Coming Home- Rock Bay 1 (26 page)

Lex stood gingerly from his couch and walked to where a zip-up hoodie was draped across one of his dining room chairs. He had to get the heck out of his apartment before he went nuts. His clock read 4 p.m. The shop was still open, but he wasn’t dressed for customers. He looked scruffy and unwashed and not ready for action at all. He’d just sneak down for a minute… just to see what was happening, of course.

Lex heard voices when he got to the doorway of the shop. Well, one voice at least. Tally. It sounded like he was on the phone. Lex stood really still, trying to tell himself he wasn’t completely eavesdropping. Yeah, he was.

“Mom, why did you call here? Yeah, of course I know what happened to Lex.” Tally listened silently for a long time, then he sighed loudly. “You’re right. It’s my fault.” He sounded defeated, sadder than he was even at the beginning. Lex’s chest felt tight.
It wasn’t Tally’s fault. Not really.
Part of him wanted to rush out there and yank that bitch’s voice away from Tally’s ear. A bigger part of him still wasn’t ready to be near him any more than necessary. Lex was about to retreat to his apartment when Tally’s voice started to rise.

“I’m not leaving here, Mom. No, you listen for once. You’re never going to approve of me, so why don’t you leave me alone?” Lex bit his lip, waiting for Tally to back down, to take it back, but apparently he had no intention of doing that. “I love him. That’s not going to change. Ever. I don’t care what you want.” He was silent for a long time. As far away as he was, Lex could hear the braying coming from the earpiece. That woman may have acted genteel, but she had the screech of a damn harpy. Tally must have eventually had enough, because the next thing Lex knew he was yelling, something Lex had never heard him do. “Well, fuck off.” More yelling. “Yeah? Don’t call again!”

Lex heard nothing else other than the phone crashing down onto its cradle. His heart was pounding, just as he was sure Tally’s was. It had been good to finally hear Tally stick up for himself—stick up for them, actually. Lex smiled a little but froze in place. He didn’t know what to do. Did he turn and book it for his apartment? Tally would be sure to hear him. Did he stay and admit that he heard the conversation? The awkwardness between them wouldn’t get any better if he did.
Shit.
Lex decided on truthfulness. Anything else would’ve made the weirdness between them even worse.

“Um, hi.” He stood in the doorway between the back hall and the shop. It felt… different being there after even a few days.
“Lex!” Tally’s face bloomed red. He looked embarrassed but happy to see Lex. “How are you?”
“Better, I guess.” He automatically touched the spot where stitches still held his head together.
“Does it still hurt, babe?” Tally asked. He went to reach for Lex’s face but stopped himself and turned away. “Sorry. I keep forgetting.”
“Tal….” Lex didn’t know what to say; he just didn’t want Tally to walk away.
“Yeah?”
“I heard you. With your mom.”
“I figured. Sorry. I didn’t know she was going to call here again.” “It’s okay. I’m… I’m proud of you for sticking up for yourself.”
Tally shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “It doesn’t matter what I do. She’ll never see me as anything but an embarrassment. I might as well try to make myself happy if I can’t please her, you know?”
Lex nodded. “Hey, listen. Um, thanks. For everything you’ve done this week. I mean, I know I’m not paying you enough. We should talk about that.”
Tally hung his head a little. “You really came down here to talk to me about money? I’m not doing this to get paid.”
“I know. I mean—” Lex felt flustered and awkward. He started backing toward his hallway. “I just wanted to thank you.” Tally stared at him silently. “Um, I’m going back upstairs. I’ve got to rest.”
“Lex—”
It was his turn to stare silently. There was too much in that silence. It was full of want and need and weird awkward feelings, neither one of them knowing how to say what they both wanted to say. Lex figured he’d have to make the first move if they were ever going to try to be like they were for those few amazing weeks. The question was, what the hell was he going to do?
“Um, Lex?”
God, get me out of here before this becomes any more painful.
“Yeah?”
“The block party is the day after tomorrow. Do you want me to coordinate everything with Travis?”
Oh.
Lex was relieved and disappointed. “No, I’ll be fine dealing with it tomorrow. I’ll get it all set up if you’re willing to put in one more day at the shop.”
“One more day?” Tally looked panicked.
“Tal, I meant one more day without taking a break. That’s all.”
“Oh. Well, um, I was going to work the block party. I don’t mind.”
Lex wanted to hug him. He looked kinda sad and lost. But he couldn’t. Not yet. “It’s okay. You need a break. Just get through tomorrow, and I’ll see you Monday, okay?”
Tally nodded reluctantly. “Okay.”
“So, um, I’m going to go up now. Let me know if you need anything.”
Tally nodded. Lex knew he wouldn’t call up. He didn’t need any help, and he seemed to be almost afraid of talking to Lex.
It was when I wouldn’t see him at the hospital.
Even he didn’t know why he did that, other than the fact that he just hadn’t been ready to get into all the drama again. Lex backed into the hallway all the way and turned, booking as fast as his aching head would let him back up the stairs and into the blissfully angst-free zone that was his apartment.
It worked for about five seconds, until the memories of the last few minutes started creeping in, and Tally’s face, that sad little face, was the only thing he could see.

