Rum & Ginger (4 page)

B
EN
AWOKE
from a dream in which he was the Cowardly Lion, Lena was Dorothy, Chance was the Tin Man, and Derek was the Scarecrow, and the fat, argumentative customer from the previous night had green skin and an army of winged monkeys. He gasped and reached out for Chance’s reassuring warmth only to find an empty bed. He realized his partner had already left for work and collapsed back into his pillow. He dozed for another hour or so before he finally forced himself out of bed.

He dressed, then grabbed a can of V8 and his iPod. He drained the V8, fired up the iPod, and went for his morning run. It gave him time to reflect on things, and his mind drifted to his dream—wondering about the symbolism, wondering what his yellow brick road might be. His thoughts eventually turned to Lena. He poured on the speed, determined to hurry back home to check his phone to see if she had contacted him.

Ben jogged back into the empty house and pushed the home button on his iPhone. Among his notices of e-mails, he saw a text from Lena. He was happy to read that she’d ended up meeting up with one of her girlfriends and staying at her house. She’d given Lena a ride to her car. Ben flipped through a bunch of junk e-mails before putting his phone to sleep. He jumped in the shower with a few hours left before he had to go to work. After he dried and dressed, Ben walked downstairs and brewed a pot of coffee. He poured a healthy amount of hazelnut creamer into his cup before adding the coffee, then savoring the rich beverage. His phone startled him with a double vibration, signaling a text. He scooped it up anxiously, hoping for word from Chance. Ben was slightly disappointed by a number he didn’t recognize. He tapped the message.

Whats up, Benny? Wut r ur plans 4 2day?
Who the hell is this?
Ben thought. He studied the number. No help there.

Who’s this?
Ben typed.

Srsly?

Derek?

Shrlock mother fuckn homes
, Derek returned.

No plans. Work late shift.
Ben refused to write shorthand.

Wanna grb a coffee of sumthn?

Ben assumed he meant “or something.” Why not?

Cool. Strbks. 12?

Sounds good.

C U then.

OK.
Ben was surprised that Derek had contacted him so soon. He wondered what it could hurt to see his old teammate.
Nothing
, he figured. Ben decided to clean up the kitchen before he left, loaded the dishwasher, and wondered when he had become a housewife. His mood soured as he considered the current situation he found himself in. Maybe coffee with Derek would take his mind off the whole Chance thing.

B
EN
WALKED
through the doors of the coffee shop and looked around for Derek. His old schoolmate waved from a comfy-looking armchair in the far corner. Ben ordered a venti iced soy latte before he took a seat in the twin of Derek’s chair.

“What’s up, Bullet?” Derek asked and slapped Ben’s leg.

“Nothing much,” Ben answered. “Derek, nobody’s called me Bullet since high school.”

“So? I bet you’re still just as fast.”

“Maybe.” Ben shrugged.

“No. I get it. You’re not a kid anymore.” Derek sipped his coffee. “That’s cool. You’ve outgrown it. I won’t use it anymore.”

“Thanks, Derek.”

“No prob, Benny.” Ben sighed at the other childish nickname but decided not to press the issue. The girl behind the counter called his name, and he rose and retrieved his drink. “So what’s old Lucky doin’ these days?” Derek asked as Ben rejoined him.

“IT work. He got a job out of college with one of those companies that sends guys out to different businesses to fix computers and things. You know, with the cars?”

“The Nerd Patrol. Yeah, I know.”

Ben ignored the unintentional jibe and continued. “But Chance is so good with software and stuff that one of the companies that used the service decided to cut out the middleman and hire him on full-time. He’s head of their IT department now with full benefits and everything. It’s pretty cushy.”

“Too bad you guys don’t live in a state where you could have those benefits too.”

Ben sipped his iced latte, savoring the sweet spice flavor. “Eh, T.C.’s provides a pretty decent benefits package for management. The serving staff doesn’t get squat, but that’s corporate America, right?”

“Yeah. Makes working for my dad not seem so bad sometimes,” Derek said, a hint of regret in his tone.

“How is your dad?” Ben asked, remembering the monster of a man from their high school days. Derek’s dad had never looked happy no matter what the situation, always scowling and gruff.

