Sam’s parents, grandma, and brother were there, along with Bree, who watched me with very wide eyes.
I said, “Hi! What an amazing surprise!” Smile, smile, smile.
“My family’s here,” Sam said through clenched teeth.
“He has eyes, Samu!” Mrs. Tanaka opened her arms, and I stooped to hug her. Her parka was so puffy that she made me think of a snowman. “Happy New Year! We’re going to see you skate.”
“Awesome!” I straightened, still smiling as I hugged Sam’s parents, then Henry. He smiled genuinely at me, giving me a little nod. Of approval? Had Sam told him?
Sam and I had sex. He likes me back.
“They were determined to surprise you!” Bree said. “But gosh, it’s freezing out here! Why don’t you two sleepyheads meet us for brunch in the hotel in twenty?” She made a shooing motion at Sam. “Your toes will get frostbite!”
Sam actually was shivering, and he blurted, “Yep, bye!” and practically dove back inside. I waved, still smiling, and closed the door.
“Oh my fucking god,” Sam whispered. “Do I smell like sex? I must! Do they know?”
His panic sliced through me, hurting more than it should have. I understood why he was freaking out. Of course I did. But… Was he ashamed of me? Of being with a guy? Of being with me?
I said, “I don’t know. We’ll just act…normal.” That word scraped out of my throat painfully.
Sam spun to face me. “Wait, that’s not… I don’t want to hide this. I don’t want to hide you.”
“You don’t?”
“No!”
“I thought maybe you were freaking out, so…”
Sam ran his hands through his hair, making it stand up even higher. “Okay, yeah. I am. What we did was amazing. I loved it. I love—” He rubbed his face, breathing shallowly. “I don’t regret anything, and I’m not ashamed of you. I just did not expect my family at the door while I can still taste you.”
The hurt and fear faded like scratches on the ice smoothed over by the Zamboni. “That’s fair. It’s a lot to process. For me too. But I don’t regret anything either. Not even a little.”
We smiled at each other, moving into a hug. I loved being able to hold him so closely. We didn’t slap each other’s backs. No more fake bro bullshit. I breathed deeply.
“You really do smell like sex.”
Groaning, Sam pulled free and tugged off the robe, dropping it on the floor as he disappeared into the bathroom.
Before long, we sat at a round table with Sam’s family, Bree, and Tim. I gulped my coffee too quickly, burning my tongue. This was absolutely surreal. I felt like anyone who glanced at me and Sam would know immediately that we’d fucked. It had to be flashing over our heads in neon.
I looked at the menu, the words all blending together. I ordered eggs benedict because every brunch menu in North America had them. The server jotted it down on her pad, so clearly I was correct.
As the rest of the table chitchatted and our food eventually arrived, I managed to nod and smile. Under the table, Sam pressed his knee against mine. It was both comforting and unbearably erotic.
All I wanted to do was tell his family and everyone to leave us alone so we could have more sex. But Bree and I had two shows later, so I’d have to wait.
Tim said something I didn’t hear, and Bree smiled at me, so it was probably a compliment about our skating. I nodded and gulped fresh coffee before remembering my tongue was burned. The hollandaise sauce had been soothing.
“Tabarnak,” I muttered, then remembered where I was. “Sorry. Too hot.” I motioned to my mouth.
“Did you burn yourself?” Beside me, Sam frowned in concern.
“You’ll have to kiss it better, Samu!” Mrs. Tanaka said with a wink.
All the air in the dining room whooshed out. My heart thundered in my ears. Was I wearing pants? This all had to be some strange dream. Everyone would be naked in a second. Not that I wanted them to be. Except Sam.
I asked, “Pardon?”
“Clearly you’re romantically involved,” Henry offered.
Sam choked on his mimosa, fidgeting as he managed to swallow. I stared at Henry, who watched Sam placidly. Henry typically said little, but he sure made those words count.
I glanced around the table. Bree and Tim sat frozen like they were watching a car crash. But Sam’s parents were still eating. His grandma buttered a piece of toast. She chirped, “About time.”
I had so many questions, but I waited for Sam. Swallowing hard, he looked at me before asking, “What do you mean?’
Mr. Sakaguchi stirred his coffee, the spoon clinking. “We always thought you boys might start dating eventually.”
Sam only stared at his father with his mouth gaping. I said, “Uh, really?”
“Oh, yes,” Mrs. Sakaguchi said. “You seemed keen on our Sam for ages.”