Page 37 of Something Like Winter

Regardless, Tim knew if he started getting all emotional, Ben would treat it as evidence. It’s not like there was any rush. They had all the time in the world together.

“Hey.”

Tim looked up from his canvas. “Yeah?”

Ben licked his lips, his chest rising and falling a few times. “I love you.”

The breath caught in Tim’s throat. His mouth opened, ready to reply, then snapped shut again.

That bastard! Tim had never doubted that Ben loved him, but the timing was no coincidence. Maybe Ben wouldn’t play that card now, but it wouldn’t be long before he used it to define Tim’s sexuality. Still, hearing him finally say it felt amazing.

“Come here,” Tim said softly.

“Won’t that ruin the—”

“Just come here.”

Ben got off the stool and walked toward him, standing next to the canvas. His eyes searched Tim’s, waiting to discover what his response would be. Tim dipped the paintbrush into the yellow paint without breaking eye contact.

“Hold still,” he said. “Please.” Then he brought the paintbrush up to the center of Ben’s forehead and pulled down, making one fat stroke of yellow between his eyes, over his nose, and down to his chin.

“What was that for?” Ben spluttered.

“To make you prettier,” Tim said before laughing.

“You’re such an asshole!” Ben swung at him, Tim dodging easily and laughing some more. Ben chased him around the canvas a few times, swearing in frustration. On one of his rounds, he noticed what Tim had painted and stopped.

Despite all the distractions, Tim was proud of what he had managed. The painting was just Ben’s nose and lips. So far he had put most of the detail into the lips, working out his obsession with kissing Ben. The painting needed more work, but it had serious potential.

“Those are my lips!” Ben exclaimed. “I mean, they look exactly like mine!”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“I don’t mean it like that.” Ben stared a little longer. “I like it, but why?”

He looked at Tim, who let his eyes dart down to the real thing. His own lips moved a little in response.

“Oh, I see,” Ben said knowingly. “You like what these lips can do.”

“Yeah.” Tim gave a sly grin. “I guess so.”

“Youknowso.” Ben grabbed a tube of blue paint, squeezed a glob on his fingers, and smeared it over his lips. Then he moved menacingly toward Tim. “Well? Come kiss me, baby!”

“No thanks.” Tim backed up until he felt the wall behind him, staring horrified at the blue fish puckers coming toward him.

“If you love me, you’ll kiss me,” Ben said.

Well, it beat having to say it. Tim closed his eyes and braced himself for the sloppiest kiss of his life.

* * * * *

“Are you sure your parents aren’t home?” Ben whispered as Tim unlocked the front door.

“Positive. They’re never home on Valentine’s Day. Usually they shack up in a bed and breakfast somewhere.” Tim did a double take. “Wait, I thought you wanted to meet them?”

“Not like this!” Ben gestured to his face where the yellow and blue paint had smeared together, making it look like green slime had leaked from his nose before drying.

“You’ve never looked better,” Tim said. “Ouch,” he added when Ben slugged him.