Ben leaned forward between the seats and wrapped an arm awkwardly around Gabriel’s upper body. “Night, Dad,” he said, with a sloppy kiss to his father’s cheek. “Love you.” He reached over and patted Jack on the shoulder as he drew back. “Nice meeting you,” he said. “See you next time,” he added with a laugh before reaching back for the door handle.
“Ben, do you mind if I walk in with you? I’d like to take a quick peek in the dorms if that’s alright,” Jack said.
“Sure, sure,” Ben answered, already getting unsteadily from the car.
As the overhead light filled the car with a muted glow that still made Gabriel’s eyes burn, Jack met his gaze for a moment. “I’ll be right back,” he said. His fingers brushed Gabriel’s thigh, lightly, briefly, a subtle gesture of comfort, and then he was turning away and swinging himself out of the driver’s seat.
I love you, Gabriel thought, the words lodged behind the lump of emotion—of gratitude—in his throat. Ben was too drunk to notice, probably, but Gabriel knew exactly what Jack was doing.
The doors closed, leaving Gabriel and Alex in quiet darkness with only the soft purr of the engine filling their ears. Gabriel looked back at the boy in the dimness. Alex yawned, involuntarily, and shifted, laying himself on the seat with his arm bent beneath his head.
“Wake me up when we get home, Mr. S,” he said.
“Here,” Gabriel answered, handing back his folded sweater.
“Thanks,” Alex said, tucking it under his head and closing his eyes. “Thanks for bringing us,” he said after a few seconds. “It was fun.”
“Thank you for coming, I know it must be awkward hanging out with your teachers…”
“Mm, it’s a little weird,” Alex answered sleepily. “But it’s all good,” he added.
Gabriel leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes, letting himself settle into a feeling of contentment that he hadn’t known in a long time. His thoughts were a little fuzzy, his fingers and toes a bit tingly. There was a soft and steady stream of heat flowing from the vents, and the car’s engine provided a comforting vibration. The radio was turned down so that Gabriel could hear only the faintest strains of music, and that was comforting, too. He felt himself dozing—not sleeping, not really, but drifting a bit from the anchor of his body—and he didn’t bother fighting the feeling.
***
“Hey, Santiago, hot date?” someone called, and Jack looked over his shoulder at two laughing young men in the hallway.
“Shut up, it’s my dad’s boyfriend,” Ben answered without looking back. He appeared to be concentrating on walking as straight a line as possible. Jack didn’t feel the need to tell him he’d have failed a sobriety test a long time ago. Ben looked at Jack, swerving toward the wall when he turned his head. Jack resisted the urge to grab his arm to steady him. “Or do you not like that?”
“What’s that?” Jack asked.
“Being called his boyfriend.”
I haven’t been anyone’s boyfriend in a long time, Jack thought, considering the word. “I don’t mind it,” he answered.
“You prefer something you let me know,” Ben said, trailing his fingers along the wall, and closed doors, as he walked. “I’ll try to remember.” He grinned. “I’m a little drunk.”
Jack smiled. “Yeah?” he asked. “Could’ve fooled me.”
Ben’s laughter threw him off balance, but he recovered himself. “Don’t take it personal, ‘kay?” he said after a moment. “I think this’s my room,” he said, squinting as he stopped in front of a door. “You wanna look around more?”
“No, I should get back to the car,” Jack said. “Thanks.” He held out a hand, and Ben peered, red-eyed, at it before shaking it.
“You can tell Dad you got me here safe.”
Jack was surprised. Even three sheets to the wind, Ben was remarkably observant. “You know it’s a father’s job to worry no matter how old their kids get.”
“Sons worry too you know,” Ben said, releasing his hand.
Jack nodded, thinking about Alex asking Gabriel how he could help lessen Jack’s grief.
“Don’t hurt him, okay?”
Jack was struck by the earnestness in Ben’s expression, and by the simplicity of his plea. “You’re a good man, Ben,” Jack told him. “I respect the way you’ve handled all of this.”
“By getting wasted?” Ben asked.
With a smile, Jack said, “By supporting your father—both your parents—and by making me and Arnie feel welcome even though it’s hard for you.”
