High Balls

by Tara Lain

  Another round of laughter from the other room didn’t portend childhood trauma. Guess I better get out there. He hopped up, noticing his cock still hadn’t quite given up its upright position, took a quick shower, dressed, took a deep breath, and—opened the door.

  Kung Fu Panda number who knew which played on the TV. Andy marched to the table with a plate of bacon, eyeing it hungrily, as Snake seemed to be banging plates and pans.

  Theodore walked closer and Andy looked up. “Hey, sleepyhead, you finally got up. Snake said the smell of bacon could wake the dead.”

  “How long have you guys been awake?”

  “Oh, hours and hours.”

  Snake grinned and shook his head. “More like an hour.”

  Oh God, he wanted so badly to ask who woke up first, but how? He looked at Snake with slightly raised brows.

  “I desperately needed coffee, and when I got up Andy heard me, and we’ve been hanging out ever since.” He smiled—probably at the look of relief on Theodore’s face. “So, you ready to eat?”

  “Man, does that bacon smell good.”

  “We’ve got eggs to go with it.”

  “And OJ. Snake squeezed it.” Andy grabbed two glasses and carefully carried them to protect every drop.

  “You did? How?”

  “You had oranges. I have hands. Come sit.”

  He started toward the table, and his cell phone rang in the bedroom. Oh shit, could be the Andersons. “I better check.” He ran for the phone and answered on the third ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Theodore?”

  “Oh, hi, Dr. T. Sorry, I didn’t look at the screen.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you on a Sunday, but I have news I needed to communicate right away.”

  Theodore’s stomach did a dip. “Yes?”

  “Your oral defense has been set for this Friday.”

  “Holy shit! Sorry.”

  “No apologies. Quite appropriate. Dr. Ashworth set the date. I protested that as head of the committee, that was my purview, but he insisted based on vacation schedules and such. He says you’ve had an adequate amount of time to prepare. I hope he’s right.”

  “I hope so too.” He laughed, but even to his ears it sounded strained. “I guess you must have found a reader.”

  “Yes. Yes, I did. It’s all taken care of.”

  I wish. “Okay, I hope I do you proud.”

  “I’m sure you will. While I’m sad to have to ask you to spend any of your valuable preparation time on other activities, I hope you can still participate in Dr. Ashworth’s event on Tuesday.”

  “I’m planning on it.”

  “Excellent. We want all the best attitudes in place going in.”

  Shit yes. “I agree.”

  “See you tomorrow.”

  “Yes, sir.” He hung up. Shell-shock.

  Snake walked up beside him. “Everything okay?”

  He shook his head.

  “What happened?”

  “They set my oral defense for Friday.”

  “Wow. Short notice.” He sucked in air. “But you know what? You’re ready, man. You got this. I’ll work with you every minute you want.”

  “Th-thank you.”

  “But first we’re having breakfast and going to the movies.”

  “I don’t know—”

  “I do.” Whoosh! Snake picked him up and carried him to the tiny dining area.

  Andy took one look and started to laugh. “That’s better than a magic carpet.”

  Snake growled, “I’m like Master Snake in Kung Fu Panda. I’m a flying snake!”

  Andy laughed harder, and Theodore gave up the giant ball of stone in his stomach and laughed with them.

  Maybe he’d thought he couldn’t eat a bite, but Theodore chowed down the scrambled eggs and bacon like it was his last meal. “You’re an amazing cook. Did you have to learn for the bar?”

  “Uh, no. I already knew before I started there.”

  “You work in a bar, Uncle Snake?”

  Snake glanced at Theodore. “Yes, that’s one of my jobs.”

  “What are the other jobs?” Andy leaned on his fist and stared at Snake.

  Snake copied the movement. “Answering questions for inquisitive seven-year-olds.”

  Andy laughed, but funny how Snake didn’t answer the question.

  Snake stood and grabbed some plates. “I’ll clean up while you guys get ready for the movies.”

  Two and a half fun hours later, they walked out of the showing of Pete’s Dragon into the lobby of the big theater in Irvine. Andy bounced like a rubber ball. “That was so fun. I think you’re not a Snake anymore. I’m gonna call you Dragon.”

