Page 77 of Something Like Summer
Ben was dragged to lunchthe next day and invited out to dinner, before Allison launched adefensive maneuver and made Ben promise to take her to the movies.Ben fulfilled his social obligations, but couldn’t help checkingout the other cinema seats before the lights went down, almostexpecting to see Tim lurking there.
Tim’s counterattack camethe next morning. Ben had finished showering and just barelymanaged to get his Calvins on when a rapping on his window made himjump. He tried not to dwell on how long he’d had an audience.Instead he got dressed and went outside. Tim hustled him into thecar, which was stocked with a dozen donuts and a couple of Cokes.By the time the sugar rush kicked in, they were well on their wayto San Antonio.
“It’s Saturday!” Timhowled, rolling down the windows and sending Ben’s hairflying.
Tim didn’t share the sameproblem. His hair was much shorter these days, cropped close on thesides and spiky on top. It suited him, as did the dark sunglasses.Tim caught him staring and grinned when Ben didn’t lookaway.
Their secret destinationturned out to be Six Flags Over Texas, a massive amusement parkfilled with rollercoasters and other potentially deadly rides. Benhad recently gone to Six Flags with Jace, but the park had beenclosed for maintenance, so they had spent the day shopping instead.And now he was about to carry on with that missed opportunity,except with Tim. The idea made Ben uncomfortable, but the uneasysensation was lost on the first exhilarating ride.
Like all amusement parks,Six Flags had long lines, so they spent most of their time waiting.As they stood in line, talking and laughing, the years of distancebetween them dissolved as if they had awakened in their junior yearof high school looking five years older.
By late afternoon, Bencould feel sunburn on his neck and his stomach grumbled with aserious hunger the park’s junk food couldn’t satisfy. All Ben hadto do was mention his appetite, and Tim offered to take them todinner. He had been paying for so much the last few days that Benwas starting to feel he had a sugar daddy of his own.
A display of stuffedanimals caught Ben’s eye on the way out. One of them, a blackstuffed cat, would have looked familiar had it been a differentcolor.
“Samson!”
Tim lookedconfused.
“Jace’s cat,” Benexplained. “I totally forgot to feed him today. I haven’t been overthere since yesterday morning.”
“We’ll swing by after weeat,” Tim offered.
“I kind of need to gonow,” Ben said apologetically. “Maybe we can get something to eaton the road?”
“Yeah, allright.”
They navigated thehorizonless parking lot until they found the car, Ben worryingabout his oversight. How long could a cat go without food? Hisconcern was more than just that. Samson needed regular company,something he had been neglecting the last couple ofdays.
“I hope he’s okay,” Bensaid as they pulled onto the highway. “Usually I stay over therewhen Jace is out of town.”
“So why haven’t youbeen?”
Yeah, Ben, why haven’t youstayed the night at Jace’s place lately? Once he put the questionto himself it was obvious. That first night he hadn’t liked theidea of waiting for a call from Tim while at Jace’s apartment. Andlast night, well, he supposed he liked the idea of Tim being ableto find him. And look how it had paid off. He had gotten a date outof it.
Perhaps it had all gone abit too far. It was time to make Jace a part of regularconversation. Tim might be hurt, but surely giving him false hopewould harm him more. “I’ll crash there tonight,” Ben said. “Gottamake sure the apartment looks nice before Jace comeshome.”
“When’s that?”
“Tomorrownight.”
“So I have you to myselfuntil then. We can do dinner tonight. We’ll feed the cat and thenhead out. My treat.”
“You don’t need to pay foreverything,” Ben said. “I have money too, you know.”
“I can afford it,” Timshrugged.
“How?”
Tim’s brow furrowed, as ifthis were a complicated question. Ben supposed it was, but heneeded an answer.
“I inherited some money,”Tim said. “A lot, actually.”
Ben’s stomach sank, hisfears backed by one more detail. “From who?”
“No one you would know,”Tim answered.
Ben didn’t press anyfurther, but he didn’t offer any other topic of conversation. Hisshort-lived vow of silence paid off.
