“He’s really going to prison?” Jason asked. “Doesn’t there have to be a trial or—”
“There will be,” Marcello said, sweeping around, “and I’ll have every goddamned lawyer in the state prosecuting his pathetic ass! Not that it will be necessary because I’ll make sure the right judge is on the case. One in particular regularly attends my fundraisers, and he’s always been fond of Tim. Rest assured, Ryan will go to prison, and I daresay the little bastard won’t survive the experience.”
For a moment, Jason wondered if Marcello was powerful enough to have Ryan killed, but hopefully he only meant that Ryan would meet some random misfortune while behind bars. He sat in silence as Marcello continued to rant, happy for an excuse to look away when his phone chimed. A text message. Jason read it, and for the first time since everything happened, he felt hopeful.
“It’s Allison. She says they’ve got Tim stabilized. Do you think that means he’s okay?”
“I don’t know.” Marcello took a deep shuddering breath and exhaled again. “Well then, let’s go see him, shall we?”
* * * * *
Ben was no longer in the waiting room when they arrived, having gone to Tim’s bedside. Only one person was allowed to visit at a time, and even Marcello’s influence couldn’t budge the stubborn nurses. Eventually, their little group grew in number when Emma showed up with her parents. Greg took turns bear-hugging them all, one by one, even Marcello, who he didn’t seem to know. Michelle held Jason. He supposed it might have resembled a hug from the outside, but she placed her arms around him so gently, like he was fragile and she was afraid of breaking him. Ben’s parents arrived next, a laid-back couple who Jason had met on many occasions. Not too long after them, a stern-faced, white-haired man showed up with a beautiful Hispanic woman clinging to his arm. From the desperate fear in her eyes, she had to be Tim’s mother. Allison seemed best equipped to deal with them, taking the couple aside for a hushed conversation, but soon Mrs. Wyman was among them, clutching their hands.
“So many people are here for my baby,” she said, wiping at her eyes. “So many friends.”
When Ben returned to the emergency room seating area, that was what he found waiting for him. So much family. So many friends. He nodded at them and managed a smile.
Tim was going to be all right.
* * * * *
Another day passed before Jason was permitted to see Tim. With only one visitor allowed at a time, Ben monopolized this privilege by spending the night at the hospital. He was the only person aside from Allison not to roost at Marcello’s house that night. The Bentleys—and especially the Wymans—might have preferred to get a hotel room, but Marcello was insistent. Emma was thrilled by it all, but everyone else had to slowly get comfortable around each other. By breakfast the next day, the place was starting to feel like a resort full of the glummest tourists ever.
The Wymans left first to see their son. An hour later, everyone else gathered at the hospital to take their turn. Marcello asked Jason for permission to go next, which he could hardly deny. Then Emma did the same. Afterwards it seemed only natural to allow Michelle and Greg go next. Jason waited not-so-patiently through all of this, desperate by the time he was finally allowed to enter Tim’s room.
After some wandering down hospital corridors and glancing into many bleak rooms, Jason finally saw Tim sitting up with a bandage wrapped over his shoulder and under his armpit. He was staring off into space when Jason knocked. Then Tim looked apprehensive. At first, anyway.
“Oh good, it’s you,” Tim said. “I thought Greg was coming back for another hug. They practically had to rush me back into surgery.”
“For real?” Jason asked, moving to the chair by the bed.
“Yeah, he kept apologizing. Said I was a hero.” Tim grinned. “I barely remember a thing, but whatever. I’ll let him call me a hero if he wants.”
“You saved Ben’s life,” Jason said, his throat tight. “Ryan was about to shoot him and—”
“I’m sure you had it all under control,” Tim said dismissively. “If I hadn’t gotten in the way, you would have headbutted Ryan or something awesome like that.”
“I love you,” Jason said. He swallowed against the tears. “I love both of you so much.”
Tim considered him and nodded. “Believe me, we love you too. Are you okay? Besides the obvious, I mean. There’s not something you guys aren’t telling me, is there?”
