Page 86 of Summer Lessons

So no nap. No second sex in the shower. And the olive oil stained Mason’s boxers and shorts, just from pulling them on for the walk upstairs. He had to throw them away.

Sex—as messy as real life.

But as Mason stood in the shower and soaped Terry’s hair, scrupulously stomping on his libido so they could go out and do what they’d planned, he remembered Terry trying so hard not to hurt him.

The only way to not get hurt was to keep going.

Getting an apartment was the next step in the “keep going” part.

Maybe they really were going somewhere.

“YOU LIKEit?” Mason asked, pleased. It was their fourth try, and the last apartment on the short list Mrs. Bradford had produced. The first three had been small and decrepit—one had a stairwell that had jumped out and bitten Mason as he’d walked up, and they’d had to stop to bandage up his ankle. (“Always the fuckin’ ankle,” Terry had said sourly.)

This one was small, but the carpet was new (or newly stretched), and there were ceiling fans in every room. The windows were strategically placed for flow through, so even though it was a top-floor apartment, it could still get rid of the heat, and the kitchen opened into the living room, so even though the whole thing was about the size of Mason’s master suite, it didn’t feel as cramped as the other three.

It was respectable. A kid’s first apartment after moving out.

Mason really hated it. With all his soul. He had to keep reminding himself that Terry’s key to seeing the world as a bigger place was paying rent on this much smaller place, but damn, was it hard.

“So my bed should go under the window,” Terry muttered, and then he grinned. “You could fuck me inmybed for a change.”

That suddenly, Mason didn’t hate it anymore.

“Yup,” he said. The place was hot, and they were both sweating, but Mason still moved behind him and kissed his neck. “And we can run around the place naked.”

Terry laughed at that. “Which’ll take about two minutes.” He turned in Mason’s arms then and frowned. “You won’t mind? Coming here sometimes?”

Mason nuzzled his temple. “As long as I’m welcome.”

“I… I mean, it’s not as great as Skip’s place, but Carpenter’s giving me an extra TV and I’m getting Owens’s old couch. We can watch movies.”

He sounded so hopeful. “Sure.” Mason had a good thought then. “So—what do you want for a moving-in gift? If Carpenter’s giving you a TV and you have a bed and a couch, what canIgive you?”

Terry smiled shyly, obviously pleased. “A… well, only if you have an old one or it’s not too expensive. But I don’t have a coffeemaker yet—or a microwave.” He paused. “Or dishes, or cups. Or shower mats or towels. Or a dresser or….” His grin was wide and happy. “You know, I was all scared about this. I must have thought maybe six times about asking if I could sleep in your guest room or something. But I’m getting all excited. My mother’s cups and glasses and stuff—that shit wasugly.”

Mason had to nod. There was no denying that Terry’s mother hadn’t given a crap about decorating.

“But I get to pick my own. That’s gonna beawesome!”

“I can’t wait,” Mason said, his throat a little tight. “I’m so happy for you!”

It was hard to say—but he said it with a whole heart. Loving someone was easy, apparently. Letting him go was like swimming naked in eel wire.

MASON WENTfor both the microwaveandthe coffeemaker. He presented them on Sunday, when he, Skipper, Richie, Carpenter, Dane, Cooper, Menendez, and some guy named Rudy from Terry’s job helped him move.

Skipper rented a U-Haul, and Mason, Skip, and Richie helped get the stuff out of the house into the truck. They ignored Terry’s mom, and she returned the favor, huddling on the couch and glaring at the men as they trooped up and down with Terry’s furniture.

“You owe me for that!” she called as they left with each piece. And each time, Terry would remind her that he’d paid up her next four house payments.

Mason’s stomach clenched at that.

It was one of the reasons Terry hadn’t moved out on his own before. He’d been saving the money.

Mason couldn’t think of someone who deserved it less then Terry’s mother did.

But by midmorning they were set, and they caravanned from Carmichael to Fair Oaks, which all told took about fifteen minutes.

Of course to Terry, it was like jumping from the earth to the moon. He and Mason were the last ones to leave, Mason’s car jammed with Terry’s scant wardrobe. As Mason got into his car, Terry ran over and kissed him full on the mouth, and pulled back, smiling.