by Jay Bell
“She’s not on her own,” Bonnie said before shaking her head. “Wait, what? Did you say fourteen?”
“You can’t make me do anything!” Emma said, ignoring her. “You aren’t really my uncle!”
“Then I’ll call Ben,” Tim said, digging in a pocket for his phone. “And we’ll see what your real uncle thinks of all this.”
“Hold up,” Kelly said. “This is worse than reality TV. Who is related to whom?”
“You know I’m still in the closet,” Emma said, still pleading with Tim. “How am I supposed to explain why I’m here? Think about when you and Ben used to secretly meet.”
Tim hesitated, thumb jabbing his phone before he put it back in his pocket. Then he drank down the champagne in one gulp. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s all just calm down and talk about this.”
“Over dinner?” Kelly said, sounding amused.
Jason thought of the tangle of lies that would slowly be pulled apart under scrutiny. “Maybe we should all just go home,” he suggested.
“You can’t go!” Bonnie said. “It’s my big night!”
“And I’m starving,” Kelly said. “No, I definitely think some food is in order. Followed by what I imagine will be a very enlightening conversation.”
* * * * *
Six people sat at a table, an invisible line dividing them. On one side sat the prosecution—William, Kelly, and Bonnie. Across from them, past the barely-touched plates of Italian food, sat the accused. Jason and Emma were separated by Tim, who had traded his suit of seduction for the mantle of parenthood.
“So basically,” Kelly was saying, “Emma told you, Bonnie, that she was sixteen, when in fact, she is only fourteen.”
“Almost fifteen,” Emma corrected. “Just a few more weeks.”
“Congratulations,” Kelly said dryly. “But ‘almost fifteen’ does not equal sixteen, which you claimed to be.”
Bonnie frowned. “I don’t think she told me her age at all.”
“That was me,” Jason said. “I told you she was sixteen because I thought you wouldn’t give her a chance.”
“Of course she wouldn’t have,” Tim chimed in. “Fourteen is too young to date.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Kelly agreed, smiling like a serpent. “But what I don’t get is if you aren’t her uncle—” He pointed at Tim and then Jason. “—and you aren’t either, then where does this Ben guy fit in?”
“Ben and Tim are—” Emma began, but Tim raised a hand to silence her. “She has an uncle who lives here in Austin. I’m more of an honorary uncle.”
Kelly nodded, not at all dissuaded. “But you and Ben meet in secrecy sometimes.”
“Not anymore,” Tim said. “We used to in high school when we were a couple. Then we broke up.”
That much was true, even if he failed to mention they had gotten back together since. Tim was doing a very good job of not lying at all. Maybe they could still get away with this!
“How odd,” Kelly said. “Bonnie clearly expected Ben to be with you. He’s the one who sings, right? Or can you sing, Jason? That would surprise me because you’ve been very quiet recently.”
Jason stared him right in the eye, jaw clenching. Kelly wanted him to squirm? Too bad. “Tim’s not my boyfriend,” he said.
Kelly rolled his eyes. “Obviously.”
“Emma’s uncle, Ben, is Tim’s boyfriend,” Jason continued. “They’re an amazing couple and are nice enough to let me live with them. And go along with my stupid ideas, like this one.”
Kelly gave William an I-told-you-so expression. “And why would you want to pretend to be with someone when you’re not?”
“Haven’t you ever been single?” Tim asked. “Haven’t you been around other couples, ones you envy because what they share seems so incredibly wonderful that you want it for yourself? And, even though they might not intend to, don’t those happy couples sometimes make you feel small and insignificant, like you aren’t good enough to join their ranks? I know. I’ve been there before, and I didn’t want Jason to feel the same way. He deserves to be loved. I meant what I said earlier about how handsome he is, but it’s his personality that really shines. He’s a survivor. He’s been on his own since he was a kid, he’s worked full-time since he was sixteen, and life still hasn’t given him the good things he deserves. But he doesn’t let that make him bitter. From what I can tell, he falls in love way too easily, but that’s not a bad thing. I met a guy like him a long time ago, and I’ve been chasing him ever since. So maybe Jason is single now, but it won’t be long before someone recognizes how special he is. That’s not a lie. It’s a prediction. Stick around and you’ll see it come true.”
