CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14

KURT

"Wes, I swear to GOD, if you embarrass me, I will kick your ass!" I yelled from the kitchen as Wes shuffled back into his room to pull out a scrapbook of pictures of us from our days in a capella choir. I was worried about one in particular of me dressed up in lederhosen. Though I could pull off the look, I looked a bit like Pinocchio and I wasn't ready for Blaine to see me in such embarrassing photos just yet.

"Whatever," I heard him reply as more noises of drawers opening and closing inside his room. I rolled my eyes as I turned back to the risotto that I was working on. I wasn't the most amazing cook, but I could work my way around a kitchen – at least more so than Wes could – so I insisted that Blaine come over and enjoy dinner at our apartment and so he could "officially" meet Wes.

Wes had shared a bunch of stories of him and Blaine in high school – most of which ended with both of us in stitches – and I was thankful that I was dating a guy who was so fun and full of life. He probably had changed a bit since high school, but the fact that he and his Warbler friends had nearly broken the school's fountain because they switched out the water in the fountain with dish detergent was pretty hilarious.

Though I wanted to hear more stories of Blaine from Wes, I wanted to learn about them from Blaine. In the same way that I didn't want to look up information about Blaine from the internet, I didn't want to learn too much about him from his high school friend. Although the story about the two of them singing Beyonce was pretty fantastic.

I stirred the risotto and contemplated the evening. It was nearly 6 now and Blaine would arrive around 6:30. I had managed to get the evening off – only working the matinee – since Roselyn said I put in more than enough time over the weekend. Wes had gotten home at 5:45 and had spent most of his time in the last 15 minutes trying to annoy me. It was moments like this that made me wonder why I had lived with him for so long.

"I've got to run somewhere really quickly," Wes said breathlessly as he grabbed his coat from the coat hanger.

I looked at him, stunned. "What exactly do you have to do right now? Blaine will be here in half an hour!" It wasn't like he was helping much, but I never know what Wes is up to; he's so unpredictable sometimes.

"We're out of wine and beer and I figured we could restock. Plus I know I'm just bothering you anyway, so I doubt that you'll be hurt if I'm not around for a little while. Besides, I'll be back in like 20 minutes, so I'll be here to open the door and welcome our guest, take his coat, all that," he said with a wink.

"Whatever," I replied as I rolled my eyes. "Make sure you get two bottles of red," I called after him as the door closed. I heard him yell something in the affirmative and I got back to cooking.

After the sauce thickened and I checked on the asparagus, I heard a knock on the door. Wes had left maybe 5 minutes ago, and I guessed that he had forgotten his keys. Again.

"Wes did you forget your...oh," I said as I opened the door, surprised not to see my roommate who had forgotten his keys, but a very distinguished looking Blaine. "Hi."

"Hi," he replied with a smile. He leaned forward as if to kiss me and I leaned in reply, but he backed away before we could get too close. "May I come in?"

"Of course," I said, moving aside to let him pass. "Welcome to our humble abode."

Blaine breezed past me and shrugged his coat from his shoulders, which I took and hung on the coat rack. "I'm sorry I'm a bit early. I just didn't want to wait around the studio and it's freezing outside, so I hope it's alright that I busted in earlier than you'd planned," he said as he glanced around our apartment. I realized he hadn't been to our place before, so he was probably itching to look around a bit.

"It's perfectly fine. I'm just going to be in the kitchen for a bit finishing things. But feel free to look around and make yourself at home. I'm right through there," I noted as I pointed through the archway into the kitchen, "If you need anything."

He replied with a smile and I scurried back to the kitchen. It felt weird to leave Blaine in the living room of our apartment just looking around, but what was I supposed to do, make him sit with me in the kitchen? That would be boring... and I'd probably try to make out with him again and that would ruin the whole dinner. The way his navy dress shirt was fitting in the shoulders... it was droolworthy. And don't get me started on the fit of his gray trousers.

I didn't hear Blaine emit more than a few hums here and there as his shoes clicked along with the hardwood floors in the living room, so I continued stirring and checking on the food until I had determined it was done as well as it could be and turned off the stove, joining my boyfriend in the living room.

I expected to see Blaine looking through the various pictures hung on the wall – some of me, some of Wes, and some of our friends and family – but instead I saw Blaine sitting on the edge of the couch. "What do you think?" I nervously asked as I crossed the living room and joined him on the couch.

"It's really nice," he said. "It's bigger than my place and far more stylish looking, though I'm guessing that's due to you and not Wes."

I laughed. "You're correct, sir. Oh, where are my manners! Do you want anything to drink? Wes actually just stepped out to get us some wine and beer for tonight, but we have water and some juice if you're interested."

He shook his head. "I'm okay, thanks though."

I smiled. "Okay." We sat quietly for a moment; Blaine continuing to take in our apartment and I had placed my hand lightly on top of Blaine's and rubbed his knuckles with my thumb. "Thanks for coming tonight," I said, pulling Blaine away from the arrangement of photos he was looking at on the wall next to the couch.