“I should go to bed the room is spinning,” Ben said, turning carefully toward his door as he fished his key from his pocket. Once he’d managed to unlock the door, he looked back at Jack. “Thanks,” he said.
“No problem,” Jack smiled. “Have a good—”
“I mean, thanks for…being what he needs,” Ben said, his brow wrinkling in concentration. “For making him happy,” he finally clarified, and his expression smoothed.
Jack patted him lightly on the arm. “Have a good night, Ben,” he said. “I’ll see you next time,” he added.
“That’s what I said,” Ben laughed as he turned toward his dorm room. “Ahh, God, tomorrow’s gonna suuuuck,” he muttered.
“Drink lots of water, buddy,” Jack said, watching him step through the doorway. “And don’t skip breakfast even though you’ll want to. And don’t take Tylenol for your headache, cut your liver some slack.”
“You sound like my dad,” Ben said. “No wonder he likes you. Night, Jack,” he said, closing the door as Jack chuckled.
***
“Sorry. You can go back to sleep,” Jack said as he pulled his door closed.
“I’m not sleeping,” Gabriel answered, looking at him in the dimness. At the sight of Jack’s smile, he said, “I mean, I wasn’t sleeping. Just sort of…floating.”
Jack laughed softly. “Go back to floating, then,” he said. He glanced into the backseat. “I see he’s already out.”
“Jack,” Gabriel said, and Jack hesitated with his hand on the shifter. He looked at Gabriel’s face and leaned toward him for a kiss, and Gabriel didn’t need to say what he was thinking and feeling. He slipped his hand into Jack’s hair and pressed their foreheads together for a few seconds, closing his eyes, before drawing back. He kept his words to himself, but settled his hand onto Jack’s thigh. The console was folded up so that there were no barriers between them.
“Your son’ll be asleep soon, too, I’m sure,” Jack said.
Gabriel squeezed the other man’s leg in thanks. “He’s pretty great, right?” he asked quietly, although he wasn’t looking for confirmation. If there was one thing in which Gabriel had complete confidence, it was his son. Jack knew the feeling, as Alex’s father.
“He’s great. You’re great,” Jack said. When he pulled out onto the street, he covered Gabriel’s hand with his own, curling their fingers together.
“Sorry you have to drive now, it’s late,” Gabriel said. “Next time, I’ll drive so you can drink.”
“I don’t mind,” Jack answered, pulling Gabriel’s hand up to his lips for a kiss across the knuckles before returning it to his leg. He paused. “Are you hungry?” he asked.
Gabriel blinked in surprise. “Starving,” he admitted, earning a chuckle from Jack. “How’d you know?”
“Just a hunch,” Jack said. “You didn’t eat much at dinner. What do you want, I’ll hit a drive-through.”
“French fries,” Gabriel answered immediately, and Jack laughed again. “Except…” Gabriel glanced into the backseat. “Will that bother Alex’s motion-sickness? The smell of grease?”
“He’s out for the ride, I think,” Jack said. “But thank you. Also, kiss me,” he added, turning his face toward Gabriel while keeping his eyes on the road.
“Yessir, officer,” Gabriel said, obediently planting his lips against Jack’s. “If I kiss you again, can I get a milkshake?”
Jack laughed. “Kiss me afterwar
d so I can taste the vanilla on your tongue.”
“What if I don’t want vanilla?”
Jack shot him a quick and pointed look, and they silently agreed to avoid delving into the double-entendre while Alex was sleeping in the backseat. “Don’t you?” he asked with a curve of his lips.
“Yeah,” Gabriel said. “I guess I’m predictable.”
“My favorite song is predictable, Gabe, but I’d listen to it all day, every day,” Jack said.
“I—” Gabriel stopped and cleared his throat. “Well, shit, I don’t even know how to respond to that,” he said. If I’m not careful, I’ll say too much, he thought.
Jack smiled at him, squeezing his hand, and Gabriel got the impression that Jack knew exactly what Gabriel was thinking. “French fries and vanilla shake, coming up,” Jack said softly, turning into the drive-through.
***
“That’s illegal,” Jack remarked as Gabriel unfastened his seatbelt.
