Page 24 of Treehouse Whispers
“Yes, Mum,” Benji said nodding. “We’re together.”
His mother squealed—it was the only word he could think of to describe the noise that came out of her mouth—and hugged him again, then hugged Jamie, too.
“Finally! Oh, god, wait until your mother hears this! It’s so exciting! LEANNE!” she yelled towards the kitchen. “LEANNE! QUICK!”
Jamie’s mother ran into the hallway. “Sarah, what’s wrong?” she questioned, concern written all over her face.
“Leanne, they’ve finally figured it out.” She pointed between Jamie and him and at their joined hands.
Leanne lifted her hands to cover her mouth, eyes widening as she screamed as loud as his mother had and punched a fist in the air. “Yeah!”
Jamie peered at him and smirked. “Still think they have an issue with it?” he said out the corner of his mouth.
Benji shoved his shoulder into Jamie’s arm and dragged him forward, allowing them to close the front door. He was sure the whole neighbourhood knew the news by now.
“What’s all the commotion?” His dad, Steve, came into the hallway, and his mother soon filled him in. “Well, it’s about damn time, boys. What took you so long?”
Benji squinted at Jamie and shrugged. “No idea.”
“Come on. Let’s go break the news to the rest of the family. We’ll have a double celebration tonight.” Sarah announced, skipping through to the living room with the others.
“You alright?” Jamie asked, standing in front of him.
He reached up to Jamie’s cheek, rubbing his thumb across the soft skin. “Better than alright. You?”
“Perfect.” Jamie kissed him. “I love you.”
“I love you.” Benji grinned and pulled Jamie towards their families, where he knew their relationship would be welcomed with open arms.
****
Everything stayed calm for about an hour, but once the liquor started loosening tongues, questions abounded.
“How did you find out you were into each other finally?” Claire asked with a giggle and a hiccup as she reached for the wine bottle. Her partner, Tessa, took it from her shaking hand and filled Claire’s glass without batting an eyelid.
Benji hid his smirk behind his glass. It wasn’t often he drank, but Jamie had promised to take care of him and not let him get too carried away with anything. It also had the effect of calming him, allowing him to stay in the group for far longer than he would have sober. Therefore, he allowed himself a couple of glasses of wine. At Claire’s question, he glanced towards Jamie with a raised eyebrow.
Jamie fidgeted in his seat and cleared his throat. “Well, every guy I dated or who was interested in me was measured against Benji—” Benji, Claire and Donovan snickered. “Not in that sense, imbeciles!” Jamie rolled his eyes, but chuckled, throwing a wadded-up napkin at Donovan.
“Hey, why do I get the punishment? It wasn’t just me!” Donovan threw it back.
“Now, now, kids. Let’s be adults about this,” Harry, Jamie’s dad, interrupted their banter with a smirk.
“We were being adults, Dad. Everything can be taken the right way…um…the wrong way…whatever.” Claire leaned her head against Tessa’s shoulder, closing her eyes briefly before opening them quickly. “I think I’ve had too much to drink.”
“Probably, sweetheart. Let me get you a glass of water.” Leanne left the dining room.
“Mum! I don’t need water. I have a lovely buzz going.” Claire wheeled to Tessa. “Did you ever notice how strange that word is? Buzz. Zz-zz-zz.” Claire tittered. “It tickles.”
“Oh my god, she’s wiped.” Donovan reached his arm around Miranda’s shoulder, kissing the side of her head. Both were sober, which was unusual, and Donovan seemed to be more affectionate than usual. If Benji was a betting man…
Jamie’s mum returned with a tray full of glasses and a jug of water. “I brought some for all of us. Even I can feel the alcohol in my veins tonight. What was in the wine you brought, Steve?” She placed the tray on the table and reseated herself, passing glasses out, then the jug.
“No idea. I picked up a few of the closest ones. I have no idea if they were any good or not.” He gazed at his wife. “I told you not to let me buy the wine. At least you know what’s good and what’s not.”
Sarah patted his cheek. “Don’t worry. A little relaxation never harmed anyone. And it’s not like any of us are underage, is it?” She giggled. “Anyway, back to your story, Jamie.”
Jamie flushed, and Benji loved seeing the red colouring his cheeks and neck. He ached to follow it with his tongue and felt himself leaning forward. Jamie halted him by kissing his cheek to a round of “Aww.”
