Chapter 2
1334 Words
Chapter 2
“Tim, how was your day, sweetheart?” Eileen Bailey’s voice came from the kitchen.
“it was alright, Mom,” Tim said as he pecked her on the cheek and peered over her shoulder. “What are you making?”
“I’m fixing you a quick snack before heading out. We’ll be having a late dinner tonight. I have four houses I want to show the McCleskeys, and as God is my witness if they don’t sign tonight…”
Tim listened to his mother’s empty threats and nodded his head encouragingly. His mom was a realtor at a successful real estate company. Unfortunately, with success came a lot of work, and a lot of stress.
Tim started to focus again when he heard Tom’s name.
“He left three messages already and came by to see if you were here. You guys didn’t have a falling out, did you?”
“No, Mom.”
“Good, because I don’t want an atmosphere this weekend when we have them over for dinner. That Lynnette, bless her, she is on the prowl to catch me a man again.”
“Wait, hold up, Mom,” Tim said, holding up a hand to forestall her wandering too off-track. “Are Tom and his folks coming over this weekend?”
“Didn’t I mention it? Well, it was kind of last minute. Lynnette said that she and Martin wanted to introduce me to someone. Turns out the guy who they want to introduce me to is someone I’ve met previously. He’s a great guy, so I thought what better way than to have a little soirée here?”
Tim shut his mother out as he saw his resolve at staying angry at Tom start to crumble. Well, he’d make him suffer at least for tonight, resolving only to phone his boyfriend back tomorrow.
* * * *
“Talk,” Tom’s voice came over the line.
“You talk first,” countered Tim.
“I knew you wouldn’t last.”
Hearing the smile in Tom’s voice, Tim at once wanted to punch him and kiss him senseless. “I just thought I’d make it easier for you to apologize, since you were a jerk.”
“Want me to come over?” Tom asked suggestively.
“Definitely not. I know I won’t be able to stay mad at you and we’re likely to end up in compromising positions. Hello? Tom, you there?”
“Look behind you.”
Turning around, Tim looked through the curtains of the glass doors to his balcony, making out the unmistakable silhouette of his boyfriend.
“You are some kind of freaky, Mr. Watkins,” Tim said as he opened the door and let his boyfriend in.
“What’s up, handsome?” Tom casually pecked Tim on the cheek and flopped onto the bed. “Don’t I get a cuddle?”
“What’s your business, Tom? I’m tired.”
“Anyone ever told you that you are totally screwable when angry?”
Taking in the small smirk on Tom’s face and his sincere eyes, Tim realized that Tom was struggling to find the words to apologize. Feeling his resolve crumble by the second, Tim fought hard to keep the slight scowl on his face as he said, “I’m really not letting you off so easily this time. I want a proper apology and an admission that you were a complete jerk to me.”
Getting up from the bed Tom stalked over to Tim and hovered dominantly over him.
“Then what’ll happen, Timmy?” Tom asked.
Tim struggled to breathe.
“Will I be forgiven then?” he asked as he put his hand on Tim’s thin thigh and slowly trailed it up to cup his package.
“That’s not fair. You need to…” Tim trailed off as Tom squeezed and released his hardening shaft.
“Babe, look at me,” Tom said.
Tim looked Tom in the eyes and saw the love and respect reflected.
“I’m sorry about everything. I love you, right?”
Tim nodded, kissing Tom enthusiastically. Tom’s belt buckle made a faint sound and he only came to as they both lay on his bed.
“I love you, my Timmy, don’t you know?”
“I love you, too, Tommy.”
Tom’s face turned into a grin at the sound of his term of endearment. Tom hadn’t ever allowed anyone else to call him Tommy aside from him, even when they were younger.
“You are my perfect Timmy, forever and ever,” Tom said before kissing him deeply, then cuddling him in the crook of his neck, both falling asleep like that.
* * * *
Tim mindlessly scratched his leg as he lay sprawled on the school’s lawn, studying and thinking about the night before in Tom’s arms. A slow chill started at the base of his spine when someone spoke his name.
