Page 85 of Something Like Summer
The woman took Ben’s money,as well as any contact information she could shake out of him. Shewas obviously concerned about the puppy’s welfare, but Ben was surethey were both making the right decision. After she handed thepuppy over to him, its surprisingly powerful legs treaded air as itstrained to lick his face. Then it peed down the front of hisshirt. Ben laughed and brought it to his car.
Driving the rest of the wayto Tim’s house was a small nightmare, the puppy bouncing around thecar like a rubber ball. Tim met him in the driveway, his jawdropping when a puppy jumped out of the car.
“You got a dog?” heasked.
“No,yougot a dog,” Bencorrected.
It took a few moments ofexplaining, but Tim quickly took to the idea. “I don’t haveanything a dog needs. We’ve got to go shopping! Let’sgo!”
“What, now?”
This wasn’t exactly whatBen had planned, but what could he do? Was he really supposed todrop off the puppy and say a quick good-bye? So after borrowing aclean shirt, he was dragged off to a pet megamart with Tim and thepuppy, who had been dubbed Chinchilla. Tim filled a shopping cartto the brim with more toys and food than most dogs needed in alifetime. He ordered a dog house that would be delivered the nextday and signed up for training classes. Chinchilla was going tolive a good life.
Once they were back atTim’s—and now Chinchilla’s—home, Ben almost forgot the real reasonhe was there. They sat on the floor together, trying out differenttoys and laughing as Chinchilla made a fool of herself. She torearound the house, barking and making messes. Already the house feltmore alive.
“This was a nicesurprise,” Tim said eventually. “I thought you were coming over totell me that Jace wants my head on a platter.”
“No.” The smile faded fromBen’s face. “He was very understanding about everything, but thereis something we need to talk about.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I can’t handle this,” Benblurted out. “My feelings for you, I mean. They never wentaway--”
“That’s a good thing,” Timinterrupted.
“No, it’s not. I loveJace. I’ve been with him for over two years, and I plan on stayingwith him.”
Tim reached out and grabbedhis arm, as if he were afraid Ben would try to flee. “I can giveyou everything he can,” he promised. “More even.”
Ben knew arguing would befruitless. “I’m with Jace,” he said. “And that’s how it’s going tostay.”
“Okay,” Tim said,releasing his arm. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t befriends.”
“Yeah, it does, Tim,because that’s not how I see you.”
“That’s not how I see youeither, so why fight it?”
“Because I love Jace, andI’ve already hurt him more than I ever should have.”
“And you don’t love me?”Tim challenged. “I know you do, because I feel the sameway.”
Ben struggled to rememberif Tim had ever said “I love you” when they were younger. Was heeven saying it now, or just implying that he did?
“I have to go.” Ben stood.“I don’t think we should see each other. For a while atleast.”
“Benjamin, wait!” Timcalled after him.
He ran for the car, and ashe pulled away, he saw Tim holding Chinchilla back so she wouldn’trun into the street. Tim looked hurt, but at least Ben knew that hewould no longer be alone.
* * * * *
Whatever academic gods wereout there received multiple daily prayers from Ben, mostly as pleasto help him complete his finals and put formal education behindhim. Other times he thanked them for providing limitlessdistraction during a difficult situation. The first time he hadsaid good-bye to Tim had been against his will. Now it was his owndoing, but he still couldn’t say this was what hewanted.
Scholarly pressureaccelerated time until two months had gone by, and even though Benthought of Tim every single day, his relationship with Jace wasback on track. Some weeks they barely managed to see each other,but when they did their relationship was just as loving andintimate as before. If Jace harbored a grudge, he didn’t showit.
After a late study sessionin the library one evening, Ben had decided to go home, a term thatnow referred to Jace’s apartment. He had barely stayed a night athis duplex in the last month. Normally Allison wouldn’t toleratesuch a thing, but she was busy with her own finals. When Ben leaptup the stairs to the apartment, he saw someone tacking a note tothe door.
The stranger turned when heheard Ben approaching, eyes and mouth wide in surprise. Witheyeliner, base, and powder on his young face, he was only amicrophone away from being in a boy band. Surprise becamedisinterest before the stranger turned away, evidently feelingBen’s presence was of no consequence.
