Everything Meant Nothing | Part 16: The Double Date (Patreon)

All characters depicted in this story are fictional and 18 years of age or older. Everything portrayed is safe, sane, and consensual.

Theo and I were going on a double date with Min and Yuki this afternoon. They’d been coy about the details, just telling us to wear “athletic clothes.” Which sounded innocent enough ; except I’d overheard Min earlier in the morning whispering to Yuki about electrolytes and extra water bottles, and that’s when it clicked.

A hike. They were dragging us on a bloody hike.

“Ugh, I hate walking,” I groaned from Theo’s doorway, already dressed in my loose joggers and a T-shirt.

Theo was still half-dressed, pulling on his compression shirt, which hugged every line of his torso like he was about to run a marathon. Gym shorts layered over tight leggings, fresh trainers, he looked like he was about to audition for a fitness ad campaign.

“Yeah, cause you trip and fall and make me carry you,” Theo teased, checking himself in the mirror while tugging the hem into place.

I smirked. “I mean… that day was intentional. But honestly? I might just trip during this hike, just so you have to carry me uphill.” I plopped down on his bed while he bent to tie his laces.

Without looking up, he said, “I’m going to leave you there. Maybe I’ll carry you back down, but only after I’ve finished the hike.”

I grabbed a pillow and lobbed it at him. “Oh my god. Rude.”

He caught it easily, grinning. “Chill, babe. I’ll carry you all the way on my shoulder if I have to.”

That made me smile in spite of myself.

The door swung open and Min strolled in with Yuki right behind him, both of them looking way too excited for this. Min’s eyes flicked over us, and he grinned. “Well, well. Look at you two. All athletic vibes. Honestly? You look like one of those hot couples who run 10Ks together for fun.”

I snorted. “Please. Me and workout? Never in a million years.”

Yuki crossed the room and plopped herself down on the bed beside me, sliding an arm over my shoulders. “Come on, Troy. I’ll give you company today. I’m a slow walker too. We’ll suffer together.”

Theo laughed under his breath, but Min groaned dramatically, throwing his hands up. “Oh boy. Poor Yuki. Poor Troy. Theo, looks like it’s gonna be you and me powering ahead.”

“Mate,” Theo muttered, grabbing his water bottle, “someone’s gotta carry my boyfriend when he pretends to trip again.”

I rolled my eyes, but Yuki popped back up from the bed, already clapping her hands together. “Alright, boys. Enough stalling. Let’s move. We don’t wanna miss the legendary sunset at this place.” Her grin was so wide it was almost suspicious.

So we hauled ourselves up, collected our bags and bottles, and finally headed out. The four of us locked up behind us and made our way down, Min practically bouncing ahead like he’d been waiting all week for this, Theo with his steady stride, Yuki looping her arm through mine. I smiled to myself ... I liked this. Just being able to share these moments with them, not having to hold back, not being afraid of being myself. Together, we made our way towards the car._________________We parked the car in a little gravel lay-by, the kind tucked against hedgerows where only locals seemed to know it existed. A faint signpost pointed toward Ashwick Hill Path; the “legendary” spot Yuki had hyped up. The late afternoon air was cooler out here, fresher too, carrying that mix of damp grass and earth you only get in the countryside.

Theo stretched as soon as he climbed out, rolling his shoulders in his compression shirt like he was about to run a marathon. Min, on the other hand, already had his rucksack on, full of snacks and whatever else he’d packed for us.

“Alright,” Min announced, shutting the boot with unnecessary ceremony. “This is where the fun begins.”

I groaned, tugging at the drawstring of my joggers. “Your definition of fun is… interesting.”

Theo leaned down to kiss the top of my hair. “Come on. You’ll survive. Besides, I’m not carrying you yet.”

“Yet,” I muttered, making Yuki snort as she slung her own water bottle across her chest.

_________The path started gentle, a dirt track lined with gorse and brambles. The four of us fell into a rhythm or at least, Theo and Min did. Within ten minutes, they were several paces ahead, side by side, talking in that easy shorthand men get when they’re in sync. Something about football, then somehow about protein powder, then Theo cracking a joke about Min’s disastrous attempt at push-ups last week.

