Page 43 of Something Like Winter

He rolled over in bed and watched Ben as he undressed, moving the sheets back when he came near. Ben lay facing him, reaching out to touch his face, but Tim grabbed his wrist and used it to pin him, the anger and desperation rising up and manifesting as hard kisses. Ben fought back, wrestling him and grabbing him without permission, like two mad men trying to violate each other. Then, at the same time, they slowed, their bodies pressing together, the kisses soft again.

“Why does everything have to be so stupid?” Tim whispered to him.

Ben sighed. “I don’t know.”

Then they made love, comforting each other with gentle motions. In the morning, they didn’t talk about sexuality, parents, or coming out. Tim breathed a sigh of relief. Finally Ben had seen the truth, understood how the world would get between them if they weren’t careful. They had come dangerously close to losing each other, but now, with this new understanding, they would be safe.

* * * * *

The stereo speakers thumped with bass, family photos shaking on the wall. Everyone at the party was shouting to be heard. Disgruntled neighbors summoning the police was inevitable. Maybe that’s why people guzzled their drinks down so desperately.

Bryce’s parents were crazy to give their son the run of the house, even if it was his birthday. Good thing the Hunters were staying at a hotel for the night. They’d probably keel over from heart attacks if they could see their home now. Already the house was trashed, the birthday boy not even conscious to enjoy the chaos. Bryce’s massive form was passed out in a recliner that barely held him, his limbs hanging off the front and sides. He looked like a giant in a child’s chair.

Tim turned the music down slowly so people wouldn’t notice. No sense in the police coming before he drank his fill. Once everyone was talking instead of shouting, he grabbed another beer from the ice-stuffed cooler and flopped down on the couch. Krista was across the room, flirting with some guy who Tim had never seen. The previous boyfriend had barely lasted a week, so she was fair game again. Krista had followed Tim around the party until this new guy showed up, giving him much-needed space.

To Tim’s dismay, that space was now filled by Stacy Shelly. She slid on to the couch beside him, raising a glass of wine in toast. No one else at the party was drinking wine, which meant she either brought her own or had raided the Hunters’ cabinets.

Tim clinked his beer bottle against her glass and asked, “What are we drinking to?”

“Ben Bentley,” Stacy said.

Tim shrugged and took a drink, not showing a hint of the adrenaline that shot into his system. “Who’s he?”

“AstroWorld,” Stacy said next.

Tim shook his head. “I know it’s difficult, but try forming complete sentences.”

This earned him a scowl. “Molly Desai works at AstroWorld. Although I can’t stand her, apparently she has the hots for you. I had the ill fortune of being teamed with her in English class, where she bemoaned all the beautiful gay men she couldn’t have. Really, I think the issue is her acne, not the sexuality of her infatuations. Regardless, Molly named you among the elite homosexual untouchables.”

Tim laughed and didn’t even have to fake it. “Some girl I’ve never heard of can’t have me, and that makes me gay?” But Tim knew there was more to it than that. Stacy had already told him everything he needed to know, but still he played stupid.

“Molly claims she saw you and Ben Bentley at AstroWorld together, and as you know, Ben is the biggest fruit in town.”

Tim took another swig of his beer. That had been what… four months ago? They had been so careful the last couple of weeks, ever since dinner with his parents. Now some stupid past indiscretion had crawled from its grave to haunt them.

“First of all, I’ve never been to AstroWorld. Second, I think Krista can attest to just how gay I am.”

Stacy laughed. “So she felt your boner once. Yes, she told me about that, but for all I know, you could have been thinking about Ben at the time.”

Tim leaned forward, close enough that he could taste the fumes on her breath. Stacy didn’t lean back to get away from him. Instead she moved closer, just the fraction of an inch. And he knew he had her. “This isn’t about some gay guy or how far Krista and I went, is it? This about you, wondering if I can fuck as good as you’ve been imagining. Do you want to find out, Stacy? Do you want me to take you in that bathroom right now, put you on the sink, spread your legs, and fuck you?”

That vicious fire was back in Stacy’s eyes, but she wasn’t angry. She was ready.

“Fine,” Tim said, leaning back. “Let’s do it. But you run along ahead of me. No matter what you’ve heard, I can be discreet.”

“So can I,” Stacy said. Then she stood. “Master bedroom, upstairs, last door on the right. Bathrooms are for trash.” Stacy stood and walked into the party, saying hello to a few people so she was seen. Then she doubled back and headed up the stairs. Tim waited until she was out of sight, then got to his feet and went to where Bryce was slumbering. Tim slugged him in the arm twice, as hard as he could, to wake him up.

“Huh?”

“Hey, birthday boy. Your girlfriend wants you to fuck her. She’s waiting in your parents’ bedroom.”

“Oh, okay.”

Bryce stood, swiped the half-empty beer bottle from Tim’s hand, and went upstairs. Tim grabbed a fresh one from the cooler on his way out the door. Stacy would be furious with him, but Tim now had dirt he could use against her. If she wanted him to keep quiet about her nearindiscretion, then she better not utter a word about him and Ben. * * * * *

“Thank you.”

These were the last words Tim expected to hear breathed over the phone. Stacy sounded hung-over as hell, but she didn’t sound angry.