T
ALLY
fucking wanted to kill Brock. Kill. That asshole bashed his boyfriend, knocked him out cold, and got off with a fucking
fine
? Two hundred dollars? He would have paid more money if he’d been speeding in a school zone! But according to the cops, Brock had been “brawling.”
Brawling.
It was the stupidest thing Tally had ever heard. He had to pay to get Lex’s door fixed, and other than that it was back to life as usual. The news had spread around town like all news did, with the speed of a flash flood. People seemed to be regarding it with a chuckle and a “boys will be boys” kind of headshake. It was infuriating. Tally was ready to go to war for his man.

Only problem was, Lex wasn’t his man. Not anymore. Tally had no right to defend him as much as he wanted to. They hadn’t really spoken in the week that Lex had been home. Lex had thanked him for watching the shop and had asked for a rundown of daily activity, but they hadn’t
spoken
, spoken. Tally was getting nervous. Starting to think that it might actually be over. He didn’t know what he’d do if that were the case. Just the thought made him want to keel over.
Tally didn’t even look up from scrubbing the counters when the bell rang on the front door. He assumed it was one of the groups of high school kids who usually came for their second fix right before closing.
“We’re closed, guys. Getting ready for tomorrow.”
“Tal, it’s me.”
Tally looked up to see Drew standing there. He looked as uncertain as Tally had felt the past week. They hadn’t spoken since right after the hospital. Great. ’Cause that conversation with Lex the day before hadn’t been awkward enough. “Hey, D.”
“Listen, I’m really sorry about all this. You don’t hate me, do you?”
A little.
“No. It’s not really your fault. I could’ve said no.”
“Are you and Lex doing any better?”
Tally shrugged. “He says hello. He asks about the shop. He told me he doesn’t need my help tomorrow.”
Like I’m just an employee again
. Any real partner would tag along to lend a hand if nothing else, just because that’s what you did when you were with someone.
Drew cringed. “You want me to say something?”
“Like what? I dug my own hole. I’m going to have to try to get out of it. I’m just hoping that he sees I’m not going anywhere.”
“I get ya.” Drew nodded.
“What about you? What are you going to do with Brock now that… well?”
Drew shuddered. “I can’t even look at him. What an asshole.”
“I can’t believe he got off so easily!” Tally couldn’t keep the disgust from his voice.
“He’s friends with the police chief. His dad is friends with everyone. Lex didn’t have a chance.” Tally was glad to hear the disgust in Drew’s voice, and he was glad that he’d not chosen Brock just out of political correctness. It seemed that Tally would have one friend, at least.
He took a deep breath. “People are acting like it was just a brawl. Lex doesn’t brawl!”
Drew rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t, but I might be tempted. When I was on my way over I saw Brock walking into O’Toole’s with the guys, laughing like nothing was wrong. It turned my stomach, Tal.”
“Brock’s at O’Toole’s right now while Lex is walking around with
stitches
in his head?”
“Yeah, what are you going to do?” Drew shot him a wary glance.
“What do you think?” Tally had never understood the term “seeing red” until that very moment.
“Aw, don’t be stupid, Tal. I was kind of kidding before. As much as I’d like to introduce Brock’s face to the floor, nothing bad ever seems to touch him.”
“
I
can touch him.” He tossed his rag in the sink and strode over to the front door that was still temporarily boarded up. He slammed the lock down and closed the blinds on the windows. “I’m going to go have a chat with our buddy Brock. You can either come with me or run the other direction. It’s up to you.”
He turned, then, and stormed down the back hallway of the shop. It felt
good
to lose it a little. He’d been so together all week, so rational and efficient, when inside he was a rapidly growing pool of seething lava.
It was time to let off a little bit of steam.
Tally wasn’t surprised when he heard the crunching of footsteps behind him. “What the hell are you going to do, Tal? He practically owns that bar, along with everything else around here. Everyone in there is his friend. You saw that the last time we were there.”
“I need to do this.
Someone’s
got to tell him what he did was fucked up and crazy.”
“You know why he did it, right?”
Tally slowed down. “No. General small town bigotry?” He shrugged.
“Try general
jealousy.
Lex told me that Brock accused him of stealing you away.”
“What the…?” Tally was flabbergasted. “We’ve only hung out a few times. I haven’t seen him in years!”
Drew shrugged as well. “Who knows? That’s just what he said to Lex when he was drunk off his ass. The guy kind of idolized you back in the day.”