“They’re basically auditioning for some fitness ad,” Yuki said dryly, dropping her pace to match mine. She gave me a knowing smile. “We can let them burn themselves out.”

“Thank God,” I said, adjusting my grip on the strap of my bag. “Because my idea of exercise is walking to the fridge.”

She laughed, bumping her shoulder lightly into mine as we climbed a steeper section. “Same. Don’t tell Min I said that, though. He’d try to drag me on a morning run or something.”

“Wouldn’t dare.” I grinned, then glanced ahead at Theo’s back. The late sun caught along his shoulders, and for a second I got distracted just watching him.

“So,” Yuki said casually, like she’d been waiting for the right moment. “How are things with you and Theo?”

I blinked, dragging my eyes back to the path. “Oh. Uh. Good. Really good, actually.”

“Mhmm.” She kept her tone light, but her smile was kind. “You sound surprised.”

I huffed out a laugh. “I guess I am. I didn’t think… I mean, I wasn’t sure it’d work, you know? But he’s—” I paused, searching for the right words. “He’s steady. He makes me feel like I don’t have to pretend.”

Yuki’s arm brushed mine as we walked. “That’s the best kind. And you’re good for him, too. He looks softer around you. Happier.”

That made warmth spread in my chest. “Really?”

“Really…” Yuki’s voice dropped a little, softer now. “From what Min tells me, Theo’s breakup was rough. He doesn’t like talking about Bailey. She really hurt him.”

I exhaled, glancing up at Theo’s back as he walked ahead with Min. “Yeah, I kind of figured. He keeps a lot close to his chest. But… I don’t know. With me, it doesn’t feel like he’s holding back. It feels… real.”

Yuki nodded, smiling faintly. “That’s good. I’m really happy to see him being so happy with you. And of course,” she nudged me with her elbow, “you yourself have been through a lot.”

“Yeah. ..uhm..Luke…” I hesitated, then let out a laugh that didn’t sound very convincing. “I really did love him, you know? And he loved me too. But, he was scared to be seen with me. I get it. I totally do. I’m not exactly out either. Honestly, I’m still surprised I didn’t have to officially come out to you guys.”

Yuki tightened her arm around mine. “Come on, Troy. We love you guys. It shouldn’t matter who you love.”

“Yeah, I get that.” I looked down at the path, kicking at a stray stone. “But eventually, with Luke… it just felt like being stuck in a relationship that didn’t really have a future. Like we were circling the same thing over and over. And I do think about him sometimes. I guess your first love… it just lingers.”

Yuki gave a small, knowing sigh. “It does. Your first love always leaves something behind. But that doesn’t mean it’s meant to last forever.” She gave me a gentle smile. “Sometimes it just prepares you for the love that’s supposed to.”

I didn’t say anything right away, just nodded, letting her words settle.

We walked in companionable silence after that, the crunch of our boots steady on the gravel, Theo and Min’s voices drifting back every so often with laughter and teasing. The higher we climbed, the sharper the air felt in my lungs, crisp with pine and stone, edged with the faint sweetness of wildflowers tucked along the slope.

At one point, the path narrowed into a switchback. Theo glanced over his shoulder and called down, “You two still alive back there?”

“Barely!” I shouted up, though I was smiling.

Min cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hydrate or die-drate!”

“Babe!” Yuki yelled back, and we both broke into laughter that made the climb feel a little less awful.

By the time the trail evened out near the top, the sky had started to turn. Clouds stretched in long bands of pink and gold, and the air was cooler, almost sharp in my lungs. Min was already pointing out at the horizon like a tour guide, while Theo slowed down to let us catch up.

“See?” he said softly, catching my hand as I reached him. “Told you it’d be worth it.”

And standing there, with Yuki and Min beside us and the whole countryside sprawled out in rolling hills below, I had to admit he was right.Everything Meant Nothing | Part 17: The Sunset at the Summit