“How’s it going, Timothy?”
Looking up from his notes, Tim stared into James’ handsome face.
“No complaints, thanks,” he said stiffly. Staring up at James, he asked, “How’re things with you?”
“Very well, thank you. We don’t visit nearly enough.”
Tim stared drily at James and waited for him to continue.
“I always see you with Watkins, but you never hang with us. We should organize a social at mine some time.”
Tim could only fake a smile as he didn’t trust himself not to tell the rich boy off.
“I actually wanted to talk to you about the other night at Seasons. Carla isn’t a bad person, Tim. It’s just that Withers rubs her the wrong way.”
“Look, I know you guys are together and that your loyalty lies with her, but I won’t allow you to lay the blame entirely. The problem isn’t so much her as it is her whole group of…”
“I hear you. I’m actually quite fond of Charlie myself,” James said, and blushed at the knowing look Tim gave him. “All I’m saying is Tom and I, we’re best friends, and you two seem to be very close, too,” James said, giving a visible pause before continuing. “I was just hoping we could all get along better, for Tom’s sake. What do you say?”
Tim considered James’ outstretched hand and made a deal with the devil the moment he shook it. He dusted himself off and excused himself.
* * * *
“If I didn’t know you any better I’d have thought you were making moves on my closeted homophobe,” Charlie said. Tim hugged his friend and held the door to the school building with a mock exasperated expression. He thought back to the conversation he’d had with James and, for some reason, his stomach had dropped at that handsome face breaking into a smile when Tim stretched out his hand.
“The guy’s a creep. I can’t imagine how you let any part of his body enter yours.”
“Have to make do with what’s on offer, woman. Not all of us want the picket fence and 2.5 kids, you know.”
The edge in Charlie’s voice made him sigh internally.
“And if I didn’t know you better, I’d have thought you were a shallow queen instead of the angry boy that puts up a front to prove to the world he can’t be bothered that his father won’t accept him as he is and expects every man to do the same.”
His friend stared, open-mouthed, at him. Charlie eventually closed his mouth, but continued staring. “Do you always have to pull that psychobabble bullshit on me?”
“Luckily, you know I love you and need to bring you down to earth now and then.”
“Still.” After a pause, Charlie said, “And I’ve told you your husband’s quality does not come close to James’!”
“And I’ve told you it’s not all about size, but about the skill!”
“Bullshit!” Charlie mocked. “That’s the line every sad bottom saddled with a less-than-equipped top says to comfort him.”
Laughing at his friend’s wit, Tim countered. “And that’s the line every sad bottom with an untrained top spins him to bring comfort to his unsatisfied…”
“What are we laughing about?” Lacy asked as she threw her skinny arms around Tim and Charlie’s shoulders.
“He just a sad little girl,” Tim said as he adjusted the books in his arms.
“If only I had a best friend who was boyfriends with the hottest jock…”
Tim and Lacy played along, even though they were fully aware of where the conversation was headed.
“…who coincidentally will be hosting the Official Unofficial End party of our year?”
“You can stop begging, you know,” Tim said.
“You mean I’m actually invited?” Charlie asked as they made their way out the school building.
“Of course you are,” Tim said.
“I? Me? I am invited to the ‘must be there’ party of our high school career? The graduation party held at arguably the school’s hottest and snottiest jock’s house, with no parental supervision?”
“Well, since my boyfriend’s hosting it, I can invite whomever I want. And you are my best friend, so of course you have to be there.”
“What will your supposedly-straight jock boyfriend have to say?” Charlie asked skeptically.
“You leave Tom to me,” Tim said while holding the door for Charlie and Lacy to walk through. “You just concentrate on looking fabulous. God knows I’ll need a gay ear among all those heteros,” Tim added as an afterthought.
“Thanks a lot,” Lacy said. “What am I? Grated cheese?”
“b***h, you’re gayer than any of us will ever be,” Charlie said and breezed past her, dismissing further conversation.
- Writer
