Page 79 of Something Like Summer
Wherever the bathroom was,Ben worried Tim might need half an hour to navigate the sprawlingfloor plan. Ben opened the refrigerator and grabbed a can of cola.The noise it made when he popped it open sounded deafening in thesilence. Despite its cozy appearance, the house felt lonely, thehumming appliances too loud in the stillness. A home without afamily was a haunted place. Here it was easy to imagine why Ericwas desperate for company, how Tim’s proud speech and laughterwould chase away the emptiness. But it wasn’t Eric who was lefthere alone.
“It’s a huge house,” Timsaid, causing Ben to jump. “Too big for me. I plan on selling itand finding a place in Allandale, so don’t go getting used toit.”
Ben rolled his eyes at theflirtation but smiled. “Allandale is a nice neighborhood, but Idon’t know if you’re enough of a hippie to fit in there. So Ericlived here alone?”
“Yeah, when I first methim. It wasn’t long before he asked me to move in. Don’t give methat look! I can see what you’re thinking.”
“What would you think ifanyone told you the same story?” Ben said. “You have to admit thatit sounds fishy.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Timadmitted. “You believe me though, right?”
“Why not? The world’s acrazy place.”
“I would have,though.”
“What?”
“Slept with Eric.” Timgave a nod. “If it would have made him happy, but he never evenhinted at that.”
“Did you wantto?”
“I don’t know.” Timstarted to pull ingredients out of the cupboards. “Sometimes youcan’t tell your friends from your lovers, you know what I mean? Theline gets kind of blurry. That’s how it was with me and Eric. Maybeif he wasn’t on so many meds he would have wanted something morephysical. Maybe not.”
“What was wrong withhim?”
“Cancer. Multiple kinds,multiple places.”
“Geez.”
“Yeah.” Tim paused,staring blindly at the items in front of him. “He toughed it outuntil the end. He never complained, never felt sorry for himself.He had so much spirit. That’s why I can’t sell the place yet. Ifeel like he’s still here.”
Ben watched him withcuriosity. The Tim he knew of old never would have expressed hisemotions so openly and without shame. If only he had been this wayfive years ago.
“Anyway,” Tim forced anupbeat tone into his voice, “What did you have in mind fordinner?”
Ben took stock of theingredients gathered on the counter. There was pasta, a can ofpineapples, a box of rice, a bag of flour and some brownsugar.
“You don’t know how tocook, do you?”
“No, I don’t,” Timlaughed. “But I had to get you here somehow. We could do delivery.Or we could get nostalgic and you could cook for me. I’ll even laymyself out on the couch and pretend my ankle is jackedup.”
“Tim--” Ben’s warningtones matched his expression.
“Too far? Sorry. I justwanted you to see my place, since it’s so connected to my past. Youbeing here really livens the place up. I wouldn’t mind you visitingmore often. Bring Jace along if you like. I’d love to meethim.”
Ben eyed him, trying toweigh his sincerity. “All right. I’ll cook, but you have to help. Idon’t care how rich you are, everyone should know how make at leastone meal.”
Even without many freshingredients in the house, they managed to put together a decentpasta sauce made from canned tomatoes and spices they found in thecupboard. Some aged cheese grated over the top, along with a blendof pastas for variety, completed the dish. They ate straight fromthe pot, laughing about old memories and arguing over misremembereddetails.
The makeshift meal was,unfortunately, very endearing. As much comfort as Ben took inJace’s experience and the security that provided, he was aware ofsomething equally gratifying in how much Tim needed from him. Benbegan to wish that Tim was an annoyingly talented cook, hadacquired his wealth by illicit means, and was still emotionallystunted. Instead he was doing everything right to reawaken Ben’sold feelings.
“I really need to get backto Jace’s,” Ben said while Tim was digging through the freezer forice cream.
“Aw, you can’t leave. Youhaven’t even done the dishes yet!” Tim winced from Ben’s glare.“Only kidding. Geez! There is a pool here, you know. We could gofor a swim, have a couple of beers. You can even crashhere.”
Ben scoffed. “I don’t thinkso!”
“Your virtue will remainunchallenged, princess, you have my word. There are two guestrooms. Take your pick. I’ll even sleep in the car.”
