“I love it. I get so busy creating something, my head doesn’t run away with me. And I’ve gone out a few times to thank people for their business and watch them eat the pizza I made. Dimitri says it’s good for people to meet the chefs.” Dane swung Bas’s hand. “It’s like when we first went on tour all those years ago. Watching everyone’s faces while they screamed ‘I love you.’” He laughed lightly. “Well this is a little smaller scale. But that’s okay.”
“I’m glad. You’re doing great.”
“Ru said the judge threw out your parents’ lawsuit.” Dane watched Bas close down at the thought of his parents. “They only hurt you because you let them.”
“When did you get so smart?”
“Been hanging around this guy who’s, like, the smartest guy in all of Minnesota.”
“Yeah? Do I know him?”
Dane laughed. The sounds of crickets and frogs filled the air around them. “It’s different here.”
“It’s a suburb. Everywhere has them. Even California.”
“Not just that. I mean the stress.”
“It’s not always stress free. We’re just working hard to keep it that way for you.” Bas tugged his hand and pointed to a park. “Let’s stop over there. I used to spend all summer here.” He waved Paige and Marissa on as they pointed to a frozen yogurt shop that was open, and made his way to the swings. His smiled faded a little as he sat down. The park was empty except for them.
“I used to push Eddy on these swings. He’d beg me to push him higher and higher. We’d be gone for hours and no one ever noticed. I thought it was normal for parents to just let their kids wander wherever, until I met Adam. Mr. and Mrs. C had to know where he was at all times. They would bring him to the park and sit on the bench and watch. Or if I asked for him to come out and play, one of them would come with us.”
“They are good people.” Dane gave him a tiny push, and Bas swung his legs.
“I remember I lied once,” Bas said as he swung. “Told them my parents would be there watching us, because they wouldn’t let Adam go with me otherwise. They were too busy to go that day. When they showed up at the park two hours later and there were no parents, they were so mad. I didn’t get to play with Adam for a long time after that.” He shook his head. “I should apologize. I had forgotten all about that until now.”
“I don’t think it matters to them anymore. You both turned out okay. No one got hurt that day, did they?”
“Yeah.” Bas caught himself and stopped the swing. He looked up and smiled at Dane. Dane felt butterflies swirl around his stomach as he looked down at Bas. “Thanks for being here and letting me reminisce.”
“That’s what friends are for, right?” Dane leaned down those last few inches to capture Bas’s lips with his own. Bas opened for him, letting Dane explore shyly. Bas reached up to wrap warm fingers around Dane’s neck and pull him closer to deepen their kiss. Dane felt the heat through his entire body. He yanked himself away, desire warming his gut.
“Sorry, sorry.” He turned away, head going through a crazy mash of his father’s hateful words and embarrassment that he would think of Bas that way.
Bas jumped off the swing and yanked him into a hug. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed.”
“I wanted to kiss you,” Dane whispered.
“Me too. But are you ready?”
“More than I was all those weeks ago. But I still hear his voice….”
“Faggots!” someone screamed at them. Dane flinched. Had his dad come back just to remind him of his hatefulness, now that he was starting to exist beyond the past that had broken him?
Bas’s grip on Dane tightened.
“Perverted, nasty spawn of the devil! They’re going to have to burn this park down just to cleanse it of your filth.”
“Go home, Eddy. No one cares what you think,” Bas said, using his body to shield Dane from his little brother. Dane had to look. So this was the kid who’d tried to strangle Bas. He was a younger, unpolished version of Bas. But Dane couldn’t recall ever seeing a rage like that cross Bas’s face. He’d seen it a time or two in rehab, though before a violet outburst. This kid needed to be in a facility somewhere getting help before he hurt someone else.
“Let’s go, Bas.” Dane tried to pull away, but Bas held him tight.
“I’ll call the cops, Eddy. This isn’t school.”
“You’re a nasty piece of work, Sebastian. All over that boy at a playground. What if kids saw you? You’re going to burn in the hottest pits of hell.” Eddy approached them, and Dane wanted to run. He forced Bas to turn so Eddy had to get through him to hurt Bas again.
“That’s enough, Edward Axelrod.” Marissa and Paige appeared beside Dane and Bas. Their hands were full of little cups of frozen yogurt. Marissa’s tone said, mess with her and expect trouble.
“Who is that? Your new boyfriend? Didn’t I tell you hanging out with him and his filth will corrupt you? You’ve turned into a slut.”
