Page 22 of Something Like Winter

Sorry, Benjamin.

When Tim got back to the living room, Krista was still sitting on the couch, upright and alert. “Just my neighbor,” he reminded her. “I missed a delivery the other day.”

“Oh.”

Tim sat back down on the couch, took the marker from her hand, and kissed her with a vengeance. After a moment of surprise, she responded. To his relief, so did the rest of him, but it wasn’t easy because Ben’s hurt expression kept flashing through his mind. If the world were a different place, Tim would make Ben happy, give him what he wanted. And Tim had to admit, that’s what he wanted too. Maybe he didn’t understand it or even like it, but Tim wanted him. He grabbed Krista’s hand and moved it down to his cock.

She pulled away instantly, face beet red. “Sorry,” she said.

“What?” he asked, completely puzzled.

“I just don’t…” She looked scared! “I don’t want to do that.”

“Okay,” Tim said quickly. “That’s all right.”

The look of fear didn’t fade.

“Seriously,” he said. “I don’t mind.”

And he didn’t. As much as he wanted to get laid, it wasn’t with her.

Krista flashed a nervous smile. “Really?”

“Really. We’re good. Come here.”

Tim pulled her close, and she leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. He grasped around for a subject, anything that didn’t have to do with Ben, being gay, or sex. “So have you missed me being at school?” he tried.

“Yes! Stacy told Bryce he had to bring me my lunch while you were gone, but he can’t carry three trays at once, so he had to go back and wait in line for his food. I thought it was mean and told her to stop, but Stacy thought it was funny. Finally—”

The “finally” was just the beginning of what Krista did best. She prattled on, and Tim relaxed. He let her talk for the next hour, kissing her a few more times, but only to show her that things were okay. Then he lied and said the pills were making him tired. He walked her to the door and kissed her goodbye, but she didn’t go just yet.

“Timmy?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think I’m a prude?”

And there was the hint of fear again. Of course she had heard what everyone said. Rumors always made it around to the person they were about. She was terrified of what other people thought of her. Just like he was.

“You’re not a prude,” Tim said. “You’re perfect.”

She stared at him. Then Krista kissed him one more time and practically skipped to her car. He’d probably regret that. Lord knows it would only make her like him more. But maybe, just for today, it would be enough to make her feel good about herself.

* * * * *

Tim’s breath caught as the phone rang. Was he really going to do this? His body responded. Yeah, he was. Assuming Ben didn’t say no. The story Tim had concocted was so stu—

“What?” snarled a voice in his ear.

“Benjamin?”

“Tim?”

Okay. Contact established. “Man, I’m glad I didn’t get one of your parents. Are they still gone?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Ben’s tone sounded warmer. “What’s up? Are you calling to brag or something? Tell me you aren’t screwing her right now!”

“No, almost.” Tim did his best to sound frustrated, which wasn’t a stretch. “Came close, but she got freaked out by the European standard.”