Page 44 of Something Like Winter

“For what?”

“You know what,” she replied. “I was really, really, drunk.”

But not so drunk that she didn’t know what she was doing. Tim had seen her out-drink Bryce before, her mind remaining razor sharp, but he played along. “Yeah, I figured. I had a few too many myself.”

“Does Bryce know?”

“No,” Tim said. “I just sent him upstairs. I didn’t think you would mind.”

“Of course not.”

There was an awkward moment of silence. Tim was wondering if he should blackmail her into keeping quiet, or if deep down she was decent enough that he wouldn’t have to ask. He decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

“Well, I’m going to pop some aspirin and sleep this off,” he said.

“Good idea.”

Another pause.

“Hey, Tim?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you have? I mean, if Bryce wasn’t in the picture.”

No, because of Ben, and because Tim doubted he would survive the experience. She still scared the hell out of him, but at least he had convinced her the gay rumor wasn’t true. “Yeah,” he lied. “Of course I would.” His ego grumbled in hunger. “Would you? If you were single and sober, I mean.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

Tim chuckled and Stacy laughed before they said goodbye and hung up the phone. Close one! Tim had played it sloppy and loose, but gotten lucky. Stacy thought he wanted her, which should take the heat off Ben. But Tim would have to be smart. The first crack in his mask had shown, and if he wasn’t careful, it could crumble into pieces.

* * * * *

Tim was running, and for once it didn’t feel good. Fucking hormones! They caused temporary brain damage, he was sure of it. That, and the evening had been one giant adrenaline rush. Summer was fast approaching. Baseball was in regional playoffs, and today’s game had been one of his best. When he had met Ben in the park afterwards… well, he had been horny as hell. Not that he planned on doing him right then and there, but they were both victims of their stupid urges.

Ben had been blowing him when the police flashlights shined in Tim’s eyes. Now they were screwed, but in another way entirely. In that split second Tim could see his world falling apart. The police at his house, the looks on his parents’ faces, time in juvenile hall followed by the military academy. Hell, he’d sign up to be shipped away considering what would happen when word got around school.

Those nightmares only came true if they were caught. Tim could run. He did almost every day, so he doubted the cop huffing behind him would ever catch up, but he still worried he had been recognized. As for Ben, Tim had abandoned him, saying they should split up. He sure as hell hoped his boyfriend could run too, because Ben was on his own now.

Tim made it to his neighborhood with no sign of pursuit. Still he ran, slowing to a jog to appear casual until he reached his house. The driveway was full of cars, none of them familiar. He swore. His parents had that stupid dinner party tonight, plying their favorite business contacts with food and drink. Tim wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to slow his breathing—not an easy task since his insides were sizzling with panic.

Calming down as much as he could, Tim went inside. Thankfully, the festivities were still confined to the dining room. The front room was decorated but empty, ready for the mingling that would follow the meal, allowing him to go upstairs to his room undetected. Once there he paced restlessly. Maybe he had gotten away, but Ben could be sitting in the back of a police car right now, the cops grilling him. Ben wouldn’t rat Tim out—ever—but who knew what the Bentleys might say when the police arrived at their door.

-clink!

Tim spun around, facing the window.

-clink! clink!

Shutting off the light, he returned to the window. Ben was down there in the backyard, face upturned to him. He hadn’t been caught, but his presence here didn’t ease Tim’s anxiety. He snuck out the front door and hurried around to the back. If anyone at the party glanced out a window they would see Ben waiting there, so Tim grabbed his arm and took him around to the shadows at the side of the house.

“Did they catch you?”

“No. Well, yeah.” Ben stuttered. “I don’t know. They’re at my parents’ house.”

“Shit!” Tim stepped away from the wall, checking his driveway for red and blue flashing lights.

“Don’t worry, they only—”