The car made a loud grinding sound as Ali changed gear. It was the first time she'd been on a motorway, so she felt like every single movement of her hand changed the direction the car was going. She wasn't used to speed like this. In fact, she hadn't driven all that much since she passed her driving test a year ago. There were very few people she'd have made this journey for, but Jack was one of them.
She had the radio on when she first set off and was singing along to the songs that came on. But as soon as she got up to higher speeds, she'd turned it off. She needed total concentration. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw signs for the airport. She'd nearly made it. She doubted she'd ever make such a journey again. Jack could drive them back. It was his car, after all.
She was in the wrong lane, so indicated and took what she thought was a reasonable gap. The car behind her didn't seem to agree and beeped at her. She held her hand us as an apology, but she didn't really think she was in the wrong. That guy was just an asshole.
Once inside the airport, things didn't get any easier. She knew what gate she needed to be at, but went round in circles before she finally found the right carpark. She paid at the machine, then went inside. She was about half an hour early and it looked like the flight had been delayed too. So she found a coffee shop and ordered herself a latte.
She couldn't wait to see him again. It had been a month since they'd last been together, which was by far the longest time they'd spent apart since they'd first met three years ago. She'd not even been out that much since Jack went. She and Kai had been out for drinks and a few meals, but she liked her crazy nights out to be with Jack.
She was just finishing her coffee when she got a text.
Just landed. See you in a bit x
She put her phone away, threw her cup away and went to meet her best friend.
He arrived ten minutes later. Their eyes met through the crowds and both their faces filled with the biggest smiles. They were so happy to see each other. When he got to her, she threw her arms around him.
'Welcome back,' she said, 'I've missed you so much.'
'I've missed you too,' he said, giving her a kiss on the top of her head. 'You get my car here in one piece?'
'Just,' she said. 'You're driving it back.'
The car had been a gift to Jack from his father's winnings. It wasn't much, but it got him from A to B. He didn't really need it all that much, but he drove it to work and back every day. He was pretty new to motorway driving too, but had dropped his dad off at the airport once himself since getting it.
'No problem,' he said. 'I'm really grateful for you for coming for me.'
'It's fine,' she said. 'Happy birthday by the way.'
'Thanks.'
'No longer a teenager.'
'Don't remind me. Twenty sounds so old.'
They linked arms and walked towards the car together.
Jack really was pleased to be back with Ali again, but he'd started missing Oscar already.
❤🧡💛💚💙💜
It was also Max's eighteenth birthday. He'd been at school all day, but was planning on celebrating in style tonight. He went straight over to Luke's house. Luke had given him a key to his apartment, so let he let himself in and made himself comfortable whilst he waited for his boyfriend to come home.
When they'd first started dating, Max had said he'd wanted to take things slow. He was fresh out of his relationship with Milo and didn't want to jump straight in. But love doesn't always work like that. They were crazy about each other, so they started dating exclusively pretty much straight away.
Max didn't feel the need to sleep around before getting involved again and he certainly wasn't doing that now he was with Luke. His relationship with Milo has been an open one, which inevitably ended to them breaking up. Max wasn't sure why he'd ever agreed to it in the first place. He was much more a one man kind of guy, and Max was perfect so he'd never want to risk losing him. It was probably because Milo had wanted it, more than him. But that seemed like ancient history. He'd been with Luke for little over a month now and was looking forward, not back.
Luke arrived home from work around six. Max had cooked dinner for him (he'd thrown a couple of frozen pizzas in the oven) ready for when he got in.
'Hey baby,' said Luke. He liked Max being there when he got home.
'Hi baby.' They kissed. 'Want a drink?'
'I'd love a beer.'
He'd had a tough day at work and was ready for it to be the weekend.
'Sit down and I'll bring it into you. Dinner's nearly ready.'
'What did I do to deserve you? It's your birthday, I should be treating you.'
'You can buy the drinks tonight.'
'Exactly what I was planning on doing.'
Max had brought the clothes where was going to wear over with him and he already had a toothbrush and a few pairs of clean underwear there.
'What time are we meeting everyone?' he asked.
'Seven.'
'Is...Milo going to be there?'
'He will. We're trying to do the friend thing. It would be kind of hard not to see him as Ali, Jack and Kai are still my friends. You okay with that?'
'It's fine with me. I'm just worried about you babe, that's all.'
'I'm okay. And just in case you were worried, I want you to know there's really no need. I'm totally over him. You're my guy now and I don't want that to change.'
'I know,' said Luke. 'You don't have to explain. I totally trust you.'
