59: First of All, Rude

“Inho’s my partner,” Stephen replied without looking at Connor. A small rush of warmth filled his chest at the words. He’d also enjoyed announcing it in his friends’ group chat. They had all been so shocked. Stephen had been single for a while, only going for hookups, and until Inho had cutely bullied him into a relationship, he’d been pretty content with his independence.

“Partner?” Connor asked, incredulously, “Since when?”

“I’ve been seeing him for a couple months.”

Connor’s face twisted, “You didn’t mention it.”

“Why would I? Anyway, he’s going to be meeting everyone for the first time tonight too, so be nice to him.”

Connor bit his thumbnail, “I thought you didn’t date?”

“I wasn’t dating before, now I am, what’s the problem?” Stephen frowned.

“Nothing. I just thought you would have told me if you had a boyfriend.”

“I’m telling you now, stop being dramatic,” Stephen turned onto the on-ramp for the highway, “Thank god we’re out of there. I hate Abbotsford,” He sped up and merged into the traffic, “If I never come to this crappy town again, it will still be too soon.”

Connor huffed and stared out the window, obviously turning his body away from Stephen. Stephen rolled his eyes again. Teens were such a chore.

Connor was moodily silent for the rest of the drive, but Stephen ignored it because he was actually really looking forward to introducing Inho to everyone. In Stephen’s text chat, his friend Christian had been the most excited and had immediately offered to host everyone for dinner. Thinking about how Inho fit into another part of his life, it just felt right.

When they were back in Vancouver Stephen pulled his phone out of his coat pocket and unlocked it before passing it to Connor, “Here, can you text Inho and tell him we’ll be there in 10 minutes?”

Connor took the phone and tapped around for a moment, “Ew nudes!” he shouted suddenly, making Stephen slam on the breaks.

“What?!”

“Just kidding, I texted him.” Connor dropped the phone in the center console, “Can you drive more smoothly though? I’m getting carsick.”

Stephen muttered under his breath, and shortly after, they pulled up outside Inho’s building. He tapped Inho’s picture in his contacts, calling him since he hadn’t answered the text. Inho still didn’t answer.

“Hang on, I’ll go buzz his apartment, maybe his phone is on silent.”

“Whatever,” Connor was on his own phone now.

Stephen got out, then pulled open Connor’s door, “Get in the back seat,” he ordered before jogging over to Inho’s building doors.

Inho was sitting perched on the lobby couch and jumped up immediately when he saw Stephen. A grin split Stephen’s face even though he’d seen Inho that morning. The trip was enough to make him lonely for Inho’s company.

He swept Inho into a hug and kissed him before he could protest that they were in public.

“Ready to go?” He asked, dropping his hand down to sit on Inho’s waist.

“Yeah, I–” Inho patted nervously at his normally fluffy hair, which was neatly styled and smoothed back into a beanie, “Do I look okay?”

Stephen’s eyes roved over him appreciatively. He was wearing a new sweater – striped and oversized, so only his fingertips poked out of the sleeves. Below, he worse slim grey jeans with artfully ripped knees and new white sneakers.

“Did you buy new clothes for today?” Stephen asked, beaming at Inho’s inevitable blush, “And...are your ears pierced now?”

Inho’s hand jumped to his ear to fiddle with one of the small black studs that sat in each earlobe, “They always were, I just forgot my earrings back home,” he said, then pouted, “Don’t make fun of me. I’m nervous, okay?”

Stephen laughed and kissed his cheek, then pulled him towards the car, “It’s going to be fine, and you look amazing.”

In the car, Inho spun in his seat to greet Connor with a friendly smile, “You must be Stephen’s nephew, Connor. Hello, I’m Inho.”

Connor looked up from his phone and quirked a single eyebrow at Inho, “You’re Inho?”

“Um...Yes?” Inho’s smile faltered, and his eyes flicked to Stephen.

“Ignore him,” Stephen said, regretting bringing the kid along, “He hates being invited to things.”

“What? No, I don’t!” Connor protested.

“He told me, so.” Stephen sighed regretfully, “I had to drag him here. He’s never coming to Vancouver again he says.”

Inho grimaced, settling in his seat and buckling his seatbelt.

“Stephen, I’m sorry. I’ll say hi,” Connor leaned forward between the front seats, desperate to be heard, “Hi Inho, hello, I’m Connor.”

“It’s a damn shame,” Stephen said loudly, talking over Connor, “he wants to go back home right after dinner too.”

Inho sighed, “Stephen it’s fine, relax.” He turned and shook Connor’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Connor.”

Stephen relented, “You’re lucky he’s so nice,” he muttered, then, “Get your hands of the leather and sit down.”

Connor flopped back into the back seats resentfully.

“Ah, are you in school, Connor?” Inho asked, making polite conversation.

“No. I just graduated,” Connor glanced at Stephen, then focused back on Inho, “Are you in school?”

“Yes. Well no, not highschool. I’m working on my university application. I have to do some English tests first.”

Connor shifted in his seat, interested, “Oh? What’s wrong with your English? Did you fail?”

“Shut up Connor,” Stephen interrupted, then looked at Inho, “You’re applying to school? You didn’t tell me.”

Inho bit his lip sheepishly, “Yeah. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to say anything in case I didn’t get in, but now my language proficiency test just got scheduled. Do you think you could give me a ride? It’s an hour away.”

“Of course,” Stephen said, “What university is it?” Connor was watching their interaction closely.

“Oh, just a very small one,” Inho said, his tone shy, “It’s a little far though; I might have to move.”

Stephen felt a cold dread creep through his guts, “Where is it?”

“Um, a town called Abbotsford?” Inho answered doubtfully, unsure of the pronunciation.

Stephen hissed out a breath through his teeth. In the back seat, Connor cackled.