The Geek and His Artist (23 page)

Jimmy smiled. “Yeah, they’re pretty all right for parents. Welcome home,” he whispered, then leaned forward and met Simon’s lips. He kept it light again, and Simon was glad for it. He wasn’t nearly as fuzzy as earlier, and the Bennets and Mrs. Andrews
were
standing just a few feet away.

“Is ten okay?” Mrs. Andrews asked.

“That’s fine,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Thank you very much.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Mrs. Andrews warned. “The inspections are no fun. You don’t have anything to worry about,” she said hurriedly. “It’s not bad, but no one likes to be inspected.”

“What… uh….”

Mrs. Andrews smiled. “I can already tell it’s likely to be just fine. We just need to know Simon will be taken care of, nothing that could endanger him, that sort of thing.”

“Ah, okay. I’m sure that will be fine. We will see you tomorrow, then.”

Mrs. Andrews came over to Simon. “Take care, Simon. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

Simon nodded. “Thank you.”

She smiled, shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and left.

“Well, then, Simon. I found some loose pajamas that were Jimmy’s—mostly just flannel pants—a couple pair of shorts and a few other things. They’re up in Jimmy’s room. I washed them while we waited.”

“You don’t have to go to all this trouble for me, Mrs.—uh, Mom.”

She smiled widely. “I don’t have to do anything but stay white and die. And the ‘stay white’ part is up for discussion.”

Simon found himself laughing.

“I—we—are happy to have you here. Now, Jimmy or Joe can get you upstairs, and one of them will help you into pajamas. Are you hungry?”

Simon shook his head. “No. I ate more today than I usually do in three.” He’d meant it to be funny, but Mrs. Bennet just looked sad. “Uh, I’m really just tired.”

“I should say so,” Mr. Bennet said. “It’s after eleven. Let’s get you settled and get some sleep. We can deal with the rest tomorrow.” He stepped forward but Jimmy stood.

“I’ve got him, Dad. Mom, would you get those pajamas?”

“Sure thing, honey.” She led the way to the stairs after Jimmy lifted Simon again.

“Do you want me or Dad to help you?” Jimmy asked.

Simon frowned. He wasn’t sure if he wanted Jimmy to see his whole body. He had marks and scars—not to mention the current run of bruises—all over his chest, back, and legs. He also knew eventually Jimmy was going to see all of him. And glancing up, he could tell Jimmy was trying to keep a casual face, but Simon remembered Jimmy talking about taking care of him. “You, please.”

When Jimmy smiled, Simon knew he’d made the right choice.

At the top of the stairs, Jimmy started turning into the first doorway when Simon heard a squeak. A moment later, just as he was set down on the twin bed that had been placed in front of yet another set of bookshelves, Amy’s face filled Simon’s vision. “I’m so glad I got to see you again!”

Simon couldn’t help but smile at her. “Thank you.”

“Oh, can I hug you?” she asked, bouncing on her toes.

Jimmy rolled his eyes.

Simon chuckled. “Okay.” He didn’t quite understand why she wanted to touch him so much or why she was so happy he was there, but part of that might have been just how tired he was. She dove in and wrapped him up in a hug. He winced but managed to keep that from her.

“I’m so happy I get another brother! I always wanted another one, but Mom kept saying she wasn’t going through childbirth again after having Jimmy, since he was so big. She said maybe they’d adopt, but then it just never happened and now I get one anyway!”

“Amy, breathe!” Jimmy groaned.

Amy laughed and Simon found himself smiling. “Sorry,” she said, blushing a little.

“It’s okay. I’m glad to be here. Uhm….” He paused and swallowed. “Thank you for calling,” he said softly.

She got this total “awww” look on her face. “I’m just glad you’re not mad at me. I’d totally understand if you were.”

Simon shook his head. “No, it’s okay. I… I needed it.”

“Well, you’re welcome. I’m glad you’re not mad at me. Hey, we’re not going home until later tomorrow, so if you’re up for it and want to play a game or watch a movie or something, I’d love to do that. Being stuck in bed or on the couch sucks so badly.”

“My God, sis, do you ever
stop
?” Jimmy asked.

Any giggled. “Oops. Okay, okay. Good night, Simon.”

“Night, Amy,” he said, smiling.