'But you don't like Milo, right?'
'I just don't like the way he treated you. But I suppose I should thank him, as you wouldn't be with me if he hadn't done what he'd done.'
'We're all in the right place, and with who we should be with. It's all good.'
'As long as you're sure.'
'I'm sure.'
'Okay, I'll get in the shower and get ready then.'
Max loved how Luke worried about him. He couldn't believe how good things were between them after just one month. He hadn't seen much of Milo since they'd split as they needed some time away from each other. But he was happy to see him tonight, as he knew he was with the right person now.
❤🧡💛💚💙💜
Milo was excited about going out to celebrate the birthdays of two of his best friends. He was looking forward to seeing Jack again as it had been a few weeks. Once Jack had made his decision to go and see Oscar in Sweden, he'd booked the flight and was gone within a couple of days.
It was clear what a big part of the group Jack was. Milo had seen Ali a couple of times since then, but not really for a big night out. Pride had been the last time they'd all been together and he missed it a lot. It was as much his fault as it was Ali's that they'd not spent more time together. He'd been so caught up in his new relationship with Sam, that he'd kind of neglected his friends. He knew Ali didn't mind, as she'd just got engaged to Kai. They were probably just as keen to spend some time alone together.
He still couldn't believe that he and Sam were together. Not sneaking around like they had been the first time, but properly together. When they went out, they could actually hold hands and kiss in public without fear that somebody would see them. Two people had caught them together last time. The first was Stuart who tried to blackmail them, the second was when Sam's husband walked in on them having sex.
They'd been a proper couple for a month now and it still all seemed like a dream to Milo. Sam had always been the one he wanted, but he never thought it could ever happen between them.
Every time they woke up together, Milo would watch Sam as he slept. He was just so in love.
Their relationship was still as physical as it had been the last time. They were still unable to keep their hands off each other and often went to bed the moment they got back to Sam's apartment. But it was more than that this time. They talked, they laughed, they went out on dates. They'd both said I love you and it felt more like a real relationship than it had before.
They'd been living in their own little bubble since they got back together. They spent most their time in Sam's apartment, or when they did go out, it was always in Soho. People there had started to accept them as a couple. But they hadn't really told anyone outside of that bubble that they were now a couple.
They sat together in Sam's frontroom, having dinner before they went out.
'Do you ever think about the future?' said Milo out of nowhere.
'Of course,' said Sam.
'And what do you see?'
'Well...I see you in it. I see lots of amazing holidays, and friends and good times together. I see us growing old together. Why do you ask?'
'I was just curious. I want the same things.'
'That's good.'
Milo thought about how he'd approach the subject that was on his mind.
'So we're both in this for the long haul?' he said.
'Yeah, absolutely.'
'So don't you think it's strange we're not more involved in each other's lives?'
'What do you mean? We spend pretty much every single second of our spare time together.'
'Except when I'm at home, or you're with your daughter.'
'Yeah.'
'But I've never met your daughter and you've never met my parents.'
'Would you like me to meet your parents?'
'I think I would.'
Milo knew that it probably wouldn't go down well when he told his mum and dad he was dating aman twice his age, but if they were going to make a real go of things, they'd have to meet him at some time.'
'Okay,' Sam said reluctantly.
'And I'd like to meet your daughter. She's such a huge part of your life. The only time I've seen her was from afar when he first saw each other again at Pride. If she's part of your life, then she should be part of mine too. Does Michael even know you're seeing someone?'
'That's really none of his business.'
'But it is. You're parenting a child together. He should know who you're seeing, because it affects Jess too.'
Sam nodded. 'You're right. It's not that I don't want them to know we're together. It's just that I've been enjoying our time together so much. As soon as we tell our families, then everyone will have something to say about it. I know it doesn't bother either of us, but there is a big age gap between us. They might not be happy with that.'
'I know,' said Milo. He picked up the bottle of wine on the table and topped up both their glasses. 'I'm not expecting it to be easy, but it's got to be done. We can't hide away forever.'
'Okay,' said Sam. 'But let's not think about it too much know. Let's go and enjoys one last carefree night out and we'll put an action plan together tomorrow.'
'Sounds like a plan.'
Milo leaned across the table to kiss Sam, then they continued to eat their dinner.
Author's Note
Hey - thanks everyone for returning for his third part of my little LGBTQ soap opera. There's some new characters coming up (not totally new, but small characters from previous stiries) but I thought I'd start with the old favourites.
If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider giving me a like or comment.