“Yeah. That gathering you had at your place?” Hunter said. “A bunch of friends met at yours before the dance, to hang out.”
“Yeah, I remember.” Even now the pain of Hunter’s no show cut deep, only diminished slightly after all these years. “We listened to some music. Someone bought beers. You weren’t there.”
Hunter flinched at the words. “When I found out you didn’t want me there—”
“What?” Aaron looked at him in confusion.
Hunter gave a small smile. “It’s okay. In hindsight, I know I was probably overreacting, but I was so damn sensitive at that age. I didn’t fit it at home, and I wanted to be with you so much. It was the only time I felt like me. It hurt something bad to be rejected, and I didn’t handle it at all well.”
“I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. I wanted you at the party. Hell, I wanted you by my side the whole time. I hated it when your vacation was over and you went home. It ripped my heart out to hear that you didn’t want to ‘slum it’ anymore.”
“Now it’s my turn not to understand,” Hunter said. “What are you talking about?”
“Richard said you didn’t show up to the party because we were all beneath you. You’d moved on and had more important things to do.”
Hunter’s eyes widened. “Fuck! Richard told me you thought I didn’t belong. He said you were starting something with Garrett.”
“Double fuck! That explains a hell of a lot. That guy trulyisan asshole.”
Hunter nodded. “Yeah, he is, and unfortunately he knew what buttons to press. He must have known how much I struggled, and it probably didn’t help that my parents were pushing me to step up and ‘play’ the son they wanted. They forbade me from attending your party and expected certain things at the dance. I probablydidcome across as an entitled dickhead.”
Aaron reached out and touched his hand. “Like you said, he absolutely knew what buttons to press. He probably sensed my insecurities. I was always a bit in awe of your family and Garrett’s. I liked to pretend it didn’t affect me, but it did. Just like it did last night.” He took a deep breath. “So, Richard was a meddling asshole, and we are both guilty of taking everything at face value and not confronting each other—”
“Oh, I remember a confrontation all right. I seem to recall calling you a loser or something like that. I’m so sorry.”
“If my memory serves me right, I think I said you were stuck-up. So I guess that means we’re even.” Aaron chuckled softly and squeezed Hunter’s hand. He took a deep breath. “So where do we go from here?”
“I know where I’d like to go.” Hunter’s eyes sparkled.
Aaron’s chest lightened.It’s going to be okay.“Yeah? And where’s that?”
“Tomorrow’s dance. Do you think we can have a re-do or a fresh start?”
“I think that can be arranged.”
* * *
Christmas Eve.
Aaron didn’t think he’d anticipated a Christmas Eve as much as this one. He nearly melted at the knees when he opened his door to see Hunter on the doorstep. Even wrapped up in his dark coat, he cut a dashing figure.
“Good evening.” Hunter grinned. He waved an arm back toward the street. “Your chariot awaits.”
Aaron looked over his shoulder to see the old Jeep parked curbside, no sign of a town car or Don. He laughed. “I’ll grab my coat.”
Aaron was a bundle of nerves sitting beside Hunter in the car. The heater pumped warm air, and it was as if they were in a cocoon of safety. Soon they’d be back out in the world, back amongst all the people who’d caused them to lose so much time.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to go boarding yesterday,” Aaron said.
“I’m not,” Hunter said, surprising him. “What we did was so much more awesome.”
“Yeah.” Aaron had to agree. Talking through what had happened all those years ago had been cathartic. But more than that, it had opened up the way for them to move forward, to find out if the feelings each of them still harbored were real, if they had potential. Hunter placed a hand on his thigh and left it there for the rest of the trip.Yeah, there’s definite potential.
All too soon, they pulled into the parking lot next to the hall. Hunter pulled the parking brake and twisted to look at him. “Thanks for agreeing to be my date.”
Aaron smiled. “I think it was you who agreed to bemydate.”
Hunter leaned across. “I’m honored to be your date, Aaron McBride.”