  Snake made a monster face and chased Andy a few feet while people around laughed.

  “Hey, Theodore.”

  He looked up to see Rodney, Hunter, and Jerry walking toward them.

  “Hi, guys.” He glanced at Snake. Well, if he didn’t want to go public with this relationship, he should have stayed home.

  Rod gave him a sideways glance and a knowing smile. When Snake walked over carrying Andy on his back, Rod’s and Hunter’s eyes widened.

  Andy yelled, “Hi. Hi. Meet my new dragon!”

  Snake lowered his voice even further. “How do you do? I am Andy’s dragon.”

  Andy squealed.

  Theodore smiled a little sheepishly. So much for keeping his dates away from his son. “Uh, Snake, this is Jerry Wallender, friend and firefighter. You know Rod and Hunter.”

  “Hello, Jerry.” He didn’t lose the deep voice but glanced over his shoulder. “Andy, I think these people are surprised to see a dragon. What do you think?”

  Rod said, “How would the dragon and his boy and his father like to go with us for Mexican food?”

  “What do you think, Andy? Dragons like Mexican food a lot. How about you?”

  “Yum!”

  Rod grinned. “Let’s go, then.”

  They walked out of the theater, Andy still on Snake’s back, and strolled across the open plaza to the popular upscale Mexican restaurant where Hunter had intelligently made a reservation. Rod asked them to set up space for three more people at the table.

  While they waited, Theodore asked Jerry, “Where’s Mick?”

  “He has a training session he’s leading on firefighter assist and search. He’ll be here soon.”

  “How’d you get out of that?”

  “I did the last one.”

  The hostess led them to the table, and Snake unloaded Andy into a seat, where he promptly grabbed the fork and started it flying like Pete’s dragon. Just as they sat and picked up their menus, Mick Cassidy, Jerry’s guy, walked into the restaurant. If Hunter, Snake, and Jerry hadn’t grabbed enough attention, Mick put the final cherry on top. Well over six feet of muscle, a head of pale blond hair he’d let get longer since he’d met Jerry, and a slightly shy and uncertain demeanor, Mick was a man who’d changed his life for love.

  Jerry, not even slightly shy, bounded up and gave Mick a hug, which made several women at nearby tables part their lips on a sigh. Mick held the chair Jerry had exited, which was full-on cute with those two big firefighter guys, and then Mick sat in the empty seat beside Jerry. Jerry said, “Hey, babe, that’s Snake, Theodore and Andy’s friend.”

  Mick stuck one of his big hands across the table, and Snake shook it.

  Andy cocked his head. “Hey, Mick.”

  “Hi, Andy.” Mick flashed that sweet, diffident smile full of genuine warmth for Andy. Mick was a mathematical genius and a great firefighter but not the most socially accomplished person. Unlike most people who got weird around kids, Mick always looked more comfortable with Andy than anyone else. His awkwardness was a perfect foil for Jerry’s ease. They seemed so happy together.

  The waiter arrived and they ordered—mostly the fabulous shrimp enchiladas—but with an all-cheese variation for Andy. When the server left, Mick said, “Hey, Andy, I didn’t know you were coming.”

  “
Me either. We came out of the movie—we saw Pete’s Dragon. You gotta see it, it’s so cool—and we saw Rod and Hunter and Jerry, and they said let’s go eat and here we are.”

  “Cool. So dragon, huh?”

  “Yeah. Snake’s my dragon.” He attacked Snake with both hands and tickled him. Snake attacked back. “Mick, save me!”

  Theodore held up his hand. “All right, children. Control yourselves.”

  Snake put a finger to his lips. “Rematch later outside.”

  Andy nodded. “Yeah. Mick too.”

  Mick smiled shyly.

  A server brought drinks, and Rod sipped his margarita. “Snake, dear, we want to know how you managed to pry our Theodore away from the books long enough to see a whole movie?”

  Snake flashed a look at Theodore. “Teddy and Andy both needed a break. After this, we’re hitting the books.”

  Rod’s eyes widened at the “we,” but he just smiled.