“I always figured he was jockeying to take my place.” Tally continued to walk, drawing closer to O’Toole’s and Brock.
“I don’t think so. Tally, why don’t you just let this go?”
“I’m not leaving unless Lex finds someone new, and I have no chance of getting him back. Until then, Brock and I are going to live in the same town. I won’t be able to do that until I get this out of my system.”
Drew sighed and followed him wordlessly.
It was a bit dead in O’Toole’s. The place was a total dive, but popular with the local ex-frat-boy crowd. Tally guessed it was too late for the happy hour but too early for anyone but the seasoned drunks to be out. That list included Brock. He was over by the pool tables with a few beers already lined up waiting for him to drink. Tally could tell he was buzzed, but he hadn’t had the time to work his way up to drunk just yet.
Tally walked slowly closer, waiting for the moment when Brock would look up and notice him there. It was going to be a good time, for damn sure. Asshole. If it wasn’t a total cliché, Tally would’ve been cracking his knuckles already. He grinned when Brock looked up and noticed him, his face turning to a sneer. He cocked his head toward the entrance, a blatant invitation for Brock to meet him outside.
“Tally, are you nuts?” Drew was pulling at his shirt. “He’s huge!”
“I’m fine, Drew. Follow or run away.”
Drew looked a bit panicked. “Fighting is so juvenile! This isn’t the way to win Lex back. He’s going to think you’re an ass.”
Tally shook his head. Drew was wrong. “Lex would be standing right where I am if Brock had done anything to hurt someone he loved.”
Tally watched Brock put his beer down and place his cue on the table. Then he walked slowly past Tally and Drew and outside. Tally brought up the rear with Drew behind him whispering heatedly at Tally, trying to get him to stop.
“This isn’t going to prove anything!”
“It will to me,” Tally muttered back.
“Jesus, Tal.”
They emerged from the bar into the waning early evening sun.
“What do you want with me, Carrington?”
Brock was in the grass on the side of the bar.
Tally chuckled. “Apparently the pleasantries are over. So soon?”
“C’mon, fag. Let’s get this over with. I don’t want anyone to see me with you and think we’re… together.” He made a face.
“Okay, let’s get this over with. Good idea.” Tally stepped closer. “This is all I wanted.” And with that, before Brock could move, he drew back his fist and punched Brock as hard as he could.
Brock stood there stunned for a moment before he reacted by punching Tally back. Tally swerved to the side, but Brock still managed to clip him on the jaw. It hurt like hell, but he didn’t even care.
He whaled on Brock with his other hand and brought his knee up and jammed it into Brock’s balls as hard as he could.
“Fuck! That was a fucking girl move if I ever saw one!” Brock hunched over for a second. Then, without warning, he reached out for Tally’s shirt and yanked him onto the ground. The next thing Tally knew, he was under Brock, and he had pain shooting from where Brock was repeatedly slamming his fist into Tally’s face.
Tally bucked his hips and shoved to get Brock off of him. It didn’t work at first, but he got some momentum and managed to tip them enough that Brock fell off his perch. He rolled out and got to his knees before Brock lunged at him again. Catching Tally off guard, Brock slid his arm around Tally’s neck and squeezed. Shit! He couldn’t breathe. Tally used every free limb he had to pummel Brock’s stomach, the backs of his knees—anywhere Tally could reach. When Brock finally let go, Tally collapsed to the ground, breathing hard. He felt like his lungs were filled with fire.
“Are you happy now?” Drew was standing over Tally with his hand out.
“Yeah.” He took Drew’s hand and stood.
Brock backed away, clutching at his stomach and holding his eye. “What the fuck, dude?” he asked, wincing.
Tally got up in his face and poked at his chest. “Don’t ever fucking touch Lex again, you hear me?”
“Who the hell do you think you are? The gay avenger?” Brock rolled his eyes.
“I think I’m defending the man I love. And I’m serious. Stay the hell away from him.”
“I don’t wanna hear about you and your butt buddy, Carrington. In fact, get the fuck away from me. I don’t want to hear about you or your faggy friend.” Brock pushed roughly past Tally and Drew and went to go back inside.
“What if I’m one too, Brock? What if I’m a big fag just like Lex and Tally?”
Brock just laughed. “I should’ve known you took it up the ass. You’re such a fucking loser.”
Tally hoped Drew hadn’t been hoping for a different response.
“I’m not the loser, Brock. You wanna see one of those, just take a glance in the mirror.” Drew turned and walked the other direction, away from the bar and bleeding Tally. He paused and looked back. “You coming?”
Tally smiled, feeling sore and bruised but all of a sudden so much better. “Yeah, I’m coming. I think we’re done here.”