“No,” Jason said. “We’re all fine. They caught Ryan, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“I heard.” Tim leaned back and winced. “I think this is going to leave a nasty bruise.”
“Probably a little worse than that.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. Funny how all the guys I love leave their mark on me. This one over here?” Tim pointed to the scar on his opposite arm. “That one is called Travis. The new one will be named Ryan. Let that be a lesson to you. As awesome as love is, it can leave you scarred for life.”
Jason laughed. “At least Ben hasn’t scarred you.”
“Are you kidding?” Tim said. “The first time I met the guy he nearly broke my ankle!”
“Really?”
“Really,” Tim said. “Ask him next time, see if he’ll tell you the truth. I guess I should have known back then. All the guys after him only left flesh wounds. Benjamin managed to get into my bones on day one.”
“Sounds like true love,” Jason said.
“Yeah. Speaking of which…” Tim gestured for Jason to come closer. “Next time you visit, think you can sneak Chinchilla in with you? She’s family too, right? Me, you, Ben, and the dog. We’re one big happy family now.”
“Is that the morphine speaking?” Jason teased.
Tim was dead serious when he replied. “No. I’ve known for a while now. I definitely didn’t need some guy putting a bullet through me to figure it out.”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “Me neither.” Then he took a deep breath. “Does this mean I have to call you Dad?”
“It’s either that or Mom,” Tim said with a chuckle. Then he glared. “That was a joke. You better not call me Mom!” His features softened somewhat. “At least not in public.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
Four years. Jason hated that he was counting down, because the more time that went by, the more pathetic he felt by doing so. Besides, he had more exciting things to focus on, such as a brand new summer and all it would bring. His world was changing. Jason was now the assistant manager at the pet store. During the job interview, he was told his passion for his work set him apart. In truth, all Jason really cared about was the increased pay. The extra money would come in handy because he and Emma were getting a place together.
She was on her way from Houston this very day. They would stay with Ben and Tim while apartment hunting, which shouldn’t take long. Once they had their own place, viva la freedom! Not that Ben and Tim were at all oppressive, but Jason needed his own place so he could feel like an adult. One who would be living with an eighteen-year-old college student. Jason smiled at the thought. They were going to have so much fun!
Four whole years, and now they were finally over. Not that it mattered anymore, because the dreams and promises made back then had all faded away. Regardless, after his morning routine, Jason carried his laptop outside to the backyard, intending to get a head start on the apartment search. He checked his email first, just in case William had sent him any hint of his plans. Jason was dying to know if he’d be returning to Austin, but William never gave a clear answer. “We’ll see,” was the standard response. Jason had even visited Ms. Townson, as he did occasionally when wanting to talk about William. Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to know what her son’s plans were either.
“Willy could make a career out of it,” she had said, not sounding too happy about the prospect. “He could remain stationed where he is or anywhere else on the coast. I might have to pack up and move. Maybe I could take up surfing.”
Jason had laug
hed, but inside he wondered if there was another reason, another person, that made William want to stay where he was. Regardless, he checked his email every day and his phone every hour, hoping for news. He was even tempted to call Kelly, even though they had mostly lost touch, to see if he knew anything.
The laptop finished its work. No email from William. Instead he found advertisements from various stores, a spam message from someone in Africa who had bequeathed him twenty-three million dollars, and a Facebook friend invite from— Jason’s mouth went dry. He shielded the laptop screen from the sun to be sure.
Caesar Hubbard.
He stared at the name, at the little letters that—when placed in that exact combination—made him think of sneaking into a bedroom at night, playing his guitar with a head on his lap, or riding a bicycle down a major highway in the middle of the night. Caesar-freaking-Hubbard! After taking a deep breath, Jason clicked a link in the email. Not the one that accepted the request, but the one leading to the profile instead.
Caesar’s information wasn’t set to private. Jason clicked the little profile photo first, eager for a fresh look at his first real love. Maybe Caesar was overweight or had gone bald prematurely, or maybe… Jason sighed. Caesar looked better than ever. His face was more mature now, the cheekbones more defined. His hair had grown out a little, and he was rocking a three-day beard.