The table sat in stunned silence at this speech. Kelly looked irritated, Bonnie and Emma were glowing with some sort of excitement. And William… Jason’s stomach sank at the sight of him, because it was clear he wasn’t happy at all.
“I don’t care how old she is,” Bonnie declared. “I was thirteen the first time I fell in love, and the woman wouldn’t even look at me. I have to respectfully disagree with you, Tim. Fourteen is old enough to feel, and dating just means spending time with the person you love. Maybe she shouldn’t be alone in Austin with me, but I’m not going to judge her by an arbitrary number. Emma, you’re mature enough for me. That’s all that matters.”
Emma smiled at her and looked very much like she would like some privacy, which might have prompted her to turn to Tim. “Soooo. About tonight.”
Tim shook his head. “Your father hates me enough as it is.”
“Then it can’t get any worse,” Emma joked. “Besides, he’ll never find out. I swear.”
“Fine.” Tim sighed. “But you’re staying at our house. In the morning, we’ll drive you back to Houston. Jason, you’re the designated driver tonight, because I’m going to need a few beers before I have to face Ben.”
“Deal!” Emma said. Then she leaned forward to look around Tim at him. “Right?”
“Right,” Jason said, and although he was happy for her, he didn’t feel like smiling because William’s face remained troubled the rest of the meal. Luckily Emma had returned to her usual chatty self, Bonnie keeping up with her. This made the table appear lively, even though Kelly seemed bored now that the drama was over. Tim focused solely on his beer. William didn’t say a word, not until they were all out in the parking lot.
“Need a lift to your car?” Tim asked him.
“I don’t drive,” William said. “Neither of us do.”
“Then a ride home,” Tim offered.
William shook his head, but Kelly nudged him. “It’s better than the bus!”
“Bonnie can drive me,” Emma said hopefully. “Ben’s at home, right?”
“Yeah, okay,” Tim said, the beer having mellowed him. He handed his keys to Jason. “Let’s get this show on the road!”
Kelly sat up front with Jason, which was practical since he needed more room for his crutches, but it certainly didn’t feel very comfortable. Kelly kept conversation to a minimum, only feeding Jason directions to where he lived, which turned out to be a large house in a conservative new subdivision on the other side of town. Tim was still enjoying his buzz, chatting to William about his plans to build a swimming pool on their property. They were talking so much that neither noticed when the car pulled over and parked.
“Time to go,” Kelly said.
William glanced up. “I’m staying at my place tonight. I’m tired.”
“You can be tired here,” Kelly said.
“I want to be in my own bed.” William said. “Besides, my mom misses me.”
“Fine.”
Kelly seethed quietly as he got out of the car. William also got out and walked him to the door. Jason watched as they stood on the front porch and talked. Or argued, since their body language appeared a little too animated.
“I can see why you like him,” Tim said from the back seat. “Seems like a good guy.”
“Yeah,” Jason said, eyes still on the
house. “I think I’ve pretty much blown it though.”
When William returned to the car, his cheeks were red and his features tense. He seemed distracted when giving Jason directions to a much more humble neighborhood, Jason having to brake sharply a couple of times to avoid missing his turn. The street William lived on wasn’t well lit, but the small house they pulled up to looked nice, from what Jason could see without a porch light on.
“Thanks for the ride,” William said, before turning around to face the back seat. “And thanks for dinner. You didn’t have to pay for us all.”
“It was my pleasure,” Tim said.
William nodded, turned to face Jason, and then wordlessly got out of the car. Jason watched him walk halfway across his lawn before he opened the car door and gave chase.