“Same as always.” Derek shrugged. “His doctor made him quit smoking. It seems to have put him in a permanent bad mood.”

Ben couldn’t imagine how unbearable the old guy would be now. “That’s rough. He was never a ball of sunshine to begin with.”

Derek barked laughter. “You got that right, Benny. I’ve had my whole life to get used to him, though. And to be honest, he doesn’t come into the office much these days. Plays a lot of golf. I think he’s holding off on retiring just to fuck with me.”

Ben nodded as he drank. “Yeah, that sounds like him.”

“How’re your folks?”

“Pretty good. Now that they’re retired, they travel a lot with those groups through the agency. Cruises and bus trips and things.”

“Do they know about—?”

Ben shook his head, knowing exactly what Derek referred to. “I think my mom suspects, sometimes, but she’s never said anything. Chance’s family doesn’t suspect a thing. He’s terrified of them finding out. Especially his dad.”

“Yeah, that guy made my dad look cheerful.”

“They moved out of town not long after we got back from college. He visits them over the holidays.”

“But not you?” Derek guessed.

Ben shook his head. “Nah. I spend the holidays with my family when they’re home. It’s not perfect, but it’s the way he likes it.” He wondered if his face or his tone betrayed his dissatisfaction with the whole situation, and he wondered how Derek would respond.

“Yeah, I don’t know what the fuck we’re going to do about the holidays this year. We used to switch off between Jennie’s parents and mine each year before the split.” Derek frowned, and Ben was relieved at his acquaintance’s lack of observation. “I was thinking of doing something out of the ordinary with the kids this year. Maybe take them skiing or some shit. At least I won’t have to watch that stupid parade or cut down a fucking tree. Hell, I might not even hang up lights.”

“Less work, right?” Ben tried to sound light, joking. It seemed strange to him that he and Derek were able to find an easier rhythm of interaction than they had in high school. Why weren’t things this easy with Chance?
Because you actually give a shit about Chance
, Ben thought.
Derek’s just some guy you knew but didn’t particularly like from high school.

“It’s weird,” Derek finished.

“What’s that?” Ben asked, realizing he hadn’t been listening.

“You don’t talk like a fag. No lisp and you don’t flounce around. You act and talk just like a real dude,” Derek answered. “It’s just weird, is all.”

“Fuck, Derek. Now I remember why I thought you were such an asshole in high school.” Ben shook his head in overdramatic disgust.

“Oh shit. No, Benny. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant…,” Derek stammered. He blew out an exasperated breath and flopped back in his chair. “Damn. I only meant, it makes me rethink all the shit I used to think about fa—gay guys.” He paused. “Sorry, dude.”

Ben was almost touched by how crestfallen Derek looked. “No worries, man. You’re more enlightened than I would have ever given you credit for before last night in the bar.” Ben realized what he’d just said and hastily added, “No offense.”

“None taken. I’m just not used to having a friend who’s a gay dude.”

Friend? That might be overstating it
. “You’re overthinking it, Derek.”

“Yeah, maybe. That’s probably the first time I’ve ever been accused of that.” Derek looked at his phone. “Shit. I got to get going, Benny. We should go out for drinks some night.”

“Maybe. I don’t really party that much anymore. Last night was the first I’d been out in months.”

“I’ll give you a call. Good seein’ you, Benny.” Derek offered his hand, and Ben stood to shake it.

“You too,” Ben answered. Derek grabbed his coffee and left the shop. Ben decided to finish his coffee and look at a newspaper someone had abandoned before heading out. He flipped past the sports to the comics.

L
ATER
THAT
night at the restaurant, Lena stepped into Ben’s office and flopped into the chair in front of his desk. She still looked as though she hadn’t recovered fully from the previous evening. “How are you doing?” Ben asked, looking up from yesterday’s daily receipts.

“Icky.” Lena closed her eyes and tipped her head back. “I’ll be fine.”

Ben nodded but didn’t say anything. He continued to look at his paperwork. Lena remained motionless in the chair. Ben was sure she’d fallen asleep just before she cleared her throat. “Want to go for a drink tonight after work?”

“Are you serious? You’re still hung over from last night!” Ben slapped the papers on the desk.

Lena shrugged, unfazed. “I’ll be ready by the end of the shift.”