  Theodore said, “Mick’s had a lot of experience with religious, uh, practices, Snake.”

  Snake looked up and met Theodore’s eyes. “Interesting.” He gave Andy an elbow jab. “Hey, buddy, shall we go outside while we’re waiting for food?”

  “Cool. Mick, wanna come?”

  Theodore leaped in. “Mick’s been working all day, Andy, so he’s probably tired.”

  “Oh, okay. See you in a few.” He pushed back his chair and bounded toward the entrance. Snake grinned and followed him.

  As soon as they were out of hearing range, Rod leaned forward to stare at Theodore. “What’s up?”

  “My in-laws invited Andy to a church picnic. He ended up calling Snake to get him—I was still at work with my damned phone on mute. Anyway, Andy was super upset. According to Snake, when he got there these people were speaking in tongues, and the obnoxious kids staggered around and used it as an excuse to hit Andy. I had it out with my in-laws and told them he couldn’t go to their church anymore or see their friends. We haven’t spoken since.”

  Jerry looked at Mick, who frowned. “They only want him for the church, I bet.”

  Theodore’s head snapped. “What do you mean?”

  “People get a lot of points in that kind of group for sucking in kids. Assuring their bullshit is passed on to the next generation. They really think they’re doing God’s work.”

  “They can do God’s work on somebody else’s kid.”

  Hunter spoke in his soft, assured voice. “This is their daughter’s son, correct?”

  “Yes. If Esther was alive, I doubt she would have let Andy go to their church at all. She hated it.”

  Mick nodded his head again and again. “That makes them more desperate, you know? They figure they lost her, and Andy’s their last chance for redemption. If he goes along, it validates them, shows them how right they are.”

  “Is there anything Theodore can do, Mick?” Jerry clutched Mick’s arm tightly.

  “It’s too bad you ever let him get near the church. Now they see him slipping away, they may blame you and get desperate.”

  “Shit.”

  The waiter brought the first two plates.

  Rod glanced out the windows. Snake walked toward the front door with Andy on his shoulders, as usual.

  Rod said, “Theodore, you need to know that Hunter and I went into the Bay Bar this week and didn’t see Snake.”

  “I know. Andy and I have really been cutting into his work time.”

  Rod’s eyes flicked toward the door and he lowered his voice. “When we asked about him, we got the definite impression that Snake isn’t just a bartender. He’s an owner. Maybe not the only one, but it sure seemed like he was a principal in the company of some kind. Didn’t it, darling?” He looked toward Hunter, who nodded.

  “Did you know that?”

  “Uh, no.” Am I surprised? “He lives in a really nice place. It makes sense.”

  “Wonder why he never said?”

  “Maybe he didn’t want to brag?” Jesus, even he didn’t believe that excuse.

  Snake sauntered up to the table and plopped Andy into his seat, then sat beside him. He raised an eyebrow at Theodore, but when everyone dove into their food, he also began to eat.

  Theodore glanced up and met Snake’s piercing eyes. You’ve got secrets, buddy. But then, so do I.

  Chapter Thirteen

  THEODORE LEANED over his almost neat desktop and marked the A-minus on Petra’s paper. Such a good student. She hadn’t come back to him about Sean’s advances, which made Theodore both happy and antsy, like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Maybe my political advice to Sean did some good. He sure as shit didn’t want to confront Sean Rance right now. Theodore might have the fair hair, but Sean was definitely Ashworth’s boy.

  He glanced at the clock on his desk. Better get ready for the Tuesday meeting. Jesus, night after night on the committee. Ashworth already had too many people on it to get shit done, but everyone wanted to lick the department chairman’s boots—including him.

  He gathered a notebook and some printouts of materials he’d found on the previous year’s alumni literature festival and stuffed it all into his tote. His pocket buzzed. Oh, maybe Snake. He grabbed for his phone and glanced. No. Mary. “Hey, kiddo.”

  “Hi, darling.” She sounded—funny. “Are you at home?”

  “No, I had to work late on a committee thing for Ashworth.”

  “Oh, is your babysitter well again?”

  “Yeah, I think so, but I, uh, have a different sitter tonight.”