“Wait,” he called, but didn’t need to because William had already turned around. The neighborhood was quiet, except for the gentle chirping of insects. In the dark, William was much more intimidating. Without the gentle eyes or friendly face visible, he was just an outline of a large, muscular body. Jason came as close as he dared, hoping to see through the shadows. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“I don’t like liars,” William replied.
“It’s a nasty habit,” Jason said, trying to make it sound humorous, but he knew it wasn’t. “When I was growing up, I had to do certain things to get what I wanted. Or to get away from places I didn’t want to be. I didn’t lie exactly, not always, but I went to extremes to get my way.”
“Were you abused?” William asked, sounding concerned.
“No,” Jason said. “I lost my parents, so I was in and out of foster homes my whole life. That’s not an excuse. I don’t know what I’m trying to say, except that I know I’m messed up, and I’m sorry if I made things tense between you and Kelly.”
“There’s a reason I’m with him,” William said.
“I know. I’m sure there are plenty of reasons, and anyone with eyes could—”
“Just one reason,” William said, voice hard. “And I’m not sure it’s a good one.”
Jason hesitated, feeling lost. “What do you mean?”
William’s silhouette shook its head. “I don’t want to talk about him. Remember what you said to me at the pool? How you felt when you first saw me?”
“Yeah.”
“Was that a lie?”
“No!” Jason said. “I swear it wasn’t. I only lied about not being able to swim. And about having a boyfriend.”
“That’s two strikes,” William said.
“Do I get a third?” Jason asked, not daring to feel hopeful. “I mean, I don’t want another strike, but if I’m not out yet…”
“You’re not,” William said. “I felt it too. When we first met. But I don’t know what it means. Maybe we’re meant to be friends. Maybe, if things were different, we could have been more. Either way, I don’t have room for a liar in my life.”
The breath caught in Jason’s throat, leaving him unable to respond.
“I’ll see you at the pool,” William said. “Monday morning.”
“Monday,” Jason managed. “I’ll be there.”
A breeze blew across the lawn, wind cutting between them and breaking the spell. William’s dark form turned and walked the rest of the way to the house. Jason peered at the dark porch, saw William illuminated briefly as light shone out from the interior. With his back to the door as he pushed his way inside, William was looking at the exact spot where Jason stood. Then he was gone. Taking a deep breath, Jason returned to the car and got inside.
“How’d it go?” Tim asked.
Jason considered everything, weighing it carefully. “I honestly have no idea.”
* * * * *
When they returned home, they found Emma and Ben in the backyard. Ben rose and went inside to have a word with Tim. Emma stayed where she was, lying on her back in the grass and staring up at the stars. The peaceful scene was slightly marred by Samson stalking Chinchilla, the dog tearing across the yard every time the cat got close. After watching this spectacle for a moment, Jason joined Emma on the ground, each of them taking turns sighing as they considered the sky.
“I’m never going to lie again,” he said, letting the stars be witness to this most solemn of oaths.
“Speak for yourself,” Emma said. “Personally I’m thrilled with the results. I don’t think Bonnie would have given me a chance otherwise.”
“I’m glad it worked out for you,” Jason said.
“That it did.” Emma sighed again. “She kissed me. When she dropped me off here, she walked me to the door just like in all those after school specials, and then she kissed me.”
“Wow!” Jason said. “Congratulations. So I take it Ben didn’t open the door at the exact wrong moment?”
“Nope,” Emma said. “It was perfect. Absolute perfection.”
They lay in silence together, Emma no doubt replaying that kiss in her mind, Jason fantasizing about his evening having ended in a similar fashion.
“Was Ben angry about you showing up out of the blue?” he asked eventually.
“No. Just surprised. Of course, now that Tim is back, who knows what will happen. Ever notice how adults are cooler when on their own? Get them together and they start trying to out-responsible each other.”
They waited in increasing anticipation, tensing up when they heard the back door open and close again. Footsteps too soft to be Tim’s approached.
“Sit up,” Ben said. “Both of you.”
