Page 40 of A Much Younger Man
I sat in one of the folding chairs. “Has he really been avoiding me?”
“Yup.”
“Did he tell you why?” I didn’t want the answer anymore, but I asked.
“Nope.” He sat, smoothing the fresh blanket out to each side of him.
That wasn’t any help at all.
“But if you ask me, knowing you, you probably said something stupid.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“That’s right. I have absolute faith you’ll stick your foot in it if you’re out of your depth with someone. Tell me what happened.”
I opened my mouth to speak but thought better of it. I didn’t like what was going to come out. My attraction to Beck. Inviting him for an intimate dinner. Accusing him of flirting with me to get something. I didn’t even know what I was accusing him of trying to get but…something.
Put like that, it was pretty obvious why he was avoiding me.
“I can answer my own question. Thanks.”
“C’mon,” Travis cajoled. “Confession’s good for the soul. What did you do?”
“Let me ask you. Do you think someone his age could see something in a guy like me?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Like what?”
I thought about that. “Hypothetically speaking, do you believe it’s possible someone his age might, uh, enjoy spending time with me…and not just…because of economics or status or whatever.”
“Seriously? Are you asking if I think Becklikes you, likes you?”
I winced. “Don’t do that.”
“All right.” He leaned his elbows on his knees. “For real? He probably does like you. And he’s probably a little in awe of what you’ve achieved here.”
“He said some things”—I glanced away—“I took as empty flattery. I told him he didn’t have to do that. That I’d look out for him whether he flattered me or not.”
Travis sat back. “Ah.”
“I meant to simplify things between us.”
“But now you see that you called him a liar.”
“Yes,” I admitted. “If he meant the things he said, I called him a liar.”
Travis wrinkled his freckled nose. “Dude. Fix it.”
“It might be best if I don’t. Don’t you think? If I make a big deal out of what I said, then what?”
“Then you’re not a dick.” Travis shook his head. “This isn’t like you, Doc. This kid is under your skin like…burrowing deep.”
“You’re right.” I closed my eyes. “Way too under.”
“Is that what it is? Are you afraid something might happen?”
Was I? I could control myself. Nothing had to happen unless I wanted it to. But as to that…“I’m old enough to be his father.”
“Barely.”
