Page 60 of Something Like Summer
“That’s right. Lean intothose feelings and let them wash through you. As wretched as theymight make us feel, they’re a part of us, and we shouldn’t ignorethem. It only hurts worse if we do.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,”Allison said, laying her head on his shoulder.
“Me too.”
Silently, they watched thesea gulls dive and soar on the horizon. The skies were winter graybut the weather was warm enough to be comfortable. Ben couldn’tignore how much more he felt at home here than inChicago.
“Don’t go back,” Allisonsaid, sitting upright and hanging her legs over the dock’sedge.
“What?” Ben asked, takenaback.
“I’m tired of you being sofar away.” Her best doe eyes were focused on him. “I need youclose. Especially now.”
“That’s not fair,” Bencountered, but his heart wasn’t in the argument. As soon as he hadstepped out of the airport into mild weather he had once consideredcold, he knew he was home again. Chicago felt like a distant dream,but still a part of him was reluctant to return to the world he hadgrown up in.
“Austin is much moreliberal,” Allison said. “It’s nothing but weirdoes. Being gay isabout as risqué as white bread there.”
Austin could be okay. Sureit was Texas, but also an unexplored city. Home, yet somewhere new.The idea sounded good, but he intended to show some resistance.That way he would score twice as many brownie points. “Why don’tyou go to school in Chicago?”
“And switch schoolsmid-semester? Only an idiot would do that!”
“Thanks!”
“Well, an idiot or a verycommitted best friend.” Allison blinked seductively.
“I’ll think about it,” hepromised, even though his mind was already made up. The idea of nothaving to muck through the snow, of not having to worrying aboutMason breaking in again was too tempting. As much as Ben enjoyedthe idea of living far away from everything he knew, he had tiredof homesickness. Not to mention that he’d never had a friend likeAllison before or since.
“All right. Done thinkingabout it,” he said. “We’ll have to get our own place. I’m notmoving into your dorm!”
The first authentic grin onAllison’s face since her father’s death was worth the hassle ofswitching schools. The big hug she gave Ben only sweetened thedeal.
__________
Chapter 18
The better part of NewYear’s Eve was spent in front of the mirror, where Ben tried onevery possible combination of clothing, even dipping into thecloset for items he hadn’t worn in years. Jace had invited him to aparty, but Ben didn’t know if this was a casual shindig or formalaffair. Considering it was New Year’s Eve, everyone there might bedecked out in tuxedos. Ben tried to find an outfit suitable for allpossible scenarios, but in the end he could only hope his navy bluedress shirt and jeans were passable. Next came an endless battlewith his hair, which needed to be cut, followed by cologne that hadto be washed off in favor of another scent. Once he feltpresentable, Ben drove into downtown Houston and scouted for theaddress that Jace had given him.
An attractive andtransparently drunk woman answered the door, waving him in withouteven looking at him properly. The party was in full swing, loudmusic pumping and people swaying to the beat, although instead ofdancing, most of them were merely trying to keep their balance.T-shirts mingled with tuxes, assuring Ben that he wasn’t the onlyone uncertain of the dress code. Ben made his way through theapartment twice, excusing himself more than once for squeezingbetween conversations and stepping on toes, before he spotted Jace.He was seated on a couch and had his arm around a woman who lookedquite a bit like the person who had answered the door. In fact,almost everyone here was of an indeterminate age and thin, with acertain vibe that suggested they were all flight attendants. For amoment Ben felt like he had stepped into some secret undergroundculture known only to those inside the airline industry.
Jace jumped to his feetwhen he saw Ben and wasted no time in kissing him deeply, causing acouple of bystanders to “woooo!” in appreciation.
“Well, hello to you, too!”Ben said with a flush.
“I’m glad you made it!”Jace grinned. “Did you have trouble finding the place?”
“A little bit,but--”
“Who’s this, then?” awoman exclaimed, taking a hold of Jace’s arm and oglingBen.
Jace made theintroductions, the first in a seemingly infinite series. Each timewas the same--a courteous amount of interest was given to Ben, thenJace and his friends would talk about people and places Ben had noknowledge of. Jace’s popularity signaled good things about hispersonality, but Ben’s frustration was rising. He wanted to bealone with Jace and get to know him better, not listen tomeaningless gossip. The frequent mention of someone named Sam, whowas purportedly very cute, didn’t help either. Was this anex-boyfriend?
“All right, see youlater,” Jace said cordially to the latest visitor, his smiledropping once they were out of sight. “We have to get out of here,”he muttered from the corner of his mouth. “Let’s make a run forit.”
Ben didn’t need encouragingand made a beeline for the door. Jace was further behind, choosinga less direct path to avoid other potentially socialsituations.
“Sorry about that,” Jacesaid as they spilled out onto the street. “A party full of noseycoworkers wasn’t the best date idea. Where to now? A bar? Orsomething to eat?”
“Somewhereprivate.”
