Page 3 of The Time It Takes

"Whooo! You got this, Cole!"

I didn't. I bowled a six and a two. "Darn," I said when I rejoined them, because we made an effort not to swear around the pack. Lots of kids in the pack, and some of the older members didn't feel comfortable around foul language. I liked them to feel comfortable with me.

"Hey, you tried," said Arlie, but there was a twinkle in his eye.

"Don't be rude," I told him. I stood in front of the seat, waiting for him to get up and trade places with me. Instead, he took hold of my wrist and pulled me closer.

"There's room right here." He patted his thighs.

"C'mon," I protested, but I let myself be pulled onto his lap without fighting it.

He was teasing about it, but he also wrapped his arms around me in a bear hug, and I felt something in me relax. How had he known I needed a hug, rather desperately?

For a moment, I didn't care if it looked playful or too familiar, or gay, or whatever. It just felt awfully good to be held.

Chapter two

My partner looked upas I entered the room. He'd gotten to work before me today. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He gave me another, longer look.

"Hey, Cole, you think maybe you should eat something?"he asked gently.

I should've known my partner would immediately be able to tell something was wrong.

"I did eat," I said. I had to think. My mind slid back over the awful morning—a continuation of the argument we'd had last night—and couldn't actually place any food consumption in there anywhere. "Well, I had coffee." I was at least sure of that.

He got up smoothly, grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair, and swung it over one shoulder. "Let's go to the diner real quick. I realized I'm actually really hungry today." He had special permission to leave for food at any point, so he was putting it like that, to make it about him and not me, in case anyone had any questions later. I gave him a look that tried to be stern, but I think I only managed to look vague.

He put a hand on my arm and gently steered me back the way I'd come.

It was a short drive to the local diner we often frequented. I stared out the window at nothing and let the world blur by. He got me inside, and found us a booth, and ordered for both of us. I should have roused myself enough to order for myself, I guess, but I couldn't seem to care enough to bother. Besides, he knew what I liked.

Halfway through some very crispy bacon and very tender eggs, I looked up and noticed he was watching me.

"I see the lights have turned on." He gave me a look that was somehow scolding and tender at the same time. "You want to tell me what's up?"

I thought about it. "Not really. This is good, though. Thanks."