"That's the third time you've said that in the last hour. What're you hiding?" Kane asked.
"Nothing." Avery chuckled. "You still look young."
"I do not. What are you hiding?" Kane said, finally finishing his Windsor knot, before his eyes were back on Avery's.
"You think you know me so well?" Avery fidgeted with his cuff links.
Avery was definitely hiding something. Kane's heart dropped a little. He'd enjoyed the night, loved their bathroom time. Did Avery have a purpose in all this? Kane matched Avery's stance, crossing his arms over his chest and asked one more time. "Avery. What is it?"
"Baby…" Avery stepped closer to Kane and embraced him. When Kane didn't immediately wrap his arms around his husband, Avery made a show of uncrossing Kane's arms and draping them around his waist. Kane guessed Avery was getting the hint he wasn't backing down and tried for a joke. "At least pretend like you love me."
"Just tell me," Kane said.
"They want me to run again." Avery stopped playing the game and said what he needed to say. Except Kane didn't really understand what those words meant. He paused for a moment, unsure of what he'd heard. After a minute, he had no choice but to ask.
"What do you mean?" Kane furrowed his brow.
"For senate. They approached me earlier today," Avery said.
"What? You didn't tell me?" Kane pushed out of Avery's arms, putting as much distance between them as the small bathroom would allow. Avery followed, moving with him, and he had to put out a hand, stopping Avery from getting any closer.
"I was going to, I just knew you had big plans for tonight, and I didn't want to mess that up. How did you pull this off?" Avery asked, pushing against Kane's extended arm as he stepped forward. He didn't touch Kane, but most definitely invaded his personal space.
"No. There's no changing the subject. What did you tell them?" Kane searched Avery's face. He crossed his arms over his chest again in an effort to hold his pounding heart inside.
"That I needed to talk to you."
"And what else?" Avery grinned at his question and gathered him, crossed arms and all, back in the circle of those strong arms. He ignored the irritation and concern radiating from Kane and kissed him sweetly on the lips. Kane didn't kiss back.
"It's good you know me so well. It's always been that way between us. It's one of the reasons I love you so much. I told them I was interested, it was you that would need convincing."
"We're so public in this community, Avery. They won't be able to hide us," Kane worried out loud. How had he gone from feeling a million miles high, to being buried with doubt? Now the desperation was creeping in, he heard it in his own voice. He hated the feeling of no control, hated feeling like he needed to hide what they'd built. Kane loved his family and didn't want to hide any of part of who they were, but the hate they would face would be a huge obstacle.
"We're a package deal. There's no hiding us. We're a family, a unit, and I would run with us intact," Avery said. This time when Kane pulled free, Avery let him. He had to process this fear racing through him.
"Avery…" Kane began with only the slightest shake of his head. This wasn't good. People outside of their small, secluded world didn't accept them. Autumn and Robert had been taught from the time they were babies to ignore the hateful verbal slaps hurled their way whenever they left Minnesota.
"No, honey, listen! Stop squaring your shoulders and putting up all those walls. Talk to me. The demographics in the area largely support us. The incumbent isn't running. All the polls have been done. They're certain I can win." Avery grew serious, and he refused to let Kane walk away from him.
"Even with us?" Kane questioned, doubt edging his words.
"Yes! That's what I just said," Avery assured him. Kane was quiet, watching Avery closely. "We don't have to decide right now. I want you to come in and listen to what they have to say. If you don't want us to, then I won't. End of story." Avery gave a small shrug, blowing the whole thing off.
"But you would run if it was just up to you?" Kane shot back.
"I would've already run, but I chose something far better, I chose you. Of course you know all that. Baby, you know how I feel about this." For Avery, the conversation appeared to be over and there was no need to say anything more on the subject. He picked up his suit coat and slid it onto his shoulders, straightening his dress shirt. For Kane, this was so far from over, they had only just begun.
"What about the restaurant expansion?" Kane asked, refusing to take his jacket from Avery's outstretched hand.
"Nothing changes for us. Come on. I shouldn't have brought it up tonight," Avery said, wiggling the jacket until Kane gave in and took it.
"No, you shouldn't keep secrets from me. It's just you haven't ever said another word about running for office. I didn't know you were still interested." Kane tried to read Avery's face as he slid his arms in his jacket.
"It's in my blood, you know that. I just never thought it would be an option after I came out. Now it seems to be an option. Fix your collar." Avery smiled, stepping up to straighten Kane's collar himself. Avery also adjusted his tie and dusted off his tux jacket sleeve before they locked eyes. "You are gorgeous."
"Stop saying that. We can talk to them. Set up a meeting. And we need to talk to the kids' school counselor. I want the children safe. If it's too much for them, I don't want to do it. Our responsibility is to them. We have to shield them as best as we can." Kane looked Avery over before he opened the office door.
"You and the children are always first." Avery walked past the open door, briefly stopping to kiss Kane lightly on the lips. "Thank you."