Page 60 of Something Like Winter

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repeated itself. Even now. Quentin might as well be Darryl or whoever.” “Except now you have Travis.”

Tim didn’t respond to this. There was no comparison to Ben. Instead

he took a swig of beer and said, “What’s it say about a person when they

know they have a problem but never do anything to fix it?” Eric smiled. “That they’re human.”

Tim shifted in his seat and stretched, stiff from sitting for so long.

“Man, I’ve just been rambling on and on about myself. Sorry.” “There’s nothing to apologize for. I enjoyed it.”

“It’s been one-sided though. Tell me about your life.”

“Well, I’m usually in bed by now,” Eric said.

“Oh! Sorry.”

“But if you let me take you to dinner tomorrow, I’ll talk your ear

off.”

Tim paused. “Are you asking me on a date?”

“You think you’re man enough to handle me?” Eric winked. “No, no

strings attached. Just a nice meal and an old man droning on about all his

regrets.”

Somehow Tim doubted it would be anywhere near that boring.

“Then it’s a non-date!” he said as he stood.

Eric walked him to the front door, fussing over Tim being able to

drive, but he’d only had the one beer. Life at a fraternity meant he had a

high tolerance. He was below the legal limit anyway.

“You can have this back,” Eric said, holding out the check. Tim shook his head. “They don’t deserve it.”

“You’re one of them, and I think you do. Besides, won’t someone

notice it missing?”

“I don’t care.”

“But I do,” Eric said, shoving it in his hand. “Please. I can’t stand the

thought of you living without air conditioning or a roof over your head.” They laughed together, and Tim gave in. He would accept the

donation, but he wasn’t going to let his brothers bad-mouth Eric again.

Maybe he could even find a way to stop them telling that horrible story.

Of course he would need to know the truth first.

“I’m holding you to that non-date,” Tim said.

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