Jason studied the image, comparing it to what he used to know, before he started flipping through others. Caesar on a golf course, clothes tight on an all-too-familiar frame. Caesar shaking hands with someone old and important. Caesar at a bar, smiling with friends both male and female. Jason paused and couldn’t help wondering if any of them were the person who had replaced Nathaniel. He closed the photos and clicked on the tab for more information. New Haven, Connecticut. So still in Yale territory. Maybe Caesar was going for his doctorate or something. What Jason really wanted to know…
Relationship Status: Single
Okay. Good to know. Not that it could possibly matter, but whatever. Jason pored over the profile, not learning much else. He was reading and trying to interpret status updates when Tim strolled out into the backyard. Shirtless, of course.
“Naked again?” Jason rolled his eyes. “You’re doing it on purpose.”
“What?” Tim asked, flopping into a deck chair. “I’m wearing shorts.”
“You know what I mean. Every time Greg comes to visit, your shirt mysteriously disappears.”
Tim grinned. “He thinks my scars look cool. Besides, I like it when he calls me the Terminator.”
Jason shook his head, glancing at the pinkish-white circle between his neck and shoulder. To him it was an unhappy reminder, but naturally Tim found a way to make it work, like getting shot was the sexy thing to do these days. Jason returned his attention to the computer, hungrily devouring anything and everything on Caesar’s profile. He was still doing so when Greg and Emma entered the backyard.
“Hey, there he is!” Greg said, boxing the air. “Tim the Terminator!”
“You two get a room,” Emma said, brushing the hair from her eyes. She was just as big as before and twice as beautiful, but the real change had come from the inside. Emma was calmer now, not quite as excitable, the air of confidence real. No longer a girl, but a woman. Emma was in complete control of herself, all grown up, a lady in every sense—
“My ass feels like a thousand dentists have been jabbing it with novocaine,” she declared, “and they didn’t bother taking me to dinner first. I’m so glad I won’t have to make that trip again.”
“Except when we move the rest of your things here,” Greg said. “You’ll have to come home for that.”
Emma batted her eyelashes at him. “But Daddy, I thought you would take care of it all for me!”
Greg shook his head, then offered a hand to help Tim up. “Come on. I’ll show you the new car. You show me the new swimming pool.”
“I’m so glad they found each other,” Emma said, taking the deck chair when Tim and Greg had disappeared. She leaned back and sighed contentedly. “My new life begins right now.”
“Welcome to Austin,” Jason said. They eyed each other a moment before squealing excitedly. “This is going to be so cool!”
“I know!” Emma nodded at the laptop. “Apartment hunting already?”
“I was going to,” Jason said. “But then…” He clicked on Caesar’s profile photo again, stood up, and handed her the laptop. “Take a look.”
“Not bad,” Emma said. “I’m not into sausage, but if I was, I’d be nibbling on his.”
Jason grinned. “Look at the name.”
“Caesar Hubbard,” Emma said in a snooty British accent. Then surprise registered. “Wait, is this the Caesar? Your Caesar?”
“I’m not sure I can say he was ever really mine, but yeah, that’s him.”
“Huh.” She perused a few more photos, Jason looking over her shoulder. “He looks like the lead singer from that old music video.”
“Could you be less specific?”
“Give me a second.” Emma hummed for a moment. “Incubus, I think?”
“Oh yeah!” Jason said. “You’re right. That guy was hot.”
“This guy is hot,” Emma said, closing the photos. “So you got nostalgic and decided to do a little online stalking?”
“Nope. That’s the weird thing. He sent me a friend request. I haven’t heard a peep from him since the day his parents kicked me out of the house. When was that, a million years ago?”
“At least,” Emma said.
“Yeah. And now he wants to be virtual pals.”
Emma looked up at him. “Did you accept?”
“No.”
