“Bullshit.I saw his face when you said what you did in there.He almost cried.”
“He's been telling me to come out.”
“It had nothing to do with that.When you said his name, even before you said the word 'gay,' he looked like he wanted to march in there and just hold you.”
Tyler shook his head slowly, the world a dark space behind his eyelids.
“Don't you shake your head at me, Tyler Bannichek.My gaydar should be on the CIA's most useful weapons list, and it says that guy issointo you.”Stephen's seat creaked.“You know, he came after you tonight.He caught me in the parking lot—we'd met that one time when you had the team over, and he recognized me.He convinced me that we should stick around.He was worried about you, and if he couldn't get inside, he wanted someone there watching out for you.”
“And you just said yes.”
“His gaydar isn't for shit either.He knew I'd sympathize.Anyway I snuck him in and we stood there in the hall listening to you eviscerate yourself on camera, and I saw his face.You know what?I'm betting that among the stuff he buys in that pharmacy, he’ll pick up lube and condoms.Just in case, because he can't help hoping.Want to bet?”
“No.”Tyler's throat was dry as dust.He didn't even know how he'd feel if Eli did that.Yesterday he would have been thrilled.Tonight?He wasn't ready for anything tonight.
“Okay.”Stephen's voice softened.“Just, don't give up on the two of you before you give it a chance to happen, right?”
It was several more long, long minutes before there was a gust of warm air as the car door opened, and the seat dipped under Eli's weight.
“Got everything?”Stephen asked.“And oh yeah, did you happen to remember the...”
“Don't.”Tyler's voice was louder than he intended, but at least Stephen shut the hell up.
The drive was slow, stop and go even though it was well past rush hour.Tyler leaned back in the corner of the seat and tried to sleep, but despite the previous restless nights he couldn't get there.Ironically, his back, which should have been giving him hell for the slouched position, was putting out barely a twinge.At intervals, Eli gave Stephen directions.Stephen put in a CD, and the sounds ofMy Chemical Romancewove through the vehicle at nearly subliminal volumes singing about running away.Tyler pressed his teeth into his lower lip and kept his eyes closed.
***
The “cabin” turned out to be a neat full-sized house on a small landscaped plot, surrounded by scrub and wild tumbling hillsides.Stephen parked out front and glanced at Eli.“I'm having second thoughts about dropping you guys off here without a ride.It'll cost you a hundred bucks to get a cab home.I'd stay, but the last thing I want is to show up late for practice in the morning.”
“No worries,” Eli said.“My Dad keeps an old pick-up here for driving on the dirt roads.I know where the key is.We're not stranded.”
“Ah.Okay, that's good.”
Eli leaned forward between the seats and held his hand out to Stephen.“We owe you, bigtime.Thanks for the rescue.”
Stephen gripped his hand with a grin.“No problem.Like I said, Tyler there paid the price for the ride.”He reached in his pocket for his cell phone and glanced at it.“Nothing yet.What time is it in London right now?”
“Um, like five in the morning or something?”Eli said.
“Too early.Damn.”Stephen stuffed the phone back in his jeans.“So… I should head out.”His easy grin slipped a little, looking at Tyler.
Tyler dredged a return smile from somewhere and plastered it on his face.“I’m pulling for you, man.You do the vaults like you have been and you should be a lock.Go big.”
“Thanks.”He looked back at Eli.“You'll take care of this dumb bastard, right?”
“I will.”
Tyler pushed the door open and got out of the car without looking back.The crazy heat of this insane summer hit him like a sandbag, and he almost staggered under it.Instead he took one step after another toward that white front door.Behind him, Eli and Stephen's voices rose and fell a few moments more.Then the car door slammed and he heard Stephen pull away.Eli came up beside him, a big plastic bag in each hand.
“Here, let me get the lock.”Eli fumbled with a keychain and fit one in.The door opened easily.Inside, the cabin was dark but no cooler than outside, and Eli cursed under his breath.“Wait here, let me get the breaker.Hold these.”He bumped the door shut with his hip, handed the bags to Tyler, and headed down the hall.Tyler stood there, motionless, until Eli came and reclaimed his stuff.
“Okay,” Eli said, his voice soft.“There'll be AC very soon.Come on, sit down, I've got sodas in one of these.They might still be cool.”When Tyler didn't respond, Eli set the bags down and put a hand on his shoulder.“Tyler?Do you want a drink?Or maybe a bed?There should be clean sheets on mine.”
Tyler shook his head, trying to clear it.The words didn't make sense.The whole world didn't make sense.His back suggested that his position in the car had been a delayed time-bomb, and his head hurt, his chest hurt, his fucking eyeballs hurt.He closed his eyes.
“Oh, hell.”Eli's breath brushed against his cheek.“Tyler.Come here.”
Gentle arms came around him, pulling him in.Eli's slender form was a solid anchor in the stifling darkness.They pressed together, shoulder to hip, and where they touched the world had some kind of form and meaning.Tyler turned blindly, and his cheek found soft curly hair.He buried his face in damp, clean skin, his mouth brushing just a hint of stubble.The world wavered, and he realized Eli was rocking him, a gentle sway like a mother with her kid on her shoulder.Like his mom used to.And that simple motion broke him.
