CHAPTER 31 #2
Mindy’s pulse picked up. If he asked her to go, she would say yes. Probably. She would be crazy not to! Right?
“No,” she said. “I’m not seeing anyone at the moment.”
“Oh! Even that um…”
“Ogre?” she prompted. “No. That’s over now.”
This seemed to give Galen pause before he shook his head. “Good! That’s perfect.”
Here it comes! She really needed to decide now, so as not to hurt his feelings. And to avoid making another mistake.
“I’ve been watching Anthony and Cameron all night,” Galen said, “and it’s obvious they love each other.”
“They’re very inspiring,” she said, her heart pounding. Was it the idea of a relationship that she liked so much? Or the person standing in front of her now?
“So I was thinking,” Galen said, “that you and me… We could buy tickets to prom, together, so that they can go.”
Mindy blinked, needing a moment to process before she fully understood. “Oh! You want us to pose as a couple and give our tickets to them.”
“Yeah,” Galen said, his brow furrowing up. “The new rules are disgusting. I can’t think of any reason for them, except to hurt people like Anthony and Cameron. I want to do something to help them instead.”
She made a face and gestured around her. “Why all the need for secrecy?”
“I don’t want them to get their hopes up, if you aren’t cool with the idea. I figured they’ve been through enough already.”
Mindy felt a surge of affection for him. “I hope we’re still friends, because I think you’re wonderful.”
He smiled sheepishly. “Thanks. I’ve missed talking to you. Have you been reading much lately?”
“Oh my gosh, yes! I adore Granny Weatherwax.”
“Nanny Ogg is my favorite,” Galen said with a guffaw. “I wanna get a cat, just so I can name him Greebo.”
They remained in the bathroom, their surroundings forgotten as they reconnected.
There were no conflicted feelings or lingering doubts.
Mindy was certain now. Vonn had been a fling.
Galen was her friend. She did love him though.
Perhaps not in the way that either of them had wanted, but that didn’t make what they shared any less special.
— — —
Ricky connected wires from the power supply to various components of the desktop computer. The hard drive, the motherboard, the CD-ROM drive… Cameron crowded him as he worked, watching all of this with transparent excitement.
“Shouldn’t we test it before you put the case back on?”
Ricky shrugged. “I’m sure it’ll work.”
He plugged in the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Cameron was holding the wire for the speakers. “Which color again?”
“Pale green,” Ricky replied, leaning back to give him room.
“Do you want to do the honors?” Cameron asked.
Ricky shook his head. “She’s your baby.”
He watched his friend push the power button. The internal speaker beeped, the CD-ROM drive whirred, and after a DOS command auto-executed, the home screen for Windows 3.1 came up and played the sound that he’d preconfigured.
“You did it!” Cameron said, thumping him on the back.
Ricky stared at the screen impassively. “We still have to test the modem.”
“Well sure, but everything else seems to be running smoothly.”
He could feel Cameron’s stare but was unwilling to meet it.
“Are you okay?”
Ricky swallowed. “I just wish people were as easy to fix.”
“Oh. Things still aren’t going well with Diego, I take it?”
Ricky finally looked at him. “Have you noticed him acting weird lately?”
“He’s been getting high and drinking a lot, but that’s not so unusual for him.” Cameron searched his eyes, pure sympathy in his own. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I wish I knew,” Ricky replied glumly. “There’s something he’s not telling me. He feels… distant. Do you know what I mean?”
Cameron shook his head. “We’re friendlier than we’ve ever been.”
Ricky slumped in the office chair. “Which means I’m the problem.”
“I sincerely doubt that.”
Ricky made sure his bedroom door was shut. “Sex has gotten weird between us,” he explained, deciding to lay it all out. “Diego doesn’t touch me anymore. He’ll let me do whatever I want to him, but it’s like sleeping with a straight guy.”
Cameron’s forehead creased. “I’ve never had the experience.”
“Oh. They aren’t as into it. They’ll let you get them off, but it’s not about you. Does that make sense?”
Cameron thought for a moment. “Yeah. When I’m with Anthony, I’m most interested in touching him. Even if he’s—” Now it was his turn to check the door. He lowered his voice. “—blowing me, or whatever, it’s more about him doing that than how it actually feels.”
“Exactly! Things have always been a little one-sided between me and Diego, but he used to really give it to me. Now he’s passive, like he’s not interested anymore.” Ricky swallowed, feeling vulnerable. “And I know he’s more interested in girls than guys.”
Cameron shook his head, as if not wanting it to be true. Which was sweet, because he didn’t have a dog in this fight. It wasn’t his relationship on the line. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yeah. I was kissing him the other day, and he said I needed to shave. I wanted to grow a goatee. I thought it would impress him.”
Cameron laughed. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“I don’t think he feels that way,” Ricky grumbled. “I’m pretty sure he’s gonna leave me. I mean, look what’s been happening recently! Mindy and Galen aren’t dating anymore. Keisha just got dumped by Hope. Even you and Anthony are breaking up. I bet me and Diego are next.”
Cameron seemed amused. “I don’t think breaking up is contagious. Diego is just going through a lot right now.”
Ricky shook his head. “He’s not into me anymore.”
“Hey,” Cameron said, catching his eye. “If that’s true, then it’s his loss.”
The affirmation hit him hard. Compliments were far and few between with Diego. Ricky’s heart strained against his chest, like it wanted to be set free. “Do you ever feel like we ended up with the wrong people?”
Cameron leaned back, his chair squeaking. “What do you mean?”
“Well, like I said, I know that Diego prefers girls. So just imagine if he was with Anthony. That would work better, because you…” Ricky didn’t feel like it was his place to say anything, but Anthony had told him that Cameron struggled with some of the more feminine stuff.
“We were gonna be together. Me and you. At the very beginning. Remember?”
“How could I forget?” Cameron said before shaking his head. “But I still would have moved back to Maine eventually, so it wouldn’t have worked either way.”
“I wouldn’t let that be the end,” Ricky swore. He nodded at the computer. “We would have stayed in touch. I’d drive up to see you all the time!”
“In the car that Diego gave you?” Cameron said pointedly. “He loves you, Ricky.”
“Then why can’t I make him happy?”
“Because it’s not your job to fix him!” Cameron shot back.
“You’re being too idealistic. Love doesn’t solve every problem.
If that was true, how come things aren’t perfect between me and Anthony?
Because I do love him. And why did you have to keep seeing Dr. Sharma after your suicide attempt, even though Diego loves you?
You’re putting way too much weight on your own shoulders.
I’m not surprised that Diego is having issues, considering everything that he’s gone through, but maybe you should leave this one to the professionals. ”
Ricky scowled. Then he remembered all the conversations he’d had with Dr. Sharma, and how helpful they had been. “You’re right,” he said. “I don’t know what Diego needs, but I can make sure he talks to someone who does.”
“There you go,” Cameron said, sounding satisfied.
“As for everything else…” He shook his head.
“I’m about to lose Anthony. That hurts bad enough.
The idea of never having been with him at all—I can’t stand the thought.
” Blue eyes searched his again, so much in them unspoken.
“I know what you mean. About us. But would you give up everything you’ve had with Diego for anyone? Even me?”
“No,” Ricky croaked. “It’s just too bad because I bet…”
“Yeah,” Cameron said, not needing him to finish. “But what we’ve got now is pretty great too. So let’s test that modem. I don’t want to lose touch with you.”
Ricky would never let that happen. Ever. He smiled at Cameron, nodded his understanding, and focused on ensuring that their friendship would remain strong.