“No,” Ben said, flatly. “And I think you should take the night off from drinking as well.”

“Maybe.” She sat up and winced.

“Jesus, Lena. If you don’t ease up, your liver’s going to rebel, start an organ civil war.”

“Melodramatic much?” Lena sniffed a laugh. “But you’re probably right.”

“There’s no probably. I am right.”

“Yeah,” Lena conceded finally but remained seated.

“Also,” Ben started.

“Mm?”

“I’m kind of still your boss. And you should kind of be out there being a waitress,” Ben said, pointing to the door.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m going. Slave driver.”

Ben mimed a whip and made the appropriate noise.

Lena smirked and turned. “Want to come over and watch a movie, then?”

“I would,” Ben answered. “But Chance is off tomorrow. I’m kind of hoping we can hang out tonight.”

“Ah.” Lena’s smirk turned into a catlike grin. “I get it. Hopefully
you
will too.” She closed his door, and he shook his head with a smile.

E
ARLIER
B
EN
had run over to the liquor store on his lunch to get a couple of bottles of wine for his evening in with Chance. He whistled the theme song to
Sanford and Son
as he skipped up the steps. “Chance? Love?” he called as he stepped through the door. “I’m home.” Chance didn’t answer, but that wasn’t out of the ordinary. Ben could hear the WoW music drifting from Chance’s “gaming station.” He had a tricked-out desktop he’d specifically designed to run his MMORPGs—extra memory, surround sound, and a high-definition monitor. His desk was ergonomically designed so he could sit in front of it for hours and not get fatigued. He’d even bought a gaming chair that was a supercomfortable replica of Picard’s captain’s chair from
Star Trek: TNG
. Ben sat in it sometimes when Chance wasn’t home and said things like, “Make it so.”

Ben had to admit, Chance’s Patrick Stewart impression was far superior to his own. The thought of Chance reciting dialogue from the show made Ben smile. It was one of the things they’d originally bonded over. They’d only been dating for a week when Ben walked in on Chance and another guy arguing over who was the better captain, Picard or Kirk. Ben had loved Kirk when he was a little kid, but he had to take Chance’s side; Picard was a much more well-rounded character. And Patrick Stewart was sexier at sixty than Shatner had been at thirty-something. They’d made out like crazy that night as they watched Chance’s season-one DVDs.

Ben started to get excited at the memories. That had been a new and interesting time for them both. He took the wine to the kitchen before he ventured into the office-slash-game room. To Ben’s utter dismay, Chance’s head was tipped on the back of the chair, his mouth open while his Night Elf Rogue walked endlessly into the corner of a tavern. Ben considered saving Chance’s game and signing him off but thought better of it. If he’d just completed some monumental quest and Ben didn’t save it correctly—well, he didn’t want to think about that. Instead Ben shook Chance lightly. He received no response. He shook a little harder.

“Who did?” Chance gasped as he woke.

“What?” Ben asked, amused.

“What?” Chance echoed.

“Who did what?” Ben asked.

Chance rubbed his eyes under his glasses. “I don’t know. I must have fallen asleep.”

Ben bent down and kissed Chance on the top of his head. “I got wine. Feel like hanging out? We could watch some
Next Generation
.”

Chance’s fingers danced over the keys and mouse. He yawned. “
TNG
? Why do you want to watch that?”

“I was just thinking about that time you were having that argument with that dude in the dorm commons.”

“Carter. Dick,” Chance said as he pushed his glasses up. “He’d argue that fucking George Lazenby was a better Bond than Sean Connery. Or Raul Julia was a better Gomez than actual-fucking-Gomez.”

“John Astin.” Ben loved it a little when Chance ranted. He thought it was pretty cute.

“What?” Chance snapped.

“The original Gomez Addams was John Astin.”

“I know that. I’m not some social retard.”

“He also played Harry’s dad on
Night Court
.” Ben knew it wasn’t actually Harry’s dad but wanted to see if Chance would take the bait.

“Buddy was his step-dad,” he stated dismissively. “Christ, Ben. You know that. Next you’re going to pretend he didn’t fill in as the Riddler when Frank Gorshin left in the second season of the old
Batman
TV show.”