Page 11 of Summer Lessons

Oh. And there was an enormous swimming pool in the back, with a fenced-in deck and an attached hot tub. This was not a thing Mason had asked the realtor for, but that was only because he didn’t realize he’d be house-shopping in August and that August in Sacramento tried to kill people with fire and suffocation.

Once he knew that, he was grateful for the real estate agent trying to up her commission, because the pool had been in use through October.

All in all, he liked his new digs—and his new job, even if he wasn’t sure what he did.Mostlyhe signed papers and made suggestions, and then he asked people to carry that out for him, okay?

He’d gotten two promotions in four months. He was apparentlyreallygood at his job.

Which was not going to save him from his brother’s dogged determination.

“No why?” Dane asked as they pulled into the carport.

“No, I’m not going to call him, because tomorrow is Christmas, we’re driving down to Redwood City, and I’m sure Jefferson has plans. And we’ll be back the day after tomorrow, and I’m spending the rest of the week on home improvement.”

Dane flicked him a glance. “What kind of home improvement?”

“I don’t know—it’syourChristmas present. You tell me what we’re going to paint your walls and how we’re going to tile your bathroom, and all the rest will follow.”

Dane blinked at him. “I take it this is under the tree?”

“In card form, sure.” God, Mason was so bad at Christmas. What he really needed was a giant gift card that said “I Tried” on it, so his family could understand that this was just one more social skill he’d never mastered.

Dane pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut, and for a moment Mason really hated himself because he’d totally disappointed his little brother. But when Dane opened his eyes, they were red-rimmed, and his smile was the same sweet one he’d had as a baby, when he and the cat had made peace and all of his internal combustion functions had recently been executed.

“That’s a really nice present,” Dane said, like Mason had somehow achieved world peace. “That’s thoughtful—including the week you’re taking off to help with the work.” He swung out of the car, and Mason saw him wipe under his eyes and thought that Dane really needed some sleep and some rest and some time to recoup after the stressful semester.

Dane went into the kitchen through the carport, and Mason followed him, putting the bread loaf and cookies that he’d gotten from Skip and Richie that night on the table. Breakfast in the morning. Dane paused at the refrigerator and pulled out the milk carton to pour himself some chocolate milk to wash down his meds. When he was done, he leaned back against the counter in the dimly lit kitchen and regarded Mason soberly.

“What?” Mason said after a moment.

“Why won’t you ask him out? He’s friends with Skip—the worst that can happen is he can say he’s wild about breasts and vagina, and you know you can start again.”

Mason fidgeted, not wanting to state the obvious but needing his brother to understand.

“Da-ane….” And that sounded like a second-grader whining. Well done!

“Ma-son!”

Mason glared at him. “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I’m just never going to find the right guy? That there is something deficient in me, something that fucks things up at the last minute, something that says the wrong thing or does the wrong thing or—”

“No,” Dane said and kicked back a healthy swallow of chocolate milk. “No, it has not occurred to me.”

“But Dane….”

“I know—you told me. All lose, all the time. I think it’s bullshit.”

“Then you haven’t been living with my penis.”

“Thank God or that would be gross.”

Mason groaned and tilted his head back, remembering the way he could almost see the stars in Skip’s backyard.

“Have you noticed,” he said randomly, “how different it is here than it is in the Bay Area?”

“If by different you mean repressed Bible-belt mentality with none of the dedication to the arts we’re used to seeing in the city? Yes.”

Mason laughed—sort of. “I… I keep thinking that I’d like to do something with my life—”

“You’re a very well-off man.”