She nodded sympathetically. “I understand. You can stay downstairs.” When Ben let out a plaintive whine, she glared at him. “Tommy has an excuse, whereas you do not. As you are so fond of telling your sister, ‘suck it up.’” There was a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Tommy, I’ll have a plate of food made up for you a little later, okay?”
He nodded.
“Mom, Danny’s here.” Bethany called from the doorway, the hairdresser behind her.
Bethany promptly retreated. Tommy tried not to stare at the flamboyant Danny, who wore tight black leather pants, boots, and a bright blue shirt that fit his slim curves like a glove. His hair was black, short at the sides and longer, fashionably unruly on top. Danny breezed into the kitchen and air kissed in the general direction of Caroline’s cheeks. He regarded her hair with pursed lips and then nodded.
“By the time I’m finished, you’re going to look absolutelyfabulous, honey,” he said emphatically. He nodded politely in Ben’s direction, and then his eyes lit up when he saw Tommy. His gaze traveled up and down Tommy’s body with frank appreciation. “Well, hel-lothere.”
Tommy froze to the spot, pulse racing.
“Danny, this is Tommy, Ben’s roommate from college.”
Danny grinned, revealing a set of perfect white teeth. “Hi, Tommy. Delighted to meet you.” His eyes glittered as he moved closer. “Well, aren’t you justscrumptiouslooking?”
He flung out his arm, hand extended toward Tommy, who was at a loss whether to kiss it or shake it. He was suddenly hyperaware of Caroline’s presence. He grasped Danny’s hand firmly, but shaking it was akin to holding a cold, dead fish. He released it quickly.
“Oh my, how butch.”
Danny pursed his lips once more, letting his gaze move slowly up and down Tommy’s body again. Tommy got the definite feeling Danny was picturing him naked. That tongue darting out to lick his lips only made him more certain of it.
“Why, honey, whatever did you do to your poor eye? Oh, that must’vehurt.” He stretched out his fingers toward Tommy’s cheek.
“Excuse me, but you’re here to do my hair, not ogle my son’s roommate.” Caroline tapped her foot, nails drumming on the counter. Danny retracted his hand quickly.
“And we’ve got things to do,” Ben said hurriedly, tugging at Tommy’s arm and dragging him toward the kitchen door. Tommy was only too happy to go with him. “Later, Mom.”
Caroline waved her hand in acknowledgment and then launched into a discussion with Danny about how she wanted her hair done. Danny listened, nodding, but his gaze kept drifting over to where Tommy and Ben stood by the fridge, Ben reaching into its vast interior to grab bottles of water. Tommy was able to pick up the whispered conversation, which sent his heart plummeting.
“Yes, dear, your hair will be simply stunning.” Danny was staring at him pointedly. “Maybe Mr. Big-n-Handsome would like to join me later for a drink.”
Caroline smirked. “I doubt you’re his type, Danny. I.e., you’re male.”
Danny arched his eyebrows. “Honey, that man is gay—I can feel it. My gaydar is banging all the way into the red zone.”
Caroline gaped at Danny. “That boy isnotgay. Now can we just get on with gettingmeready for this party, please?”
Danny opened his eyes wide, hands held high. “Whatever you say.” His eyes flicked in Tommy’s direction, and those full lips pursed up yet again.
Ben chose that moment to pull him through one door and then another. He shook his head as they went downstairs into the basement. “Sorry ’bout that.”
Tommy shuddered. “Really freaked me out, him lookin’ at me so obviously and talkin’ to me like that in front of your mom.” Hearing the bartenders at Woofs say stuff like that was one thing—they were in a gay bar, after all—but standing in Ben’s family kitchen was something else entirely.
Ben scowled. “Oh, he was looking at you, all right. He was staring at you like you were the last ice cream on the Fourth of July.” He met Tommy’s gaze. “Sorry, but I was really uncomfortable. I just felt you didn’t need that, not right now. You’ve got enough on your plate without having to deal with Danny.”
It was sweet seeing Ben being so protective of him. “Thanks,” Tommy said with a smile. “Think I’m gonna stay down here and let the food come to me, though.” Right then he didn’t want to see anyone.
“Sure thing.” Ben handed him a bottle of water. “Wanna hang out and watch a movie or something ’til I have to go join the fun?” He rolled his eyes.
“That sounds like a great idea.”Anythingso he didn’t have to think. There was way too much going on his head.
“Your eye’s looking a little better, Tommy,” Ben’s daddy commented over lunch a couple of days after the party.
“Thank you, sir.” Tommy helped himself to more mashed potatoes and gravy. “I’ll know to be more careful in future when I go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.” The lie felt wrong on his lips, but it was better than telling the truth. It had been four days since he’d arrived to stay at Ben’s house, and he was trying his best to stop thinking about his family interaction. He could still see their faces, though. Some things were too difficult to dismiss so easily.
“What you boys planning to do for New Year’s Eve?” Caroline asked. “Because you can always join us at the aquarium. We’re attending a fund-raising event, and I’m sure we can still get tickets if you want. I know it’s tomorrow night, but we could manage it.”
Ben grinned. “Mom, that sounds delightful, but I have a date.”