“Sis! I’m your sister now! And soon, I’m sure, I’ll be your sister-in-law.” She grinned.

“Uh… okay, sis,” Simon managed.

With another giggle, she was gone.

Jimmy’s mom stepped up, handing Simon a pair of flannel pants that were definitely going to be too big on him, and a T-shirt that looked like he’d drown in it. “This is just temporary. We’ll get you some stuff that fits soon.”

“It’s okay, you—”

She just stared at him for a moment, and Simon’s cheeks colored.

“Thank you?” he said, making it sound like a question, and she smiled again.

“You’re welcome. Sleep well, sweetie,” she said, then, to his total shock, bent and kissed the top of his head before kissing Jimmy. With a final wave, she left too.

“Night, guys,” Mr. Bennet said, and Simon appreciated him keeping it simple. He was already more than a little overwhelmed.

It took a little work to get the pajamas on him, even as big as they were, but they managed. Then, finally, they were done and it was quiet. Jimmy sat on the floor next to him, holding his hand. He kissed it, then smiled up at Simon. “Oh, your hearing aid,” he said, holding a hand out.

Simon took it out and handed it to him, watching as he placed it on a shelf nearby. “Thank you.”

“Don’t want to break it. They can be expensive.”

“Don’t I know it. I heard about that one for months.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Jimmy said, shaking his head. “Even though I am quite sure it was his fault you need it. Wasn’t it?”

Simon swallowed but nodded. “Yeah. It was… uh… the same time my mom died.” He hadn’t yet told Jimmy that story and wasn’t quite ready to. He yawned.

“That’s my cue. Amy and Dirk have decided to take the sofa bed so I can be upstairs if you need me. I’m going to leave the doors open. If you need
anything
, even something as simple as taking a piss, I’ll come help you. Please don’t try to walk on that, okay?”

Simon, trying not to blush over the idea of getting help just going to the bathroom, nodded. “I won’t. I should try the crutches tomorrow, though.”

Jimmy shook his head. “Not yet. I’ll help you get around tomorrow, and Monday, for sure.”

“You have school Monday.”

“Mom’ll let me stay home for that day. Tuesday, I’ll go in, get your assignments and mine, and talk to the guys.”

“Oh shit, the guys,” Simon said, eyes widening.

“Don’t worry about it! We’ll think of something to tell them. They don’t have to know what happened, exactly.”

Simon swallowed but nodded. “Okay.”

“Remember, I’m right down the hall. Get some rest, baby. I love you.”

Simon smiled up at him, taking the kiss Jimmy offered. “I love you too. Good night.”

With one more peck on the cheek, Jimmy left.

Simon stared at the ceiling for a long time. He was exhausted, but his mind wasn’t quite ready to shut down. Too much ran through it—he was out of The Bastard’s house, he was living with his boyfriend, he had a
family.
A family that wanted him. He was safe.

The Bastard was still out there somewhere. If he was pissed enough, he might still try—protection from abuse or not—to hurt him, Jimmy, or the rest of Jimmy’s family. The thought sent a shiver through Simon, and he took a deep breath. The Bastard didn’t know where Jimmy lived, and Simon held that truth close, taking that bit of comfort.

He loved the Bennets.

Mrs. Bennet, who wanted to be a mother to him. She’d accepted him so fast, was so warm, so happy for him and Jimmy. He liked that she didn’t accept arguments, didn’t treat him like a guest. At dinner she’d given him chores, and tonight she wouldn’t let him argue over the clothes.

Mr. Bennet, who was funny and quiet but seemed like the kind of guy you just didn’t cross. He guessed Jimmy and Amy hadn’t crossed him much, but Simon could already imagine not liking the idea of disappointing him, though Simon felt sure he’d be fair in whatever happened. He had an awesome sense of humor, and Simon couldn’t get over the idea that he was a gamer.

Amy was so funny, with her mile-a-minute speech and ridiculous excess energy. She reminded him of a fairy—the way she bounced up on her toes, it looked a little like she was flying. She’d wanted another brother and seemed so excited that he was going to fill the role. Simon didn’t quite know what to do with that.

He only knew them a very short while, but he loved them. He hoped he could get comfortable really thinking of them as his family.

