Page 49 of Something Like Summer
Tim’s attention was focusedmostly on his baseball games. The next two games could bring theschool’s team to the state finals. Ben managed to attend some ofthese events, watching Tim from the bleachers while pretending tobe the wife of a famous Major League player. Or maybe the mistressof one, considering that their relationship was shrouded insecrecy.
A week had sped by sincethey had last seen each other. Saturday night, after one of Tim’sgames and a practice session with Allison, they agreed to meethalfway between their homes. The Wymans were hosting a dinner partyand there was never much privacy at the Bentley’s, so Ben and Timdecided to enjoy the warm night together. The air was electric withenergy as spring slowly morphed into summer, the cicadas buzzingtheir hypnotic song in the woods where Ben waited.
They had an anniversarycoming up, Ben realized. Almost a year ago Ben had first seen Timjogging along the path that circled the small lake. They had comeso far together since then. Tim had gone from being a masturbatoryfantasy to the most important person in Ben’s life. He couldn’thelp but wonder how much further they would go together. Prom intwo weeks? College? An apartment, marriage, kids?
The sound of thumping feetechoed out of the past and into reality. He turned to see Timrunning up to him. For one brief moment, Ben felt as if the pastyear had been nothing but a dream until Tim grabbed him and brokethe spell by kissing him.
“Damn, I’m horny!” Timsaid with a grin.
“Good game then?” Benasked.
“The best!” Tim filled himin on the details as they strolled together. Ben nodded and gavethe appropriate responses, even though he still didn’t fullyunderstand the logistics of the game.
“Want to sit down here?”Ben asked rhetorically, kicking at pile of charred wood that hadpreviously been a bench. There had been a number of small arsonincidents recently. So far nothing as serious as a house burningdown, but the reoccurring fires were enough to make most of thearea’s homeowners nervous.
“I think the playground isstill intact,” Tim suggested. “Are you a swinger?”
“You know it,baby!”
They were heading for theswings when Tim grabbed him by the arm and spun him around. Hemoved in close, pressing himself against Ben. The hardness in hispants made his intentions crystal clear.
“Not here!” Ben protested.“Think of the children!”
“We’re the only oneshere,” Tim murmured. “All the kiddies are at home with theirparents, glued to their idiot boxes.”
It was a fair point. Bencould spend hours walking the suburbs at night without seeinganother living being. A citizen venturing off the safely litstreets into the tamer territories of Mother Nature was even lesslikely. People always imagined that muggers and rapists lurked inthese abandoned parks, which would be silly since they would bewaiting an eternity for potential victims.
He let Tim press him upagainst one of the playground’s wooden structures, lips mashingtogether as they fumbled at each other’s pants. Ben succeededfirst, switching places with Tim before going down on his knees. Helistened to the soft sound of Tim’s moans drifting away on thenight air as he worked, feeling an odd mix of urgent lust and innertranquility.
“Police!”
“Hold it rightthere!”
Ben’s eyes shot open at theunexpected voices, and quickly winced against the bright light. Hefelt Tim push him away as he struggled to see past the twoflashlights that were bobbing toward them.
“Run!” Timsaid.
Events finally caught upwith Ben as Tim hastily buttoned his shorts and took off into thenight. A policeman shouted in protest as Ben raced to follow. Forthe next minute he knew only his heart pounding in his ears, thedark sliced sporadically by flashlight beams. He caught up with Timjust as the path split into two different directions.
“Split up!” Tim hissedback at him, heading to the left.
Ben took the right path andconsidered diving into the woods and lying low when he slammed intosomething that grunted. The collision knocked Ben to the ground, anoise skittering across the pavement, but he didn’t have time toidentify it. He was more concerned with getting away, for alreadythe lights were catching up with him.
There was more shouting ashe was spotted by the police again, prompting Ben to leap to hisfeet. He spared one glance down at the illuminated path and lookedinto the confused eyes of Daniel Wigmore, who was still splayed outon the sidewalk. Ben’s stomach sank as shocked recognitionregistered on both their faces.
Then Ben was running again,this time through the woods, branches slapping against the hands heraised in defense. Eventually he spilled out into a backyard thathe recognized. He allowed himself to stop and gulp down air beforerunning toward home. When he finally made it there, he forcedhimself to calmly enter and walk up the stairs as if nothing hadhappened. His lungs were aching as he willed normal, short breathsuntil he reached his bedroom.
He left the lights off andlooked out his window, but for what? Squad cars? A helicopterequipped with searchlights? He wondered if it was too soon to callTim’s house to see if he had made it safely. What if the policewere there right now, talking to his parents? Ben calling at thatmoment would be the most damning of evidence.
He swore at their stupidityas he paced his room, trying to decide on a course of action. Howmuch had the police really seen? Had they found Daniel? Maybe theywould put the blame on him. That would be a nice twist. Of course,Daniel wouldn’t hesitate to rat out Ben. He probably alreadyhad.
Ben looked out the windowfor the twentieth time and saw a patrol car pulling into hisneighborhood. He cussed and quietly descended the stairs to thefront door and peeped out the window. The police cruiser hadalready pulled into his driveway. Indecision gave way todesperation. He slipped through the house, slid open the glass doorthat opened onto the backyard, and ran.
Going through the woods wastoo risky since cops could still be there, so he crossed intoanother neighborhood, making a wide arc to where Tim lived. Benwanted nothing more than to ring the bell or use his key, but heknew what a bad idea that would be. He could see a number of adultsthrough the windows, drinking wine and laughing, oblivious to thedrama unfolding around them. The backyard was mercifully empty, theparty contained indoors, and there was a light in Tim’s window. Benthrew coins from his pocket up at it until the light turned off.Then he waited.
Tim’s eyes were wild withpanic when he stepped into the backyard. Wordlessly, he grabbedBen’s arm and led him to the side of the house.
“Did they catchyou?”
