The Geek and His Artist (38 page)

“What?” Amy asked, stepping up next to him.

Jimmy looked at her. “I was just saying that I hope you’d let us sit in here some. The view is incredible.”

She grinned cheekily. “I’d hope so. This is your room.”

Jimmy blinked at her. “Mine?”

“Well, yours and Simon’s.” She gave a dramatic sigh. “I mean, I can’t believe after all these years, I gotta share a room with my
brother
, but at least there’s a door and bathroom between us. I don’t have to
hear
you.”

Jimmy chose to ignore the last. “You’re giving us this room?”

She smirked, apparently letting go of the tease and nodded. “Yeah, I figured we could spare it. The sofa beds in these places are always plenty comfortable. Besides, they squeak too much, and I do
not
want to hear that.”

Jimmy valiantly fought a blush, but Simon didn’t manage it. Considering how things had been between them recently, he wondered if the big king bed next to him would do them much good. He hoped so. He’d determined when he got in the car that morning that he was going to try to fix whatever was wrong. He had no idea how, but maybe the bed would help. He cleared his throat. “Uh, well, um, thanks?”

She grinned again and patted his shoulder. “You’re welcome, little brother.” They heard a knock on the door. “Looks like our luggage. Let’s get unpacked and stuff, then we’ll see about dinner. Simon, if you want to stay here with Jimmy, Dirk and I can always bring something back.”

Simon shook his head. “That’s okay. I do want to get out and see stuff.”

She smiled. “Okay. Well, the offer stands.”

J
IMMY
WANDERED
along the windows, unable to look away from the view long enough to even register the nameplate below describing the direction and what he was looking at. He could
see
what he was looking at from this spot. The Canadian Horseshoe Falls were right in front of him, at a different angle than from his room. He didn’t need to know that it was—he checked—159°04’14” to know what he was seeing.

But even as beautiful as they were, he couldn’t take quite as much pleasure in it as he thought he should.

Amy had talked Dirk into Applebee’s, despite his complaints, claiming they still had
plenty
of time to find local places—which they did—and could just take it easy. Simon stayed quiet through the dinner, and the earlier easiness in the car seemed to have vanished like it never existed.

Even after going back to the room, where Jimmy had hoped they’d take advantage of the king size bed or the whirlpool tub with the window that opened to the bedroom and the view, nothing happened. Simon changed clothes, plugged in his cell phone, and despite the fact that it was barely past nine, claimed exhaustion and went to bed.

About the only positive things Jimmy could find in the last eighteen hours or so were that they’d awakened late, wrapped around each other, and had breakfast together just before the buffet closed. They’d chuckled about a few of the other guests—Amy and Dirk included—who were scrambling to get omelets done before the grill closed.

But then they’d gone back up to the room, showered—separately—and Simon had retreated behind his sketchbook until Amy prompted them to take a walk through town.

And now here they were, at the top of the Skylon Tower, looking out over all these incredible views. Except Simon was several windows away, near the label for Toronto. Jimmy didn’t know if he should approach or not, and his frustration at the space between them only made it worse.

He gave up on the view and turned to the gift shop. He wandered through—not that it was very big—but he wasn’t paying much attention to the postcards, key chains, coffee mugs, or T-shirts, anyway, too lost in thought. So when Amy slipped up next to him, he jumped and glared at her giggle. “What?” It came out harsher than he’d meant, and he stopped. “Sorry.”

Amy raised her eyebrows. “What’s up, little brother?”

Jimmy sighed but shook his head. “Nothing. Just, uh, tired. Senior year and all that. I haven’t caught up yet.”

She simply blinked at him.

He nodded. “No, really, that’s all.”

“Uh-huh.” She stared at him for another long moment until he squirmed and grunted, and she grinned. “Dirk’s about ready. Where’s Simon?”

“He was looking at Toronto a minute ago.” He waved vaguely in Simon’s direction.

“Well, see if he’s ready. I want to go back and change for dinner.”

Jimmy raised an eyebrow but shrugged and, without speaking, went in search of his boyfriend. He found Simon had moved to the Buffalo window and was taking pictures with a camera he hadn’t seen before. “Where’d you get that?”

