Page 100 of Saving the Rain

“Ok, don’t go planning a wedding or anything?—”

“Oh my god. You would look stunning in a blue suit. STUNNING.” She gasps.

“Sage.” I scold her. But the grin is there, widening across my features in the face of her enthusiasm for said imaginary wedding she’s already planning.

“And, of course, you’d have to have it at Devil’s Peak. Photos on horseback? I can just picture it all. The barn spruced up. Late summer. Divine. Book it in right now.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Now, for the cake... do you prefer dark chocolate? No, knowing you, it’ll be something layered with extra sugary goodness.” She makes a squeak. “One of those cakes where the middle is hollow and filled with candy?”

“Ok, let’s just rewind here.”

She coughs and puts on a serious, stern voice. “Oh yes. Sorry. We’re here to discuss the matter of Kayce Wilder, newly anointed cock aficionado.”

I let out a groan.

“How’s your blow jobgame? Need some tips?”

“Don’t make me regret this phone call.”

“You know if you do this thing with your tongue?—”

“SAGE.”

“Sorry... I just want lover boy to be left with his toes curling each time you worship his schlong.”

I chuckle.

“Is it big? What kind of girth are we working with here?”

“Can I talk to Beau instead?”

“Alright, alright. I’ll behave.” She whines and puffs out an exaggerated sigh. “How very booooring.”

“If I told you I’m running late to go over his place, would that satisfy you?”

I can hear the stifled glee from the other end of the call. “Immensely. Are you guysserious-serious? Or is it awe’re keeping it flirty and casualkind of deal?”

My teeth sink into my bottom lip.

“Ohmygodit’ssoseriousIdie.” She breathes, and I can practically hear her jumping up and down.

“I mean, I’m not exactly ready to start shouting from the rooftops. But I also want to tell certain people. And well, I just feel like I don’t know how to blurt it out and starttellingthem.” I gulp hard as I say it. “It’s dumb. I know.”

“Not at all, Kayce. And all joking aside, I’m gonna be shedding a tear when I get off this call over the fact that you chose me, of all people, to ask about this. I feel like a proud mama lioness.”

“Thanks, Sage.”

“Ok, but before I answer, I gotta ask... do you want me to give you an opinion, or do you just need a listening ear right now?”

I pause for a moment. “Definitely hit me with any pearls of wisdom you’ve got. I know you and Beau were a different set of circumstances... but I figured you’d understand about feeling like you couldn’t tell people, even though you might’ve wanted to.”

Sage hums as she thinks. “My advice is you’re better off not hiding things. Just take baby steps. Start with one person, then go from there.That sneaking around shit isn’t healthy. And I hate to bring up the hard, but very necessary, truth—that it’s much better to make the tough decision now, which sometimes turns out to be the positive solution needed in the long run. A new relationship is difficult enough as it is. One built on a foundation of hiding who you are and your sexuality, on top of keeping your relationship a secret? That’s gonna be super tough going kiddo.”

Letting out a laugh, I guess I kinda already knew the answer. But to hear her say it out loud, well, just reinforces that fact.

“You haven’t just withered away on me, right?” Sage croons in the way she does.