Page 67 of Summer Lessons

“That you could literally fuck yourself out. I’ve never felt like I could have enough.”

Mason tried not to look disappointed. “Well, I mean,todaywe’re sort of done,” he conceded.

“Yeah, I know. But tomorrow, we could do this again!”

Mason rolled his eyes. “If we weren’t cleaning your backyard.”

Terry hid his face. “Augh!”

They got dressed again and watched more movies, entertaining each other in a thousand somnolent ways.

Dane got in around nine, and Mason went downstairs to greet him. He looked tired but calm and maybe, possibly, happy.

“Good day?” Mason asked, hopping toward the fridge for the chocolate milk.

“Good company,” Dane said quietly. “Carpenter’s good company, you know that.”

Mason did. He figured he and Skip and Carpenter would be having a lot more lunches together. “Were the kids okay?”

Dane’s smile lit up the kitchen. “Yeah. They were awesome. Apparently Carpenter’s sister and her husband are leaving for a stint with Doctors Without Borders in June. Carpenter and his parents are on for babysitting—that’ll be fun.”

“Just in time for summer vacation.” Mason gave quiet, fervent thanks for his day job.

“Swimming, the zoo, trips to San Francisco.” Dane’s teeth flashed in the midst of what was growing into a full beard. “Mom will be thrilled.”

Mason nodded, wondering if he should broach the one little glitch in the plan.

“I kissed him tonight,” Dane said quietly, his joy suffusing the air like balm.

“Yeah?” Mason squeaked.

“He responded. It was only a couple of seconds, but there was tongue.” Dane poured his own glass of chocolate milk and leaned against the counter, throwing back a couple of meds.

Mason’s heart started to beat again. “Next move?” He had never actually seduced a supposedly straight boy. He had no idea.

“Wait,” Dane said. “Hope.”

And there went Mason’s heart to his feet. His face must have shown it.

“I said hope,” Dane told him. “Not fantasize. Although that too. Don’t worry, Mace. I keep telling you, I know the deal.”

Mason closed his eyes and came clean. “I always worry,” he said. “Always. This morning was rough.”

“I’m sorry,” Dane said.

Mason opened his eyes to see Dane studying his chocolate milk. “I know. Just… I’m going to nag you. Like be paranoid for a week or so. You understand?”

Dane met his gaze and nodded. “Yeah. I get it.” He looked away and changed the subject. “So, Terry?”

Mason didn’t try to fight the smile that crept up. “I’m going to bring him a snack.” Chocolate milk and cookies.

“Mace.”

Mason reached for the glasses and poured Terry a cup, and then turned around to get the cookies behind his head.

“I’ll carry those up for you,” Dane muttered. “Why didn’t you send him down?”

“Because he cleaned up after lunch and dinner and I’m tired of feeling like an invalid.” And he really was gaining weight. Water aerobics at the work gym helped, but it didn’t do the same as a good run through the neighborhood.