Simon looked up, grimacing. “It’s your sister’s. I made the mistake of saying I wished I could paint this, and she shoved it in my hands and told me to take reference pictures. I’m not a photographer, and I’m more than a little afraid I’ll break something this nice.” He made a face but shrugged. “But I told her I’d try.”

Jimmy chuckled. “Don’t worry about the camera. It’s not as expensive as it looks.”

“Okay,” Simon said after a few seconds.

“And, well, you’ve gotten to know Amy enough. She can be a bit pushy, eh?”

Simon nodded fast. “Yeah.”

“So, uh, got a lot more pictures to take? I guess they’re ready to go.”

“No.” Simon shook his head. “I’m good.”

They caught up with Amy and Dirk, then squeezed into the little yellow elevators with several other visitors. Jimmy stayed firmly against the back wall, not even remotely interested in the view out the window as they flew all those stories to the ground. Looking out a window up on the tower was one thing; dropping through the sky in a tiny car was not Jimmy’s idea of fun.

They walked the few blocks back to the hotel, taking the scenic route through the Fallsview Casino. They ended up strolling along the shops, stopping to buy coffee. Amy dragged them into the Swarovski jewelry store, pointing out a
ridiculous
number of rings and being horribly obvious in her hint-dropping. They paused to ogle leather that was way above their price range. Then Amy and Dirk stopped in the wine shop to pick out a couple of bottles. Finally they made their way out of the casino and the last couple of blocks back to the hotel.

As soon as they were back in the room, Amy grabbed his arm, then turned to Simon. “Can I borrow your boyfriend for dinner? I’d like a bit of sibling time.”

Simon blinked for a moment, obviously surprised to be asked. “Uh, sure?”

“Good!” Dirk said, flopping onto the sofa. “The brother-in-laws can hang out, then.”

She flashed them both a toothy smile, then dragged Jimmy back out of the room.

At the elevator Jimmy turned to her. “Uh… sis?”

“Hush. We’ll talk when we’re seated.”

Jimmy wisely kept his mouth shut and stepped into the elevator with her. He even managed to keep his silence as they got off on the ninth floor and headed toward the Keg Steakhouse restaurant. He nearly had to bite his tongue as he followed his tiny sister to the hostess station, but he managed to hold on to his patience even then.

“Good evening, how may I help you?” a ridiculously perky brunette asked.

“Hello. Two for Bennet.” Jimmy raised an eyebrow, but Amy waved him off.

“Ah, I see. I’m afraid we’re behind on Fallsview tables.”

“That’s all right, we don’t really need the distraction, anyway,” Amy assured her.

“Very good. This way, please,” Ms. Perky Hostess said as she pulled out menus and turned away.

Jimmy and Amy followed her to a quiet table for two in a corner out of the way.

“Perfect. Thank you,” Amy said. Jimmy reminded himself of the gentlemanly manners his mother had tried to teach him and helped Amy with her seat. She grinned up at him. “Look at you!”

Jimmy rolled his eyes. “Only because we’re out in public, and you have to pay for dinner.”

She snickered. “Sorry, little brother, you have to do dishes.”

“Okay. Then, you can have….” He glanced over the menu. “The iceberg wedge salad,” he decided, finding the cheapest thing he could.

She laughed and focused on her own menu.

Jimmy’s patience had completely disappeared by the time they had their pops and had put in their orders. Then he leaned forward and frowned. “What’s this about?”

“I can’t want to take my brother to dinner?”

He simply stared at her until she rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Fine. I want to talk to you about Simon.”

Jimmy sat back and frowned. “About what?”

She tilted her head and studied him. “What’s going on with you two?”

Jimmy seriously contemplated not saying a word. But he held his immediate “nothing” back and thought it through. Maybe she could help him. He sighed. “Something’s… wrong.” She raised her eyebrows, and he took the encouragement to continue. He struggled with it for another long moment, playing with the straw wrapper, then looked up at his sister. “I’m afraid he doesn’t want me anymore. I know that’s ridiculous, right? We’re
high school
students! Not everyone can have what Mom and Dad or you and Dirk do. I just… I thought… it’s….” In frustration, he dragged his hands through his hair.

“You can. Just because you’re only now in high school doesn’t mean a damned thing. If you guys are in love, then you can make it work,” Amy said, quietly.

