Page 72 of Something Like Winter

“Okay. Well, we heard the young lady gasp and scrambled to pull up our pants as she headed back to the house. We didn’t know how much she had seen, or if she recognized us. I wanted to leave, but Michael thought our absence would be twice as damning. Instead we returned through the front entrance and tried to mingle. When the young lady saw Michael, she looked right past him, not recognizing him. But when she saw me…”

“What happened?”

Eric exhaled. “It got ugly. There was no discretion. The brothers didn’t wait until later to discuss this with me. The party came to a grinding halt and suddenly I was on trial. I didn’t dare look at Michael. Doing so would have incriminated him. But I kept waiting for him to come to my defense. All the hateful things that were said that night, being pushed around, called names, even being thrown out on the street —none of that hurt as much as Michael turning his back on me. Afterwards he wouldn’t speak to me, privately or publically. Not a single word.”

“I’m sorry.” Tim hopped to his feet and went to Eric, his chest aching. The story was all too familiar. Hadn’t he hurt Ben in the very same way? “I’m sorry,” he repeated, speaking now to the past. Eric was in his arms, patting his back and reassuring him that it was okay, but it wasn’t. Giving into fear and turning away from love was never okay.

Chapter Sixteen

Snow brings silence. Tim had never become used to the mild Texas winters. Except for the occasional frost or freak scattering of snow, they were just a shadow of the Kansas winters he had grown up with. Every year he missed the calm that snow brought. Most people would stay inside to keep warm and cozy rather than venture out, but the frozen season held a tranquility that Tim never felt when living in Texas.

Holidays on campus came close. Even before the official first day of winter break, many of the students had already made the pilgrimage home. Some lagged behind, trying to keep the parties pumping, but most thought of family, reliving memories of a more innocent time when Christmas was still magical.

For Tim, that magic was back in full force. By the morning of Christmas Eve, the frat house was virtually empty. Even Quentin had left his collegiate kingdom for the comforts of home. Tim woke early and grabbed a quick shower, making sure to be noisy enough while dressing to rouse Travis. Then Tim pushed him toward the bathroom and went downstairs to check the car and their supplies. Of course he had already checked the night before, and triple-checked after packing the first time, but he wanted everything to be perfect.

When he went back upstairs, Travis was clean and dressed, sitting groggily on the edge of his bed. Tim dragged him downstairs and into the car. Then they were on the road, Travis falling back asleep as soon as they hit the highway. That was fine. They had a fifteen-hour drive ahead of them if they were to make Colorado Springs today, and he would need Travis to take the wheel later.

And drive they did. With Travis out of commission, Tim made it nearly to noon without taking a break, chugging energy drinks to keep him going. Of course his bladder nearly exploded, but he held it in until stopping at a Burger King. Finally ready to face the rest of the day, Travis ordered three Whoppers for himself, devouring them each in just a few bites.

“Hungry?” Tim chided.

“Always.” Travis downed the last of his cola. Then he said with a more exaggerated accent than usual, “On the farm, we’re used to big breakfasts!”

Tim laughed. “Did you really grow up on a farm?”

“No, but you’d be surprised how many people assume I did, just because of the way I talk.”

Guilty as charged. Tim loved the country boy fantasy.

“My mom really does make the best breakfasts,” Travis continued. “She knows how to keep a boy fed.”

“I’ll try and make sure you don’t starve this trip,” Tim said. They would have to eat out a lot because Tim couldn’t cook. Eric had helped out, though. A cooler full of food was in the trunk, including a foilcovered lasagna that Tim was supposed to pop in the oven. He was fairly certain he could manage that much.

“Of course, because of my size,” Travis said, “people also think I’m a dumb jock.”

“You mean you’re not?”

Travis punched his arm playfully. “No, I’m not. That’s why I wanted to come here. Austin has one of the best schools of pharmacy, and I want to be the very best.”

“At counting out pills?”

“Laugh if you want,” Travis said. “There’s job security and money all right there in one package. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” Tim said. “Borrow money from you, I guess.”

“Seriously.”

“Architecture. At least I used to think so. Job security is something I didn’t consider. There’s not an architectural firm on every corner like there are pharmacies.” All he’d been thinking of was combining his love of art with a practical trade, but so far his classes had left him cold.

“Still, good money.” Travis nodded his approval.

“I didn’t know you were so materialistic.”

“It’s more about being able to provide for my family, give them a good life.”

Travis talked like he already had a wife and kids waiting behind a white picket fence. In a way, it was sweet that he was so family-oriented. But it was also depressing, since Tim couldn’t make that dream come true for him. Not the wife part, at least, but he hoped he could show Travis a new version of that dream. He had four days in Colorado Springs to do so.

As much as Tim didn’t want family overshadowing this trip, it was the one topic of conversation guaranteed to keep Travis talking. Otherwise he would lapse into long silences, no doubt pondering what they would be doing at the cabin. But this was good. Away from family, the pressures of school, and all the perceived risks, Travis should be focusing on the positive. This would be aided by a couple drinks, a few laughs, and of course tons of sex.