"I'm just glad you asked me to come. I wasn't expecting it."

I quirked my brow with curiosity. "Expecting what? Dinner?"

"No, expecting you to call."

I was stumped. "Why wouldn't I call you?"

He sighed. "I don't know. Things were... weird after Wes barged out of the studio Monday and we barely talked yesterday aside from you inviting me to dinner. I just... wasn't sure if we were on the same page anymore."

He shuffled in his seat uncomfortably as I took in what he said. Why wouldn't we be on the same page? I liked him, he liked me; I thought that was clear. I called him boyfriend in the text I'd sent him yesterday morning and everything – I don't see how he would think that.

"I know you really value what Wes thinks and... I guess I was worried that if Wes somehow wasn't okay with us dating that you'd end things with me or something. And since I didn't hear from you at first, I feared for the worst," he stated, still not making eye contact as I sat next to him on the couch.

I had maintained contact with Blaine's hand but it had stilled while he spoke. As I was thinking, I started rubbing again, but soon forced my hand in under his and clasped our fingers together. "I'm really sorry that I made you wait like that, Blaine. I honestly didn't even think about it. Wes and I ended up spending most of Monday... well, Tuesday morning talking about everything – mainly you and me – and we didn't get to bed until 3 in the morning and I figured you needed your sleep for Tuesday. Then I texted you when I woke up and I didn't even think about how me not telling you about this would... I'm just really sorry Blaine. God, I feel like an idiot."

He squeezed my hand and I looked up at him – happy to see his eyes for the first time during this heart-to-heart. "You're not an idiot. I admit, I'm a bit oversensitive sometimes and it was in full effect after Wes shook everything up. But I did want to let you know how I felt. I just... wasn't sure where we really stood and I figured I wouldn't really find out until we talked in person."

I smiled. "I really am sorry, Blaine. Sometimes I think I'm just oblivious to the way people feel, but I want you to know I'm still very much into you – and us."

He beamed in response. "Okay."

"Okay," I replied, squeezing his hand again. I leaned forward with my eyes intent on his lips and Blaine pushed forward in response and our lips met gracefully and softly. My eyes fluttered shut as I was taken away to the feeling of euphoria that was Blaine's lips against mine.

"I swear, every time I see you two, you're attached at the face," Wes moaned as he walked in the front door carrying two paper bags.

"Whatever," I replied. "You're just jealous."

"Please, if I had wanted Blaine I could have had him back in high school," he said as he went to the kitchen to put the alcohol away. He came back out and jetted to the couch and wrapped himself around my boyfriend, who had risen from the couch in preparation – with a full smile on his face at seeing his high school buddy. "Hey B."

"Hey Wes," Blaine replied.

As I looked at my best friend and my boyfriend clutched together in their hug, I realized that for once in my life all things were going in my favor. But more importantly, I understood that even if Wes hadn't approved of Blaine, I would have fought tooth and nail for him - because Blaine was worth it.

BLAINE

Kurt left Wes and I to catch up again now that the initial shock of me dating his roommate was under the table and soon Kurt was insisting that we stop discussing Kurt's many "unique mannerisms" – as Wes called them – and join him at the table.

Kurt had prepared quite the feast of mushroom risotto, asparagus and some sort of apple crumb cake and Wes insisted he'd done a fair job as well picking out the wine and beer, to which Kurt rolled his eyes. Thankfully I'd ended up in the seat across Kurt and next to Wes, which meant I could look at Kurt while we ate and link our feet together under the table without Wes having any idea. I was fairly certain that Kurt planned it that way since he insisted he sit in the seat closest to the kitchen in case he needed to hop up and get anything, but I wasn't complaining.

"Will you two stop making googly eyes at each other while you're eating? Some of us are trying to keep their food down," Wes requested. I hadn't realized that I was staring at Kurt, but given the rosy glow on Kurt's cheeks, we were both caught red handed. "I guess you guys are cute and everything, but I just got used to the fact that you two are dating, so give it a rest."

"Oh please Wes, you're thrilled," Kurt replied.

"Yeah, yeah," my high school friend retorted. "So, Blaine, I already heard Kurt's side of the story – tell me about it from your perspective."

"I'm pretty sure the same things happened on both sides," I said, winking at Kurt in the process. "But I guess I can just give you my perspective. I was out to lunch with Santana and David and I saw this guy at the restaurant we were at, and—"

"Wait," Kurt interjected. "Santana and David were the people you were eating with that day?" I nodded. "Jesus, that would have saved me a little bit of trouble."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"When I saw you at Cosi, I thought you were straight because this woman's arm was around you. Not only that, but it was Santana – of all people," Kurt huffed.

Wes chuckled. "You guys have the weirdest story."

