Unhidden

Chapter Thirteen-Andre

Andre had learned that happiness could be surprisingly quiet.

It wasn’t always fireworks.

Sometimes it was waking up and realizing the man you loved was still lying beside you.

Sometimes it was hearing him complain that the coffee wasn’t sweet enough.

Sometimes it was watching him wear a bracelet you’d bought because you remembered a date he had completely forgotten.

And sometimes…

Sometimes it was simply knowing you didn’t have to watch the clock.

Andre looked at Jamal sitting against the headboard, eating breakfast from the tray he’d brought him.

His boyfriend.

His beautiful, complicated, stubborn boyfriend.

Still here.

That alone made Andre smile.

“Why are you staring at me?” Jamal asked.

“Because I can.”

Jamal narrowed his eyes.

“That’s creepy.”

“You’ve been in my bed all night. I’m allowed to look at you.”

Jamal laughed.

Andre loved that laugh.

He loved all of Jamal’s little things.

The way he rolled his eyes when Andre teased him.

The way he sometimes tucked his lower lip between his teeth when he was thinking.

The way he pretended not to care when Andre complimented him.

The way he always said he wasn’t hungry and then ended up eating half of whatever Andre had cooked.

And the way he’d fallen asleep last night with his head on Andre’s chest.

Andre had missed that.

God, he’d missed that.

For years, he’d convinced himself that he didn’t need much.

He didn’t need grand gestures.

He didn’t need expensive gifts.

He didn’t need public declarations.

He just wanted time.

Real time.

Time that didn’t feel borrowed.

Time when Jamal didn’t have to keep checking his phone.

Time when Andre didn’t have to wonder when he’d leave.

And lately…

They’d been getting more of it.

The last two months had changed something between them.

Not dramatically.

Not overnight.

But slowly.

Jamal had been making an effort.

Andre noticed.

He noticed every single time Jamal came over after work.

Every time he called instead of sending a text.

Every time he stayed a little longer.

Every time he said, I miss you.

And last night?

He had stayed.

All night.

Andre looked at the bracelet on Jamal’s wrist.

“A and J.”

He smiled.

He’d spent almost two weeks deciding what to get him.

Not because Jamal needed anything.

God knew the man could buy whatever he wanted.

But Andre wanted something personal.

Something that meant something.

Something that wasn’t about money.

Just them.

Four years.

Four years of loving each other through secrecy, distance, arguments, stolen weekends, missed calls, late-night visits, and all the complicated things that came with being Jamal Carter.

Andre reached over and touched the bracelet.

“You really like it?”

Jamal looked at him.

“I love it.”

Andre smiled.

“Good.”

Jamal leaned against him.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

“I’ve been told.”

“Four years.”

“Four years.”

Jamal looked down at their hands.

“I can’t believe I forgot.”

Andre chuckled.

“I can.”

“That’s rude.”

“It’s true.”

Jamal pushed his shoulder.

Andre laughed.

He caught Jamal’s hand and pulled him closer.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“I don’t care that you forgot.”

Jamal looked at him.

“I really don’t.”

Andre kissed his forehead.

“I care that you’re here.”

Jamal went quiet.

Andre knew that expression.

That tiny shift in his eyes.

The moment where Jamal stopped joking and actually listened.

“I know,” Jamal whispered.

Andre wrapped an arm around him.

“I mean it.”

For a few seconds, they just sat there.

Then Jamal looked at him.

“Things have been good.”

Andre smiled.

“They have.”

“Really good.”

“Yeah.”

Jamal rested his head against Andre’s shoulder.

“I like this.”

Andre’s chest tightened.

“This?”

“This.”

Jamal gestured vaguely between them.

“Us. Like this.”

Andre looked down at him.

“Me too.”

“I don’t want to fight with you all the time.”

“I don’t want to fight with you either.”

“And I don’t want you thinking I’m avoiding you.”

Andre was quiet.

Because that had been one of his biggest fears.

For years, he’d wondered whether Jamal was slowly trying to keep him at a distance.

But now?

He understood better.

Jamal wasn’t running from him.

He was running from everything he thought he might lose.

There was a difference.

Andre didn’t always know how to fix it.

But he could be patient.

At least he could try.

“I know you love me,” Andre said.

Jamal looked at him.

“You know?”

“I do.”

“How?”

Andre smiled.

“Because you keep coming back.”

Jamal’s eyes softened.

“I’ll always come back.”

Andre didn’t answer immediately.

Because there were words he wanted to say.

Words that lived inside him constantly.

Stay.

Choose me.

Don’t make me wait forever.

But he knew love wasn’t about forcing someone to move faster than they were ready to move.

So instead, he kissed Jamal’s forehead.

“Good.”

Jamal smiled.

Then he looked at the breakfast tray.

“I’m still hungry.”

Andre laughed.

“You just ate.”

“I know.”

“How?”

“I’m a growing boy.”

Andre stared at him.

“You’re twenty-six.”

“And?”

“You’re not growing.”

Jamal burst out laughing.

Andre grabbed him around the waist and pulled him closer.

“Come here.”

“Dre!”

“You’re annoying.”

“You love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

Jamal smiled.

“Very much.”

Andre’s smile softened.

“Very much.”

And that was enough.

For that morning, at least.

⸻

Later, Jamal got dressed.

Andre sat on the edge of the bed watching him put on his shirt.

The bracelet remained on his wrist.

He hadn’t taken it off.

Andre noticed that too.

“You keeping that on?”

Jamal looked at him.

“Of course.”

“Even to work?”

“Especially to work.”

Andre smiled.

“Good.”

Jamal adjusted his watch.

Then he looked toward Andre.

“I’ll come back tonight.”

Andre raised an eyebrow.

“Tonight?”

“Yes.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

Andre tried not to smile too hard.

“You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

Jamal walked over and stood between his knees.

“I want to.”

Andre wrapped his arms around Jamal’s waist.

“Okay.”

Jamal bent down and kissed him.

It was soft.

Slow.

Familiar.

The kind of kiss that didn’t need urgency.

When they separated, Jamal whispered, “I’ll call you.”

Andre nodded.

“Drive safe.”

“I will.”

“And Jamal?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

Jamal smiled.

“For what?”

“For staying.”

Jamal’s expression softened.

“Anytime, firefighter.”

Andre laughed.

“Go before I make you late.”

Jamal kissed his cheek one last time.

Then he walked toward the door.

Andre watched him leave.

The apartment became quiet again.

But strangely, it didn’t feel empty.

Not today.

Because Andre knew Jamal would come back.

And maybe that was what the last two months had really given him.

Not certainty.

Not perfection.

But hope.

A reason to believe that whatever happened next, they were finally moving in the same direction.

Andre looked down at his phone.

A message appeared almost immediately.

Jamal: I love you.

Andre smiled.

He typed back.

Andre: Love you too, baby. Now go to work.

Three dots appeared.

Then:

Jamal: Bossy.

Andre laughed.

Andre: And you’re still my baby.

The reply came quickly.

Jamal: Always.

Andre stared at that single word for a long moment.

Then he smiled.

Four years.

And somehow, he still felt like he was falling in love with him all over again.