Page 44 of Summer of the Boy

Chapter Eleven

I get to the back gate of the park early. But don’t stay too close. I spend my time walking in circles along the beach until one. Subterfuge could be exciting, but scary as hell.

On my probably fifth pass along the chain-link fence at the back of the park by the automaton, I see Amanda, therealAmanda, walking toward the back emergency gate. The park is old, it’s not hooked to an alarm. The gate just opens out from the inside.

She opens it for me and I slip in. When I go in to kiss her cheek she whispers, “Go into the underutilized restroom. I’m keeping watch.”

Amanda stays close as I slip inside the men’s room. I only have to wait maybe five minutes, which feel like five hundred thousand minutes when you’re filled with nervous energy, like I’m filled with nervous energy, before Ridley slips inside too.

He’s nervous. His smile gives him away. We both know how risky it is for me to be here now. Rid doesn’t waste any time taking me in his arms, resting his forehead against mine. We hold each other. Breathe each other. We’re so close I feel his heart beating. Then he kisses me.

While our lips touch, none of the evil in the world exists. His mother’s not a bitch. I was never arrested. We’re just Ridley and Leif. In love.

“I’m sorry about my mom,” he finally whispers, against my lips actually. And it feels great.

But I pull back because he has to see me. He has to understand. “Babe, you’ve got nothing to be sorry for. None of this is your fault, got me?”

He doesn’t answer. He doesn’t nod. He changes the subject. “I go in tomorrow for my test. The court psychiatrist will decide if I’m mentally capable to decide who I have relationships with. Then we wait. My court date is scheduled for my birthday, your lawyer’s doing. Got us fast tracked.”

“You know you’ll pass.”

“It hurts, Leif. My own mom wants me ruled incompetent. I thought she loved me. You asked me to give her a chance, but I’m done. I’m moving out. I’ll stay in one of those hotels or something.”

“What hotel?”

“The one’s you pay by the week. I have a job, and it’ll only be until I go to school.”

“Rid, once they drop the charges against me, you’ll stay at my house. Mom and Dad will be cool with it. We’re all adults, remember? They know we’re moving in together.”

“You sure?”

“Yep. My mom is convinced we’re going to get married someday. She and my dad started dating at nineteen, so I guess it’s a magic number.”

“Well she’s right. I already told you that.”

“Wait. No! Gabe, stop.” We hear coming from outside. Amanda’s voice yelling.

No time to cover, Rid holds me in his arms as we watch Gabe Cera walk into the men’s room with us. As always he looks good. But he’s also proof that once our kiss ended, evil existed again.

“So sweet,” Gabe says. “Must be true love.”

“Were you following me?” Ridley asks. Gabe ignores him. He had to have followed Rid.

“What do you want Gabe?” I ask, full of attitude as well as hope that he’ll end whatever this is soon so I can go back to doing what I came here for, that, being with my boyfriend.

“Should you two be seen together? I mean, those charges are pretty serious.” He places his hand at his collarbone. As if he’s shocked.

“What do you want?” I ask again.

“Listen Fraser, here’s the deal. You don’t want anyone to know you’re still seeing the retard. I want blowjobs.”

“What about yourgirlfriend?” Ridley asks. A good question. And I’m so proud of Rid not letting the retard comment get to him.

“Don’t think I was talking to you spaz. Fraser knows how I like it. Blowjobs buy my silence.”

“No,” Rid speaks up again. “He won’t have sex with you, when he’s in a relationship with me.” And he squeezes my hand.

I kiss his cheek and nod once, so he knows I’m with him. I won’t have sex with another man. Ridley is it for me. Blackmail or not, I won’t do it.

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