Because other people didn’t miss out on high school while they were in juvie.Because other people went to college.Or they learned a trade.Or fuck, they got a real job, a legit job, instead of jacking around running games on people who were too stupid to live.
The first foster mom who’d let him skip school—called him in sick, actually, because she didn’t want the school to worry—had seemed so cool.She’d told him to call her Brandy.He’d been older, looking back, when he’d realized she’d been high as a kite and barely more than a kid herself.Later, he’d skipped when he wanted to skip, because either the foster parents didn’t care, or they didn’t want to put up the fight, or they were already planning on sending him back.Other kids didn’t grow up like that.They slept in the same bed every night.Their parents made sure they ate dinner, did their chores, finished their homework.
The click of nails on the hardwood floor announced Scipio a few seconds before the Lab jumped on the bed.He turned around a couple of times, checking out his spot, and then dropped down—managing in the process to press himself against Jem.From the front of the house came the sounds of lights being turned off, and then boards creaked as Tean made his way to their room.
“Thanks for dinner,” Jem said.“I’m sorry I was such a bitch.”
Tean’s laugh had a hint of startle to it, and then a smile grew on his face.He sat next to Scipio and put his hand on Jem’s thigh.
Jem waggled his eyebrows.
It was still so easy to make Tean blush, but the doc only said, “You don’t have to feel any way about her or about this dinner or about anything.And you don’t have to have a relationship with her—any kind of relationship—unless you want to.”He touched the glasses like he might adjust them, but they stayed right where they were.“That’s it.That’s all.I promise I’m done.”
Jem’s hair was still wet when he put his hands behind his head.After a moment, he said, “Your parents are getting divorced.”
Struggle tightened Tean’s face for a moment.“It’s going to be such a mess.Amos is going to lose his mind.”
It still wasn’t a real thing, what he’d said.It was still an outside thing.Still a shell.
Jem said, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I’m sorry again.”
Tean huffed a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh.“Jem, please don’t be sorry.”
“Also, full disclosure, I’ve got this weird horniness going on because tonight has been way too emotional, and I want to do terrible things to your body.”
“Terrible like gay sex?Or terrible like cannibalism?”
“Gay sex.Definitely gay sex.”
Tean made a noise like he was considering the offer.
Jem was already bucking out of his boxers and trying, at the same time, to reach for the lamp.
“Scipio,” Tean said, laughing.“Off.”
The Lab slid off the bed with a disgruntled look.
And Jem’s last thought before he started paying close attention to Tean was that somehow, thank God, he hadn’t had to lie about Ammon.
4
The next night, they drove to Kolen Lodge.
As they left the valley and cleared the inversion, the air became clearer—none of the brown haze that, after a few days, gave Tean a mild cough and a persistent headache.But the clouds were still low and rippled, their bellies visible with light reflected from the thick snowpack.Already, it was starting to flurry.
“This is what I was talking about,” Jem muttered, bent over the steering wheel so he could peer out the windshield.“Any second now, it’s going to start dumping snow, and we’re going to get stuck.”
“You’re a very good driver,” Tean said.“You’re always so safe.”
“Don’t be supportive.I don’t want supportive.I want dark.I want gruesome.”
“Oh.Okay.”About ten seconds passed before Tean realized Jem was waiting.“You mean right now?”
“Yes, obviously right now.”