"I suppose," I decided. "But anyway, I saw him at Cosi and was totally taken by him, but then I ended up meeting him in person at a show in Brooklyn where I found out he was friends with Lauren," I nudged Wes with that note as I watched him blush due to the name of the girl who he was smitten with. "And tried to get a hold of him through her."

"And she also thought you were straight," Kurt added.

I laughed. "I swear I'm gay."

"Oh, I know," Kurt added with a wink.

"Isodon't want to know," Wes uttered.

"Anyway," I continued. "I had Lauren's phone number and was planning on calling her to get in touch with Kurt that way, but I found him on NYCDate instead. He was my top match and I took the risk and messaged him and he messaged me back and the rest, as they say, is history. Did I leave anything out?" I asked Kurt.

He shook his head. "And just so you know it's the same story I told Wes, just obviously not realizing the whole 'lunch with Santana and David' thing."

We kept talking as we ate and I learned more about how Kurt and Wes became roommates while they were in college and witnessed the friendship between my high school friend and my boyfriend. Wes and Kurt were on the opposite sides of the spectrum – Kurt was intentional where Wes was sporadic, Kurt was neat and Wes was messy, Kurt was calm and Wes was emotional, but their friendship had thrived and it seemed like they brought out better things in each other.

Plus I'm fairly certain that without Kurt living with him, Wes was going to end up on the TV show Hoarders.

Once the meal was finished Kurt got up to gather the plates but I insisted that I help, which earned me quite the death glare from Kurt, so I let it go.

"That must be your first Kurt Death Glare," Wes chuckled.

"Well, the second. I'm pretty sure the first one was when I was late to our initial coffee date. I totally deserved it since you know how I feel about tardiness, but I don't think I've ever felt more intimidated, especially since I hadn't ever truly talked to him in person."

"Don't worry, his bark is worse than his bite," Wes added. Silence fell over our table as I could hear Kurt moving around in the kitchen and the familiar sound of water running gave away what he was doing. "But can I talk to you about something?" Wes asked.

"Sure thing."

He sighed. "I just – I really am sorry about what happened the other night. I was just so surprised because it all just seemed too good to be true. So, I apologize for freaking out. And I wanted to let you know that I'm really happy you found someone and I'm even happier that the someone you found is Kurt. You're both such great people and fantastic friends... I still can't believe that you guys are dating."

"I'm happy I found him too. And it's okay, I just think you freaked Kurt out more than anything."

He nodded. "I know. And I apologized to him profusely."

"Good," I chuckled.

"One last thing," Wes said as Kurt hummed away in the kitchen. "I am saying this as Kurt's roommate and unofficial brother, but please don't hurt him. He's had it rough relationship-wise and I'd hate to see that happen again."

I gaped at Wes. "Wes, I'm saying this as a friend, but you don't have to worry. Not because I won't hurt him – I mean, I wasn't planning on it – but because Kurt is a strong guy who can take care of himself. You can't be his protector all the time - it's not fair to you or him. And I get that you don't want to see him hurt, no one does, but I'm sure Kurt can handle whatever life throws at him. I don't know him as well as you do, but he's feisty and determined and even if I did act like an asshole once or twice, he would surely put me in my place quicker than you could name all of the Supreme Court justices."

Wes laughed at that note. "I guess you're right. I just... I feel responsible for him sometimes – especially because of... well, I don't want to get into it because it's not my place. But just know I'm looking out for him."

"I'm glad someone has his back – and you're a great friend. But if I'm being honest, I have a lot of baggage from past relationships as well, but Kurt and I will talk about those things when the time is right – I'm not going to force him to tell me anything he isn't comfortable with. Plus, we've been together for like a week – it's a bit early to have the ex-boyfriends talk."

Wes snorted. "I suppose. But seriously man, I'm just... glad it's you."

I smiled. "I'm glad it's me too."

"Gentlemen," Kurt said from the doorway as he wiped his hands on a towel. "Now that I've let you two play catch-up, would you guys be game for a movie and some wine?"

"Count me in," I said playfully, looking to Wes.

He shrugged. "I guess. But no Moulin Rouge, Kurt."

"Fine," he sighed. "Love Actually then?"

"Isn't that a Christmas movie?" Wes asked.

"Hardly," I replied. "It's a movie that's good year-round. All of the interconnected stories, British people, Hugh Grant... it's practically perfect."

Kurt laughed as we entered the living room and took our places in front of the TV – Wes sitting in the armchair and me on the couch, with plenty of room for Kurt when he finished putting the DVD on. As the opening titles ran, Kurt plopped down on the couch next to me.

"Love Actually is one of my favorite movies," he said as he scooted in next to me and grabbed my hand. "I knew there was a reason I chose you."

I smiled as I squeezed his hand, hearing Wes making exaggerated barfing noises from his side of the living room – but I didn't care. Kurt choseme, and that was enough to make me forget about anything else.