“Ticket me,” Gabriel answered, laying himself down on his side on the seat. He laid his head on Jack’s thigh, shifting his hips in an effort to get comfortable. His feet were on the floor but angled against the door.
“You’re gonna be sore if you sleep like that,” Jack said, but he was already running his fingers through the hair at Gabriel’s temple.
“I don’t care.” Gabriel had one hand curled into a fist beneath his jaw, and the other over Jack’s leg just above the knee. His shoulder was tucked against Jack’s seatbelt, but it wasn’t uncomfortable enough for him to abandon the position. Jack’s leg was warm, and the touch of his fingers was light and comforting, and Gabriel closed his eyes. “Besides, I’m not sleeping.”
“You can sleep.”
“And leave you to drive alone?” Gabriel asked, suppressing a yawn. “Never.”
“I’m not alone,” Jack murmured, stroking Gabriel’s scalp in gentle circles.
“Does this bother you?”
“No,” Jack said. His pause seemed to be filled with unspoken words that Gabriel could almost hear. “No, I do love the weight of your head on my leg,” he finally said, quietly, and Gabriel knew that the words—the word—had been chosen deliberately. He tightened his grip on Jack’s leg. “Sleep, honey, it’s alright,” Jack told him. “I’ll have you home before you know it.”
“Wake me if you need me,” Gabriel murmured sleepily.
***
Jack kissed him at his door, and then leaned his forehead against Gabriel’s and said, “I wish I could stay the night.”
So do I, Gabriel thought. He didn’t relish the idea of crawling into his cool and empty bed alone, and he held onto Jack’s shirt for several seconds. “Next time,” he finally said, drawing back to meet Jack’s eyes.
“Next time,” Jack echoed in a murmur, with the ghost of a smile turning up his lips. “Thank you for tonight, Gabe,” he said. He hesitated, searching Gabriel’s face. “Can I tuck you in, at least?” he asked.
Gabriel laughed, but softly. “I won’t want you to leave,” he admitted. “But I’ll be happy with the few extra minutes.”
Jack walked him inside and waited while Gabriel used the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and stripped down to boxers and his new shirt. When Gabriel crawled into bed, he saw that Jack had set a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin on the table beside his alarm clock.
“I’m not that drunk,” Gabriel said. “Even the buzz is mostly gone.” He slipped between the cool sheets and Jack pulled the blankets up over his chest. It might be funny, if the ministrations weren’t so bittersweet; neither of them wanted to say goodbye.
“Just in case,” Jack answered, leaning down to kiss Gabriel’s forehead, and nose, and cheek, and lips. “Goodnight, Gabe,” he whispered, brushing Gabriel’s hair back and studying his face. “I’ll call you in the morning?”
Gabriel nodded. “Think good thoughts about me when you’re falling asleep,” he said with a smile.
“Those are the only kind of thoughts I have about you,” Jack answered, also smiling. He kissed Gabriel’s lips again, lingering, drawing a breath through his nose, before reluctantly straightening. “Goodnight,” he repeated, turning off the light.
“Night,” Gabriel said, closing his eyes. He thought he might lie awake for a while, but he was already drifting off as Jack let himself out, locking the door on his way, and by the time Jack was back in the car with a softly-snoring Alex, Gabriel was sleeping soundly.
Chapter Thirteen
“Attention faculty and students.”
Gabriel looked up from his book, frowning at the sound of the principal’s voice over the intercom.
“Would all tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students please report to the gymnasium at this time.”
Gabriel’s stomach squirmed uneasily. He looked at his class of eighth graders; most of them had already turned their attention back to their quizzes, content in the knowledge that they weren’t being summoned.
He could hear students making their way into the hall, and he got up and walked to the door. Opening it, he poked his head outside and saw several of the teachers standing in their doorways, looking as perplexed and worried as he was feeling. Gabriel could see down to the gymnasium doors, where Sanderson was ushering students into the room.
Gabriel backed into his room and debated, looking over his class. He waited as the sounds in the hall died down.
“Everyone stay in your seats,” he told his pupils, and they looked over their shoulders at him. “I’ll be back shortly.”