Jimmy blew out a breath. He’d needed to hear that. “What… why… I can’t help but wonder if he doesn’t want me anymore, now that he’s out. Doesn’t… doesn’t need me anymore.”

He didn’t expect the smile over that. “I don’t believe that for one minute. But… I can see your point. What else?”

He frowned. “What?”

“I’m sure that’s not all. I’ll happily give you advice in a minute, but first… what else is wrong?”

Jimmy paused to take a long drink of his Pepsi. He tried to think it through, wonder if she’d call CYF or if there was even anything she could do. He decided he needed to get it off his chest to
some
one, and he knew, for all her teasing, she’d never give him crap over something like this. “The fact that The Bastard is still out there scares the abso-fucking-lute shit out of me.”

Her eyes widened for a moment, but then she nodded slowly. “That makes sense. It bothers Mom and Dad, too, that he hasn’t turned up.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “So, I’m guessing you’re thinking things are over. There’s distance between you. You think he doesn’t want you anymore.”

Jimmy shrugged one shoulder. “I mean, I know we’re under a lot or pressure with school right now, I get that. But it just… it seems like more, like something’s missing or wrong or… and I don’t… I mean, I—
fuck
,” he bit off.

“Have you considered talking to him?”

Before she’d even finished, Jimmy nodded. “I asked him. He said he’s not worried about The Bastard, not all that much, anyway. I asked if it was me, but he said it wasn’t.” He shrugged helplessly.

To his astonishment, she laughed. Jimmy simply blinked at her until she settled down. “And you believed him?”

Jimmy scowled. “He doesn’t lie, Amy.”

She shook her head. “I’m not saying he does. I’m just saying he’s probably keeping it to himself. He’s been alone for a long time, Jimmy! He’s used to taking care of himself, hiding when things are wrong.”

He frowned. “But… then… is… is he always going to be like this?”

Again, she shook her head. “No. But it’s going to take a while, a lot of patience, and some more than gentle prodding to make sure he doesn’t hide, that you get him to let you help.”

Jimmy chewed on that for a while as their server brought their baked garlic shrimp appetizer. He took a piece and ate it slowly. “How do I do that?”

S
IMON
STARED
at the door for a long moment, after it closed. He wasn’t sure what was more prevalent: the shock of being asked, the feeling of abandonment when Jimmy didn’t even say a word—though, to be fair, he’d looked as shocked as Simon felt—or realizing that he was being considered a “brother-in-law” even without a ring on his finger.

Shock was winning. He shook his head and took the armchair next to the sofa, finally pulling himself out enough to consider Dirk. He leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed, but Simon didn’t think he was sleeping.

“We’ll let them get settled in the restaurant. Got anything against TGI Friday’s?”

“Uh….” Simon blinked, then cleared his throat. “I’ve never been there.”

“Cool. They’ve got one down on the street level.” Dirk opened his eyes and smiled. “It can be a little loud, but not too bad on a Monday evening.” He stood up and tilted his head at the door. “I’m guessing they’re on their way. Let’s go get a bite. I think maybe I ought to give you a small hint about how to deal with being married to a Bennet.”

Simon opened the door and still in a bit of a daze, followed Dirk to the elevator. “Uh, I’m not married to him.”

“Yet,” Dirk added.

Simon frowned, not wanting to argue. He’d been wondering lately if it they ever would be married. He knew he was being silly, imagining Jimmy as his Prince Charming, dreaming about all that stuff. But he couldn’t seem to help it. He loved Jimmy so much, and the distance between them made his chest ache.

However, he didn’t know what to do about it. His nightmares were getting worse, his fears over The Bastard growing until he nearly choked on them. But he knew how busy Jimmy was with school, tutoring him, and playing pseudobodyguard and chauffeur for his counseling. The last thing Simon needed to do was put
more
on his boyfriend.

But every night they sat next to each other, studying but not touching, every time they walked down the halls in school and Jimmy didn’t hold his hand, every night they went to bed and Jimmy stayed on his side instead of wrapping his arms around Simon only made Simon fear the worst: that Jimmy had lost interest.

They stepped off the elevator and made their way past the check-in desk and over to the door to the restaurant. There was a bar to his left and a row of video games to his right. They found the greeter and were escorted to a small table for two by a side window. The view wasn’t anything like the one in their room, but Simon wasn’t going to complain.