“Why not? Where’s he live?” Emma clicked a few times. “Connecticut? It’s not like he can just pop by. You might as well friend him, if only to get his life story. He’s probably hounded by regret and will end up drunk-texting you.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Jason said.
“Didn’t say it was a good idea,” Emma replied, clicking some more.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Jason grabbed the laptop from her and glanced at the screen.
You are now friends with Caesar Hubbard.
“Oh, great.” Jason said, pursing his lips, but he only did so to keep from smiling. “I could have waited a day before accepting. Now I’ll appear desperate.”
“Who needs him anyway?” Emma said. “You and I are going to hit the scene, find some fresh hot love to pave over the holes in our hearts.”
Jason sat back down. “There’s a gay youth group meeting tomorrow, I think. You’ll have to go solo because I’m too old now.”
Emma was shaking her head. She made sure they were alone before leaning forward. “Fake ID.”
“I don’t know where to—”
“I’ve got one already. You and I are hitting the bars together. How about tonight?”
“Or how about we wait until we’re on our own so you don’t get caught?”
Emma considered this. “Nah. Tonight. You and me.”
Jason was about to agree when the laptop chirped at him. He pushed a button to wake the screen and read the message. “Oh god! It’s Caesar. He says hi. What should I say back?”
“Hello,” Emma suggested helpfully.
“Do you think I should?”
She shrugged. “He’s a million miles away. You could send him a naked photo and it wouldn’t make a difference.”
True enough. Fancy meeting you here, Jason typed back, trying to sound confident.
Caesar’s response came instantly. I know. Can’t stand the drapes though. Let’s go somewhere else instead. Meet me for dinner tonight?
Sure, I’ll just pop right up to Connecticut. Be there in five.
I’m in Austin.
“Fucking great!” Jason said, glaring at Emma accusingly. “A million miles away, huh?”
“What?”
“He wants to meet for dinner.”
“He’s
in Austin?” Emma said, looking shocked. Then she laughed. “Tell him you’ve got plans already. Because you do. With me.”
Jason had something else he’d rather say. He did some counting on his fingers, feeling more worked up when he was sure about the number. It’s been seven years since I’ve heard from you. Seven! And you expect me to be at your beck and call?
“Are you telling him off?” Emma asked. “You’ve got your angry face on.”
“Hell yeah, I am!” Jason said.
Caesar’s response came slower, enough time passing that Jason thought he had scared him off completely. But he hadn’t.
I drove all the way to Austin just to surprise you, so yes, I figured dinner wouldn’t be too much to ask.
Jason glared at the screen, tried to find some way of being offended by the words. You should have called ahead because you’re wasting your time, was probably the right response. But he liked that Caesar had traveled so far just for him.
He nibbled on his lip a moment and then looked up at Emma. “About tonight…”
“You suck,” she said. “When you get back tonight—or tomorrow morning—I want details. The juicier the better!”
* * * * *
Jason waited outside the Japanese restaurant, the kind where chefs grilled right in front of the customers, flipping shrimp into open mouths or performing other culinary tricks. Such distractions would be useful if the evening turned awkward. He sat on the trunk of Ben’s old car, staring down at his shoes and wondering if he should take them off. If he did, his feet probably already smelled bad since these shoes were ancient.
The rubber was cracked, the star logo label peeling off one and missing on the other. Jason kept poking his toe through a hole in one of the soles. Regardless, the once-neon green fabric still appeared somewhat optimistic beneath all the grime. Jason couldn’t believe he’d held on to the shoes for so long. Well, actually he could. That he’d been sentimental enough to wear them tonight—that was a little crazy.
A familiar car pulled up next to his. Caesar’s silver spaceship looked like it had been through one too many asteroid showers. The metal was dented and dinged, and the windshield was cracked, but all of this was forgotten when the driver stepped out. The car must have taken the brunt of time’s wear and tear, because Caesar looked fantastic. Just like his Facebook profile photo, in fact, which must have been recent. Casually brushing at the plum-colored dress shirt he wore, Caesar glanced up, as if surprised to see Jason there. Then he grinned.