They did so, Ben taking a seat in the grass in front of them. He sat cross-legged with his back straight, looking like he meant business, which made his words so surprising.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I feel like I’ve failed you both.”
“What?” Emma cried. “Why would you say that? You’re awesome!”
“Thank you,” Ben said solemnly, “but instead of behaving like an adult, I’ve let matters get out of hand. I cherish the story of how Tim and I met, perhaps a little too much, and I’ve allowed that to cloud my judgment. Looking back now, I should have done things very differently. I shouldn’t have told the hospital that Tim’s parents had hired a nurse. Without proper care, something very serious could have happened.”
“Which is why you skipped school to take care of him,” Emma said.
Ben grimaced. “Yes, but I had no professional training, so I wouldn’t have known what to do in an emergency. What I’m trying to say is that I made a lot of stupid mistakes when I was younger, and they just happened to work out in the end. I got lucky. But Emma, running off to a different city with someone you barely know is extremely dangerous. And Jason, I shouldn’t have encouraged you to lie or go through with this ridiculous charade tonight.”
“Oh, totally,” Emma said sarcastically. “We both should have stayed at home feeling lonely. That’s way better than taking a few small risks.”
“Sometimes small risks lead to serious consequences,” Ben said. “Falling in love doesn’t require behaving foolishly. There are other ways to accomplish the same goal.”
“How?” Jason said, trying to remain respectful. “I’d like to know, because if I had played it safe before, I never would have fallen in love the first time. And tonight, even though it was a disaster, it got me somewhere. I know now that William feels something for me too. If I hadn’t gone to the mall to see what would happen or to the recital tonight, I wouldn’t have gotten closer to him.”
“But that didn’t require deception,” Ben said. “And Emma, you could have asked this girl to meet your parents first, take you on a date somewhere in Houston.”
“And you could have called Tim’s parents and got him a nurse,” Emma said. “But why didn’t you? Or have you forgotten already? What’s the one reason you did things the way you did?”
Ben’s eyes drifted to the horizon for a moment, then he snorted and partially covered his face with his palm. “Because of how I felt about him.” Ben dropped his hand. “I could have done t
hings differently, and I knew that back then, but all I cared about was the way he made me feel. Ugh. You know what? I’m glad I’m not a parent, because I suck at this.”
“You don’t,” Jason said, trying not to laugh. “At least you’re honest with us.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” Ben said, shaking his head. “Jason, it’s better if you’re honest from now on. Lying can push people away from you instead of drawing them closer.”
“I’m learning that,” Jason said, nodding his agreement.
“Emma,” Ben continued, “this is the absolute final time I help you hide anything from your parents. I want you to be open and feel you can confide in me, but if you’re doing something I feel is dangerous, I’ll tell them because it’s better than seeing you get hurt.”
“Fair enough,” Emma said, “but you won’t tell them about tonight, right?”
“Right. But I think you should come out to them. You know they’ll accept you. They accepted Jace, didn’t they?”
Emma crossed her arms over her chest. “Having a lesbian daughter is different from having a gay brother.”
“They loved Jace,” Ben said. “And they love you. There is no difference. Just think about it, okay?”
“Fine.”
“Good.” Ben stood, brushing the grass off his butt. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go inside and give my boyfriend a lecture about being responsible.”
“No!” Emma said. “Uncle Tim was so cool! Please let him off the hook.”
“He tried his best,” Jason said. “The first thing he said when he saw Emma was that he was going to call you.”
“Exactly! We ganged up on him so he wouldn’t,” Emma chimed in. “Tim was outnumbered. You should have seen him when the others found out Jason was single. He sat there and lectured Kelly and William on how incredible Jason is and how it’s their loss.”
“Really?” Ben asked.
“Yeah,” Jason said. “If he hadn’t stood up for me, I’d probably be jumping off a bridge right about now.”
A hint of a smile crossed Ben’s lips. “Well, in that case, I’ll go inside and tell him what a good job he’s done.”