Chapter 7 #2
“Yes, dear, your hair will be simply stunning.” Danny was staring at him pointedly. “Maybe Mr. Big-n-Handsome would like to join me later for a drink.”
Caroline smirked. “I doubt you’re his type, Danny. I.e., you’re male.”
Danny arched his eyebrows. “Honey, that man is gay—I can feel it. My gaydar is banging all the way into the red zone.”
Caroline gaped at Danny. “That boy is not gay. Now can we just get on with getting me ready for this party, please?”
Danny opened his eyes wide, hands held high. “Whatever you say.” His eyes flicked in Tommy’s direction, and those full lips pursed up yet again.
Ben chose that moment to pull him through one door and then another. He shook his head as they went downstairs into the basement. “Sorry ’bout that.”
Tommy shuddered. “Really freaked me out, him lookin’ at me so obviously and talkin’ to me like that in front of your mom.” Hearing the bartenders at Woofs say stuff like that was one thing—they were in a gay bar, after all—but standing in Ben’s family kitchen was something else entirely.
Ben scowled. “Oh, he was looking at you, all right. He was staring at you like you were the last ice cream on the Fourth of July.” He met Tommy’s gaze.
“Sorry, but I was really uncomfortable. I just felt you didn’t need that, not right now.
You’ve got enough on your plate without having to deal with Danny. ”
It was sweet seeing Ben being so protective of him. “Thanks,” Tommy said with a smile. “Think I’m gonna stay down here and let the food come to me, though.” Right then he didn’t want to see anyone.
“Sure thing.” Ben handed him a bottle of water. “Wanna hang out and watch a movie or something ’til I have to go join the fun?” He rolled his eyes.
“That sounds like a great idea.” Anything so he didn’t have to think. There was way too much going on his head.
“Your eye’s looking a little better, Tommy,” Ben’s daddy commented over lunch a couple of days after the party.
“Thank you, sir.” Tommy helped himself to more mashed potatoes and gravy.
“I’ll know to be more careful in future when I go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
” The lie felt wrong on his lips, but it was better than telling the truth.
It had been four days since he’d arrived to stay at Ben’s house, and he was trying his best to stop thinking about his family interaction.
He could still see their faces, though. Some things were too difficult to dismiss so easily.
“What you boys planning to do for New Year’s Eve?” Caroline asked. “Because you can always join us at the aquarium. We’re attending a fund-raising event, and I’m sure we can still get tickets if you want. I know it’s tomorrow night, but we could manage it.”
Ben grinned. “Mom, that sounds delightful, but I have a date.”
Tommy stared at him in surprise.
“Anyone we know?” his mom inquired.
“Just a girl from my class, Della,” he replied. “Her folks are throwing a party, and she invited me.” He grinned at Tommy. “And Tommy here is going out too.”
“Oh, just to a party at a bar in the city,” Tommy added hastily, glaring at Ben. His roommate had been doing his best to get Tommy to tell him exactly where he was going, but Tommy wasn’t about to do that. There were some secrets he wasn’t prepared to share.
“Don’t drink too much, now,” Benson Wellington admonished. He lifted a forkful of roast beef to his lips and then picked up his newspaper, ignoring his wife’s tut-tut of disapproval.
Tommy didn’t plan on letting anything alcoholic pass his lips, New Year’s Eve or no. His momma’s lectures on the evils of drink still rang in his head. Another one of those things that was proving difficult to ignore.
Caroline appeared surprised. “I thought you might have been planning to go spend New Year’s Eve with your parents, Tommy.”
He winced, the reaction so instinctive he couldn’t control it. So much for puttin’ it behind me. Everything was still too raw. Across the table from him, Ben’s expression was one of sympathy.
Caroline’s brow furrowed. “Did I say something wrong?”
Before Tommy could say something to reassure her, Ben let out a heavy sigh and stared at Tommy.
“You know what? They deserve to know what’s going on.”
Tommy’s heartbeat sped up. Oh no, he wouldn’t….
