“Don’t act like you didn’t knowthat.”
“I thought you were cute as could be, so it’s safe to say we wereeven.”
Art quieted, his amusement dissipating as he was caught off guard by Wes’s admission. As he regained his senses, he added, “No, no. I might have been able to get some glances, but you got it from everywhere. There’s a world ofdifference.”
“There was no one as attractive as you in our town,” Wessaid.
Art found himself chuckling…nearly giggling. “I don’t know where that came from,” he said, feeling stupid for the emotions the conversation stirred. There was something so unsettling about it, yet so fulfilling at the sametime.
“It feels good for me too,” Wes said. “Even then, I thought you might have felt something for me, but I wasn’t all that certain. Who knows what could have happened if we hadn’t been two stupid kids and actually understood what we wereexperiencing?”
Wes’s gaze trailed down to Art’s lips, and for a moment…just for a moment…Art wondered if Wes might try and make a move, but then Wes smiled and said, “I think I’m ready to get back on my feet. What aboutyou?”
Of course nothing would happen…nothing could happen. They were taking a trip back in time. But they weren’t those kids anymore, and they couldn’t recapture something that neverwas.
“Yes, I think we’ve had enough time traipsing down memory lane for the day,” Art said as he pushed to hisfeet.
Disappointed as Art was that there hadn’t been more to their exchange, there was something nice in knowing the truth about what they’d shared on that bench in the park on a humid Georgiaafternoon.
They didn’t slip back into casual conversation. Instead, they walked in silence, the chirping of birds, the wisp of the wind, and the patter of their shoes against the earth being their primary source of entertainment the rest of their walk. However, Art didn’t feel that their silence stemmed from uneasiness about the conversation they’d shared as much as from quiet reflection uponit.
When they reached the main gate back to Heathrow Estates, they turned to one another. Art had his thumbs curled in the straps of his backpack as Wes glanced him over fondly, and if Art could have guessed his thoughts, as he had apparently done so long ago, it seemed Wes was appreciating this new friendship blossoming between them—something Art was more than appreciative of aswell.
“Thank you for another lovely walk, Art. You want to meet me again tomorrow foranother?”
“I have a water-polo meet in the early afternoon. Would you mind if we reschedule for a later time thanusual?”
Wes’s lip twisted, and he said in a soft voice, “That sounds lovely. Plus, maybe we can avoid some of thishumidity.”
“Yes, we’re starting to get into that icky summerheat.”
“Just make sure to bring some of that lemonade so we don’t dehydrate,” Wes said as he patted Art on his shoulder, then rested his hand there and massaged his thumb against Art gently before he smiled and moved closer, wrapping his arms around Art and offering him a friendly hug, which Art effortlesslyreciprocated.
They’d hugged before parting ways before, but this time was different. There was more toit.
For himself, Art knew it was because he felt the confirmation of knowing that, in a time when he felt most isolated and alone, he now knew he’d had an ally, a friend, without even realizingit.
And just as much, there was a thrill in knowing that the crush he’d had once upon a time had been shared. Silly as it may have been, it brought him to life in a way that he hadn’t felt alive in a long time. Wes awakened something within him that he’d given up on—not just the Wes from the past, but the Wes he took these walks with, the Wes who made him talk and laugh and evenblush.
Art headed back to his apartment, filled with excitement and eagerness the likes of which he’d only known when he was younger. He hurried into the bathroom to shower off. He removed his clothes and turned to the mirror, and in a moment, the hope that had sparked faded away. His stark naked body presented under the bright fluorescent lights seemed such a cruel way for life to remind Art of how the attractive boy he had been was gone. That part of his life, the excitement and lust, wasn’t that supposed to beover?
He shook his head, if only to distract himself to keep from crying. There was no need to cry over things. Life had taught him thatmuch.
He didn’t need more, though, to enjoy Wes’scompany.
And yes, that was more important to him than any of the sorts of passions he had desperately sought when he was much younger. He’d learned over the years how those passions could turn against him, how they had been responsible for so much of his pain and agony, but companionship was something worthcherishing.
