Page 15 of Something Like Winter

“Absolutely.”

What was Ben playing at? He didn’t have access to their number— unless he used the keys still in his pocket. “Wait, you’re taking my car?”

“It’s not like you can use it,” Ben said cheerfully. “See you tomorrow, tiger.”

“You know,” Tim said to the doctor after Ben had left, “I’m starting to think he did this to me on purpose.”

“Must be a nice car to go through all this trouble,” Dr. Baker said, helping Tim back into the wheelchair.

“It is,” Tim murmured, “but it might not be in the best shape when I get it back.”

Chapter Five

Tim’s night in the hospital passed in a welcome haze of painkillers. He got his X-rays, then his cast, and flirted with every nurse who came in the room—reveling in the giggles of the younger girls, and the barelysuppressed smiles of the older ladies. As much fun as he was having, he dreaded the next morning. Ben would bring the phone number of his parents’ hotel, and from there, history would repeat itself.

Tim was thirteen when his parents cancelled a trip to Japan because he had come down with the flu. At first he was glad they decided to stay home, still young enough that it bugged him when they took trips alone. Instead of fawning over him at his bedside and catering to his every need, his parents treated him as an inconvenience, remaining bitter until they were able to reschedule their trip.

He understood now that the vacations his parents took together were a way of recapturing the childless life they had once planned. As far as Tim was concerned, he was a mistake. His parents never talked of having another child. They still loved him, when they found the time, but he had learned long ago not to ask for too much or get in the way.

As the morning progressed, he tried to imagine what their reaction to his accident would be. Even worse, what if Ben called them to explain? This was the first question out of his mouth when Ben showed up at the hospital.

“Did you call my parents?”

“No,” Ben started to say, but when Dr. Baker came in the room, he changed his answer. “Yes. They don’t think they can change their flight, but they’ve arranged for a nurse to take care of you and everything.”

That didn’t sound so bad, if it was true. The doctor asked Ben for their number, which he had rather conveniently forgotten to bring along. Dr. Baker seemed to share this suspicion, but he checked his watch and gave Ben a quick earful about everything Tim would need. After being presented with crutches and making a quick trip to the hospital pharmacy for pills, Tim let Ben wheel him outside to the car. He insisted they do a loop around the Mitsubishi before they got in so he could check for damages. Amazingly, he didn’t find a scratch.

Once behind the wheel, Ben was pensive. With Tim starting to feel his most recent dose of pain medication, they didn’t talk much on the way home. When they arrived, Tim made use of the crutches, swinging up the driveway so fast that Ben had to rush to keep up.

“I feel like Tarzan,” Tim said.

“Or his chimp,” Ben retorted. “Wait up. I’ll get the door for you.”

“Thanks.” Tim watched him fumble with the keys. Ben shot him a nervous look, as if concerned about messing up such a simple task. Not that Ben didn’t steal little glances at him at other times. Tim was used to girls finding him attractive, but now he wondered what other guys thought. Gay guys, obviously. Corey had expressed interest, but that whole situation had been weird. Of course, so had Ben’s knowledge of where Tim lived.

As soon as Tim was inside and seated on the peach-colored couch, Ben stood in front him nervously. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

For a moment, Tim thought Ben was about to confess his feelings. The idea made him both uncomfortable and excited.

“It seemed kind of pointless to worry your parents for nothing,” Ben said instead. “Or mine. It’s just a sprained ankle, right? A nurse seemed overboard too. I mean, we can call one now if you really want. Or I can just take care of you.”

Tim stared at him. “So, no nurse?”

“No nurse.”

“And you never called my parents? They have no idea I was in the hospital overnight?”

Now Ben looked guilty. “They have no idea.”

Tim relaxed. He would have thanked him, if this whole mess wasn’t Ben’s fault in the first place. Ben was more than willing to make up for it. He promised to swing by every day to cook and clean. So Timwouldhave a nurse. One who would destroy his reputation at school if anyone found out, but for now he was so relieved his parents weren’t involved that he didn’t care.

But if they were going to do this, they were going to do it right. Tim stood with a little wobbling and crutched his way to his father’s den in the back of the house. Maybe the room couldn’t compete with the set-up Darryl’s father had, but it was still nice. Everything was dark wood, brown leather, and most of all, comfortable.

“I figure this is a good place to make camp,” Tim said, settling down on the couch. He nodded at the wet bar. “There’s even a fridge to keep drinks in.”

“So what all do we need?” Ben glanced around. “Blankets and pillows obviously… Um…”

“In one of the hall closets,” Tim said. “I want my pillow from upstairs. And some real clothes. Throw something in the oven too, will ya?”