Ben turned to his parents. “Tommy’s staying here ’cause his parents kicked him out.” He gave Tommy an apologetic glance.
Benson lowered his newspaper. “Why? What happened?” He seemed appalled by the revelation.
Caroline’s mouth fell open, and she let out a gasp.
Ben bit his lip. “Let’s just say they had a difference of opinion.”
Tommy put down his fork and sighed. “Well, you’ve told ’em that much.
They may as well know the whole story.” He regarded Benson and Caroline, his heart racing.
“I… I came out to my parents the day after Christmas, and they were none too happy about it.” He paused, unsure of what else to tell them.
It had been enough of an effort to share that.
“What about the rest of it?” Ben said hotly. “Tell them about the camp your parents and that pastor wanted to send you to, where they were gonna cure you of being gay.” His face glowed.
Silence fell. Ben’s parents stared at him, openmouthed. Finally Caroline spoke. “Oh, you poor thing. You should’ve told us, dear.” She sighed. “Tommy, there is nothing wrong with being gay, y’hear? And you are welcome to stay here as long as you want. Isn’t that right, Benny?”
Ben’s dad nodded. “You’re always welcome here, son. You’re good for Ben. He needs someone like you around.” Then he smiled. “You can even take one of the bedrooms upstairs if my sloth of a son gets to be too much for you,” he added before picking up his newspaper once more.
“Thank you,” Tommy said warmly. Ben was so lucky to have such supportive, understanding parents. He couldn’t believe how unruffled they were by his announcement.
Then Caroline grinned. “Well, I’ll be damned.
It just burns me up that Danny was right after all.
” Her comment was met with chuckles from her family.
Caroline rolled her eyes. Then she glanced at Bethany, who was sitting next to Tommy, a smug expression on her face.
Caroline narrowed her gaze. “You already knew Tommy was gay, didn’t you? ”
Bethany’s expression became innocent. “I may have.”
Tommy squeezed her knee, and she smiled at him. There was a wicked gleam in her eyes as she glanced over at her brother.
“At least Tommy has taste. He’d never consider dating Ben.”
Ben glared at her. “You little witch!”
Bethany shrugged. “I figured as long as Tommy was being honest, maybe it was time you were too.” Her lips twitched.
Caroline regarded her son in silence, and Tommy watched as Ben swallowed. Then she gave him a wide smile.
“Oh, baby, like I didn’t already know about you.”
Tommy had to fight hard to hold back his laughter at the sight of Ben’s dazed look.
“You know?” It came out as a squeak.
Caroline’s expression was full of love. “Of course, sugar. Do you think a mother doesn’t know these things? Though I admit, you had me fooled for a while, until I figured out you like boys and girls.”
Benson’s newspaper flapped. “Wait—what?” He frowned. “What was that about Ben liking boys?”
“Go back to your paper, dear,” Caroline said with a wave of her hand. “Everything’s fine. Our son is bisexual, that’s all.” She smiled sweetly in his direction.
“Oh, okay,” he said absently. Then his paper flapped again. “Wait—Ben is bisexual? Why am I the last to know these things?”
“Benny.” Caroline waited until he was focusing on her. “Do you have a problem with Ben being bi? Because I surely don’t.”
Benny’s brow cleared. “Of course I don’t. All I want is for our children to be happy.” He smiled at Ben. “That’s fine, son.” Then he went back to his paper, still murmuring about always being the last to know.
Caroline turned to Ben. “See, honey? That wasn’t so bad, was it?
” She beamed at him and then swept a glance around the table.
“Now, is there anything else we need to be told? No? Fine, then I for one am going to finish my lunch.” And with that she picked up her knife and fork and calmly proceeded to eat her meal.
Ben just sat there, looking stunned. Then his face creased into a smile and he burst out laughing. His eyes met Tommy’s. “You gotta love my family, right?”
Tommy looked around the dining table, his heartbeat back to normal. For the first time since he’d walked into his parents’ living room, he felt a glimmer of hope.
Maybe all those people on YouTube were right. Maybe it does get better after all.