He stepped outside and closed the door. The hallway was already empty as Gabriel made his way toward the gym. Something was wrong; he had a bad feeling about the whole thing, and that feeling only got worse when he looked through the windows of the gym doors.
He couldn’t see the bleachers or the students gathered there, but he could see Eliza, standing beside the principal with her shoulders hunched beneath her ears, tugging her sweatshirt sleeves down to her palms as she fidgeted.
Gabriel tried to open the doors and found them locked. “God damn it,” he muttered, his stomach churning. He turned and spotted the janitor coming out of the hallway that led to the cafeteria. “Donny,” he said, striding toward the custodian. “I need your keys.”
Donny gave him a funny look as he pulled the ring from his belt. “Not gonna get me fired, right?”
Gabriel returned quickly to the gym and unlocked the door, then tossed Donny the keys. “Go, you were never here,” he said. Of course, Sanderson would be able to figure out how Gabriel had gotten into the room, but that was a problem for another time.
“…might wonder why you girls are here, too, well it’s because someone knows something, and someone needs to talk. I heard it’s someone on the basketball team—any of you want to man up and confess to getting this girl pregnant? Alex McGinty, were you or were you not instructed to turn your phone off.”
Gabriel could hear the roar of blood in his ears, could feel it pounding in his temples, and he struggled to control the rage boiling up within him. He had to stay calm. He glanced toward the high school students seated in the bleachers. None of them were laughing or making jokes, not even out of nervousness.
“This doesn’t concern you, Mr. Santiago,” the principal said as Gabriel strode toward him. “Go back—”
“It concerns me.”
“—to your class.”
“What the hell are you doing, Doug?” Gabriel asked. He looked at Eliza, saw the pain and fear and embarrassment in her face.
“This isn’t some inner-city school where this kind of thing can be allowed to happen,” Sanderson said.
“What kind of thing?” Gabriel asked, sliding his gaze back to the principal.
“Students getting other students pregnant?” Sanderson said. He spoke quietly, but Gabriel was sure that everyone could hear him. The students in the bleachers were silent.
Gabriel wasn’t sure where Sanderson had heard that one of the boys in school was responsible for Eliza’s cond
ition, and it didn’t matter. “Honey, go wait by the office,” he told her quietly.
“No,” Sanderson said, reaching toward her arm as she started to step away.
“Do not touch her,” Gabriel said. Eliza had stopped, looking unsure, but Sanderson’s hand fell back to his side.
“I’m doing her a favor,” he told Gabriel. “Someone needs to step up. We won’t reward bad behavior, and whichever one of these young men—”
“You’re out of line, Doug,” Gabriel cut in. “You’re so far out of line you can’t even see the line anymore. Think about what you’re doing right now.”
“No one’s leaving until someone confesses,” Sanderson said.
“It’s not—it’s not anyone—” Eliza started, desperate to put an end to this ordeal.
“You don’t have to answer this,” Gabriel told her.
“Someone here knows,” Sanderson said, raising his voice toward the bleachers. “If the boy himself is too cowardly to come forward, someone must do it for him and point out the father of this girl’s—”
“Doug,” Gabriel said, stepping in front of the principal to draw his gaze. “You need to stop this, now.” He spoke quietly through his teeth, desperately trying to keep himself from punching the other man in the face.
“It’s me, okay, I confess,” a voice said, and Gabriel felt his stomach sink. He didn’t look back, but he knew that Alex was heading onto the gym floor. Gabriel could hear the tremor of nerves and the steel of determination in the boy’s voice. He also knew that Alex was lying in an attempt to protect Eliza from any more humiliation.
Eliza put a shaky hand to her forehead, and Gabriel could see that she was unraveling. She didn’t know what to do, and Gabriel hated Sanderson for putting her in this position.
“McGinty,” Sanderson said. Gabriel glanced sideways at Alex as the boy appeared beside him, and saw the cell phone in his hand. An instant later, Sanderson held out a palm. “Give me your phone.”
“No,” Alex said.
Sanderson’s eyebrows went up. “Excuse me?” he asked. He made a swipe toward Alex’s hand and Gabriel reacted instinctively, knocking the principal’s arm aside.
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