the kids."

I nod my answer causing dad to smile. "Thanks for willing to take me so I can see her and Gavin."

"No problem, son, I just wish your mom would get over her issue with you and realize that not only is she hurting Jacob, Anna, Abbi and Amelia, but that she's hurting you, Noelle and Gavin as well."

Shrugging at him as I chew on a granola bar, swallowing before I reply, "She won't dad because she believes that she's protecting Gavin from my disease and sin and that her hope is that he won't turn out like me."

"Dude, that's really what she thinks?" Bianca asks me shocked, her eyes wide. I nod and she continues with, "She does realize that being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, pansexual, asexual and so on, isn't a disease, some religions might view these as a sin; but those who truly love all humans won't believe this?"

"That's the thing though, she really does believe that being anything but heterosexual is a disease and sin even though she's isn't religious one bit," I say bitterly before taking a drink of my Monster.

"New topic of discussion, even with you Jason," Drake pips up suddenly with an evil sparkle in his eyes. I don't want to hear his new topic, so I'm silently hoping that it's not what I think it is.

With everyone's attention on him, Drake smirks at me before saying, "So, who else has noticed the googly eyed stares that Archer and Jace give each other behind everyone's back?"

Fuck, yup that was the topic I didn't want him to voice. Feeling my face heat up to lava, I bury my face in my hands hoping it's all a bad dream. Nope, my hopes were again dashed when I hear dad and Archer laugh and Bianca giggle.

"I've noticed them making goo-goo eyes at each other when the other or anyone else for that matter isn't looking," dad says still laughing softly causing Bianca to agree with him.

Damn them, he's my dad and she's my friend, they're supposed to back me up on this that I haven't been obvious about this not agree with my supposed best friend.

Glaring at Drake whose still grinning like a damn fool, I growl half-meaning it at him, "I thought you were my best friend? Best friends wouldn't embarrass their best friend in front of his parent."

"Dude, we've all seen the looks, why can't the two of you admit that you have feeling for each other and date already?" he asks like it's no big deal.

"Whatever, Archer doesn't look at me like that, right Archer?" I ask turning my attention to him, who's been quiet this whole time. Noticing that he has a broad smile upon his lips, I knew then and there that he has been doing this as well.

Before I can fully register what is happening, Archer is standing and walking over behind me, causing me to believe that he's heading to the truck and avoiding me. To my surprise though, he settles himself down behind my back, pulling my back to his front and wrapping his arms around my middle pulling me as close as possible. Dad, Drake and Bianca have all stood and grabbed their boards and are paddling out into the ocean again.

Turning my head slightly so I can see his face causing him to tilt his head so we can see each other clearly, I smile tentatively to ask him, "Do you like me more than a friend?"

His grip tightens on me as his smile grows broader, "Yes, actually I do Jace, I have for a long time." Opening my mouth to ask how long, he answers my unspoken question. "I have for about two years now; I just never knew how to approach the subject when it seemed you weren't interested in me. After spending more time with you recently, I realized how stupid I was. It wasn't that you weren't possibly interested in me, you and I didn't know how to talk to each other, how to get over our shyness."

Smiling gently at him, I lean forward to gently kiss his luscious lips at his words. Screw it, I'm all in and going for broke at this point. I can feel Archer's smile on my lips before he leans in to deepen the kiss.

Pulling apart to regain our breaths, we're both smiling like idiots. Archer leans his face forward, our lips centimeters apart as he whispers, "Will you be my boyfriend, Jace?"

"Yes," I whisper before closing the distance, our lips moving in sync. His lips are soft and warm and were made exactly for my lips.

I need to thank Drake for being the best friend a guy could ask for, but I'll do that later, right now I'm enjoying kissing my boyfriend, someone I never thought I would ever have in my life. 

Today is Archer and my six month anniversary. I know most people only celebrate their anniversary on the year mark, but hey, we can do whatever we want. Tonight Archer is picking me up from home and is taking me somewhere but he is being tight lipped about it. I can't even get any information out of Drake or Bianca as they helped him organize and plan our date.

Archer isn't picking me up until 5:30 tonight, currently its noon and I'm lying on my bed scrolling through my social medias. I'm excited for our date tonight but nervous at the same time since I have no clue where we're going.

There's a light knock on my bedroom door before it opens as Jacob enters with our three sisters. Smiling at them but very curious as to why all four of them are coming into my room.

"What's up?" I ask pushing myself up on my elbows to sitting against the headboard to make room for all of them to sit with me.

All of them just smile brightly at me before Jacob gestures toward the bedroom door. Turning my eyes toward the doorway, I find myself staring at Noelle and Gavin leaning against opposite sides with huge grins.

"Jace!" Gavin yells as he runs toward me and launching himself on top of me wrapping himself around me in a hug.

Wrapping my arms around his middle I pull him tightly to me in a hug. "Hi bud, how are you?" I whisper into his hair peppering the top of his head in kisses.

"I'm good but I miss you," he giggles back quietly.

Glancing upwards from my little brother as the bed dips from Noelle's slight weight, "How are you, No?"

She giggles at my childhood nickname as she wraps Gavin and I in a hug. "I'm good, Jay, but I miss you, too," she whispers before kissing my cheek.

The seven of us sit in my room for a few hours talking before we head to the ice cream parlor and then to the playground before I have to be home to prepare myself for my date tonight.

When we entered the ice cream parlor, as we're standing in line waiting our turn to order, I feel a pair of warm hands cover my eyes causing me to instantly giggle. I know those hands anywhere.

"Hi love, how are you?" I ask giggling as Archer removes his hands to kiss me on the lips from above me as I lean my head back and he leans his forward.

"Hi baby, I'm good and yourself," he says back in his sexy deep voice. I answer him.

Looking around embarrassed that we totally PDAed in public, I see Gavin and Noelle staring at us with their mouths hanging open. I haven't seen them in six months and I guess none of our siblings have told them that I'm dating anyone let alone someone who was a friend prior.

"Um, babe," I say drawing Archer's attention back to me. "This is my little brother, Gavin and my older sister, Noelle," I say pointing to them. Gesturing back to Archer I continue, "Gav, No, this is my boyfriend, Archer."

"Nice to meet you both, I've heard a lot about the both of you," he says holding his hand out to Gavin first then Noelle with a bright, welcoming smile that I love.

"Um, hi," Gav says taking Archer's hand to shake before Noelle returns the greeting and handshake.

Noelle turns her attention back to me after telling a family with three small children to order ahead of us because we hadn't decided what flavors we wanted yet. "Why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend, Jace?" I can hear the disappointment in her tone.

Hanging my head I mumble out, "I'm sorry, Noelle, I would have thought one of these four would have told you on one of their weekends."

She huffs at me as the eight of us place our orders and we pay. Taking our ice cream cups from the server the eight of us head to the park to sit and eat in the beautiful 60 degree weather that we're having since it's only the beginning of April and it's starting to finally warm up.

The eight of us sit a picnic table while we eat and talk, and Noelle grilling Archer, who takes all of her threating glares and questions in good natured strides.

"No, stop grilling and glaring at my boyfriend, please, he's been nothing but a gentleman since we've started dating."

Huffing at me, she finally agrees to stop grilling Archer so we can enjoy the rest of our short time together before she has to have Gavin home so mom doesn't start to become suspicious as to where they really are.

"What in the fucking hell do you think you are doing with my son, you damn freak of nature?" I hear a shrill voice screaming from behind me.

My head snaps to my right allowing me to notice mom storming over to the eight of us. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," I mutter out becoming terrified not only of her causing a scene but what she might try and do.