  “Hmm, why do you sound funny about that?”

  “I don’t—exactly. He’s staying with a guy I know who’s been, uh, helping me study for my orals.”

  “Well, this sounds like a whole interesting tale I need to hear.”

  “It sort of is.” He laughed. “But no time now.”

  “Yeah, I’m short too, but I have to tell you something important.” Silence.

  “Okay, yes? What?”

  “Burt saw JP Rellico in Target.”

  “Oh shit.” He didn’t even hear the words. They just flowed out like poison.

  “Burt says he looked pretty awful. Kind of scuzzy.”

  “Seven years with no word, no sight of him.”

  “Yeah, but his family is still in Newport somewhere, I think.”

  “Oh hell. I don’t even know what to do.”

  “There’s nothing you can do until he makes a move. Maybe he’ll disappear again.”

  He looked down at his hands. They shook.

  Mary said, “Don’t worry, Theodore. He’s no threat.”

  “Thanks for telling me. I’ve got to go.”

  “Please don’t worry too much.”

  “I won’t. Bye.” He hung up. Of course, Mary knew a lie when she heard one.

  Like some zombie, he grabbed his bag and walked toward the meeting room. Crumbling. Flakes of my life falling all around me.

  At the large conference room, he stepped through the door to find almost every chair already full. Dr. Thurston raised a hand to him and moved his own bag off the seat beside him. Still, Dr. T. half frowned, and so did Ashworth, who sat at the head of the table. Apparently coming on time was late.

  Ashworth said pointedly, “Shall we get down to work? Sean, will you please bring us up to date on your fine work on the speakers?”

  Theodore stared at the agenda and prayed for focus.

  SNAKE BALANCED his laptop on his knees and the phone between ear and shoulder. “Yes, Michelle, go ahead and bring in Luther for the second shift. He’s reliable and pretty good at most of the drinks.”

  “You out tonight?”

  He glanced at Andy, bent over homework on the coffee table. “Yes, I’m tied up. Holler if you need me. I’ll have my cell handy.”

  “Okay, boss.” She giggled since she knew he didn’t like that title.

  He snorted, and Andy looked up and gave him a grin. “Talk to you later.” Snake hung up and went back to his commentary on the manuscript.

  �
��Whatcha working on, Snake?” Andy plopped backward on his butt from where he’d been kneeling beside the coffee table.

  “Oh.” Hmm, how to explain? “Have you ever seen how some people write what’s called a review, like of a movie?”

  Andy frowned. “Maybe.”

  “Well, people sometimes say this movie is good because it’s funny and the actors are excellent and it had a good story. Stuff like that.”

  “Oh, sure. My dad talks about that. I’ll say I want to see a movie, and he’ll say, ‘It got bad revoos so we shouldn’t see it.’”

  “Right. Same idea.”

  “What movie are you writing about?”

  “Oh, uh, no movie. It’s like that, but it’s more of a book.”

  “Like Nancy Drew or The Great Mouse Detective?”

  “More like that.”

  “Is it good?”

  “Yeah. It is.”

  “Good.”

  “How’s your homework?”

  “Almost done.” He rolled up onto his knees and turned back to the paper in front of him.

  “Good. Me too. Then we can watch a movie or play games.”

  “Cool.” He hunched over the task.

  Snake’s phone rang again. Teddy. “Hi.”

  “Hi. We’re taking a short break. I thought I’d check in.” He sounded super stressed.

  “We’re A-OK.” Andy looked up expectantly and Snake smiled. “Want to talk to him?”

  “Sure.”

  Snake handed over the phone and watched Andy’s face light up. “Hey, Dad.” He listened. “Yeah, we’re doing great. Snake made me chicken noodle soup and really good cheese sandwiches with like tomato and stuff and on toast.” More listening. “Yeah. I’m doing it now. Snake’s working on his revoos, and after we’re done we’ll watch a movie. When are you coming home?” He nodded. “Oh, okay. We’re good.” He handed the phone back.

  Snake said, “How’s the meeting?”

  “It’s okay.” He lowered his voice. “A lot of talking and not much deciding.”