Simon blushed, thinking about what Amy had said earlier about being his sister-in-law. She was dead positive he and Jimmy would get married. He knew that’s what everyone believed, but he still wasn’t sure
he
could believe it, believe Jimmy would really want him “forever.” But after what Jimmy said earlier, he found he wanted to.

As his eyes slid closed, he prayed to a god he wasn’t sure existed that he sleep through the night and that his new family really did want to keep him.

F
OR
THE
first time in his life, Jimmy found himself glad when he couldn’t sleep. He’d stayed awake through the night quite a bit over the course of the school year. First thinking about Simon, wanting to know him. Then from worrying about him and getting him out of The Bastard’s house.

Jimmy stared at the ceiling above his bed, his mind in a million different directions, trying to process what had happened that day. There was so much, he wasn’t sure how to sort it out. Simon had been welcomed by his family, they’d eaten together, and sat through more than a few veiled comments about them getting married. They’d given each other blowjobs—Jimmy tried not to think too much about those or he’d end up really uncomfortable. And somehow he didn’t feel quite right, jacking off while his boyfriend lay in the bed just down the hall.

His boyfriend was in a bed down the hall.

Since the first time he’d heard The Bastard shout at Simon and he had just a tiny inkling of what Simon dealt with at home, he’d wanted to get Simon
out
of that situation. He’d been frustrated, worried—no, terrified—but he hadn’t really been prepared for the reality of it. And he
hated
how it came about.

Simon lay in the bed down the hall with a broken ankle.

Rage at The Bastard boiled under the surface, and it took all Jimmy had to keep it contained. If he had any clue where the man was, Jimmy would hunt the asshole down and beat him within an inch of his life. And Jimmy knew five people who would cheerfully help him. But he didn’t know where The Bastard was. And he knew it wouldn’t solve anything. He had to focus on helping Simon through this, because if he was nuts over the abrupt shift, Simon had to be damned near insane.

Jimmy rubbed his face hard and rolled, looking out the door at the slightly darker rectangle of his mother’s office—now Simon’s room. A need to be near Simon, strong in a way he didn’t understand, pulled at him. He held himself in check, stayed in his bed, because he didn’t want to wake Simon. But he felt like he had to just sit over Simon, watch him, even in sleep. Like he had to do something to reassure himself that Simon was okay, would be okay.

He felt… oddly young then. He was less than a month away from his eighteenth birthday. He was a grown man, but so many of these emotions confused him. The need to protect, the need to reassure himself, the want to just touch and hold. He didn’t understand them, and certainly not why they were so strong. And if he was being honest, and since it was—he stopped to check the clock—2:00 a.m., he figured he should be honest with himself, he was a little scared too.

His feelings for Simon had hit so fast and so hard. He could admit the infatuation had been there for a good long while. So maybe the love happening when it did wasn’t that much of a stretch. He wasn’t silly enough to say it was love at first sight.

But it had been kind of fast, and that worried him. Simon had said the words, given back to him what he’d given Simon, but there was still a niggling fear that Simon only said them because he felt he had to. That his fears and getting away from The Bastard were all tied up somehow with Jimmy, and that once Simon realized he was out and he didn’t
have
to care—to love Jimmy—that he’d realize he didn’t.

Jimmy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe he was just letting his fears get the best of him. Two o’clock seemed like a good time for that. And when he thought about it, he knew Simon’s face never once contradicted his words. When he’d said he loved Jimmy, the expression backed that up. When he’d said he missed Jimmy, his face had shown it.

He pushed the thoughts away and decided he needed to just focus on what he could do from here. He knew things were going to be overwhelming for a while. He knew Simon was likely scared. He’d need help with things and likely be embarrassed about it—Jimmy knew
he
would have been. And there was no doubt Simon was dealing with a lot of pain.

Jimmy could take care of that for Simon. And maybe take care of some of his own confusing needs at the same time. Maybe a talk with his mom might help too.

Those thoughts seemed to help Jimmy calm. But just as his eyes started to slide closed, he heard a sound. He turned his head to listen and realized it was a moan. Jimmy briefly wondered if Amy and Dirk were doing something he did
not
want to hear, but realized it wasn’t likely. They’d worry too much about someone walking by the living room.

So, not Amy and Dirk. And he’d—thankfully—never heard his parents at night. Which left one person.