Page 34 of The Virgin
Jonah came back outside, and Spencer did his best not to stare at him. That was new. Before all this, he wouldn’t have cared how much he looked at Jonah, but he didn’t want anyone to know how far he’d fallen for Jonah. Spencer’s feelings were a neon sign blinking above his head for all to see, lighting up whenever he looked at his friend.
So, he tried not to. Ethan made it easier by calling Jonah over to the grill. Spencer knew he’d spend a couple minutes catching up with each of his kids one on one. Ethan was a good man and a good dad. His kids were lucky to have him.
Taylor, the youngest Bennett, flopped down in a chair next to Spencer. He leaned back and stuck his feet out, stretching his limbs. The Bennett brothers all bore a resemblance to each other, but while Colby looked the most like Ethan, both in features and stature, Taylor and Jonah looked the most alike. They were nearly the same height, Taylor being the shortest one, and they had the same build and same general facial features. But Taylor’s were softer. Even with a layer of scruff on his face, he had round eyes that were always kind and friendly.
Today, though, they looked troubled. Spencer wondered if anyone else noticed, or if he did because he was so in tune with Jonah and his moods that the connection translated to Taylor.
Spencer scooted his chair closer. “Hey, you okay?”
Taylor turned his head and gawked at Spencer, then quickly wiped the shocked look off his face. “I’m fine.”
Spencer stared without speaking until Taylor sighed.
“I’m okay.” Taylor looked like he was running something through his mind or trying to solve a problem. “Can I ask you a strange, possibly super-vague question?”
“You can ask me anything. And if you want, it can stay between us.”
Taylor glanced around. “My thing and your thing aren’t transferable, but you’re the most creative person I know and I wondered… How do you put yourself out there like that? How did you even learn how to do all the cool shit you do?”
Spencer got the distinct impression that there was something more to Taylor’s question than he was letting on, but he wasn’t ready for people to pry.
“Well, it’s like with any other skill. You start with the basics. I’m sure when you started cooking you didn’t jump into the hardest things. You started small. Cracking eggs. Mixing things. Learning to follow a recipe. Then, once you had enough of the basics down, you moved on to other things and started experimenting.”
“But I had someone to show me how to do all that. This is different. I don’t know anyone who knows what I want to know.”
“Then you find someone who does. Or you turn to the great and powerful internet. You start small and practice. Learn the basics, then build on them. It’s the same way you learn how to do anything else. Art and creativity aren’t much different. They’re all a series of little skills piled together and practiced over and over until we can get them to do what we want. Most of the time. So, whatever it is, start with the basics and build on that.”
Taylor furrowed his brow, but he nodded. “Thanks. Sorry I was so vague.”
Spencer waved him off. “It’s fine. And if you ever want to not be vague, you know where to find me. And I promise not to tell anyone. Even Jonah.” It was strange to make that promise now, but he and Jonah were still just friends. Besides, even if they were more, Jonah wasn’t privy to everything everyone told Spencer. He’d have no problem keeping Taylor’s secret, no matter what it was.
“This new skill you want to learn…” Spencer leaned in closer. “It’s not serial killing, is it?”
Taylor rolled his eyes. “No. It’s not serial killing.”
“Just checking.” Spencer looked over to the barbeque where Jonah stood, staring back at him with a questioning gaze. Damon bounded up the steps to the deck at that moment and sank into an empty chair on the other side of Spencer.
“I always forget that Colby and his stupid best friend turn everything into a competition when they’re together.” Damon turned in the direction of the grill. “Hey, Mister B, that smells amazing.”
Ethan turned around and pointed a set of tongs at Damon. “Don’t start with the Mister B bullshit, Damon. It makes me feel old, but not too old to kick your ass.”
“Whatever you say, Mister B.” Damon grinned at him and the way he shook his head.
“You should go sit with your friends, Jonah. I’ve got this under control.”
Jonah cut his dad a questioning look. “Are you sure?”
Ethan nodded and patted him on the back. Jonah was slow to approach the three of them. Taylor stood at the last second and gave up his chair for Jonah. Spencer and Jonah had never been the kind of friends that would’ve allowed him to pull Jonah into his lap without suspicion, but the urge was there now. Spencer was greedy for Jonah. Close wasn’t close enough anymore unless they were touching. Touching wasn’t close enough unless they were kissing. Kissing wasn’t close enough unless they were… Spencer forced himself to stop that train of thought.
Dinners in the Bennett backyard were sometimes chaotic with the three boys and their friends. But this afternoon it was peaceful. Everyone mingled with everyone else, and the boys jumped up to help their dad come time to get the meal on the table.
There wasn’t enough space for everyone around the table, so Spencer and Jonah, along with Colby, ended up leaning against the deck railing, balancing their plates in one hand and holding their forks with the other.
Maybe it was because Spencer was busy hiding his own feelings and his own not-relationship with Jonah that Spencer noticed the way Damon looked at Nash and the way Nash looked back at him. That subtle yearning that Spencer wouldn’t have noticed if he’d not been trying desperately to not look at Jonah that way.
At least Spencer had solved the mystery of who Damon’s secret, Tom Ford cologne-wearing hookup was. The fact that Nash was Colby’s best friend was probably why they were keeping things a secret between them.
Spencer scanned the group of friends because that’s what everyone here was. A group of people who might not have ever connected if it weren’t for a Bennett. He wondered how many secrets they all had between them. How many things they hid from each other for the sake of keeping this peace, this camaraderie, this little found family that the Bennetts had created around themselves.
