Until September by Harker Jones
Author:Harker Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harker Jones
Published: 2019-10-15T00:00:00+00:00
* * * *
That was the first night they made love, there, on the porch, by the sea. They joined in the houseâs chorus of creaks and sighs, and later, when they had fallen into sticky, satisfied sleep, their breathing fell into step with the houseâs rhythm.
JULY
Independence Day loomed as the temperature surged. On July third, his parents having gone to bed early to rest for the following dayâs festivities, Kyle sat on the veranda after sunset, the willow heavy in the humidity, the sky inky and deep and clouded, so that only one star was visible, an American flag billowing majestically against the blackness of the night from the rail of the balcony. He felt abundantly satisfied. Even his estrangement from the group wasâin a senseâa relief, despiteâin another senseâtheir silenceâespecially Trentâsâbeing such a betrayal.
The thing that surprised him most was how little their absence bothered him. It seemed there should have been a bigger sense of grief or loss. As time wore on, the idea that he might never see his friends again began to creep into his mind, and though the thought was awful, it was hardly unbearable.
That should have made him sadder than it did.
âWhy didnât you tell me?â
He jumped in surprise, then saw Trent, in a long pair of navy shorts, standing at the top of the stairs that led to the beach. âHow did you know I was here?â He could think of nothing else to say.
âYou live here.â Trent crossed so that he stood over him. âWhy didnât you tell me?â
He wasnât prepared. âI donât know. I didnât know how youâd react.â Heâd wanted them to come, but he hadnât imagined what heâd say when they did.
âDo you want to know how it is from my side?â Trent asked. âDo you want to know how I see it?â
Kyle looked at the drawn face of his best friend, surprised how good it was to have him there, and suddenly realizing how much heâd miss him if ever they were separated.
He nodded.
âFrom my side it looks like either you didnât love me enough to tell me or you didnât believe I loved you enough to get past it. And this past week all Iâve been trying to figure out is which would hurt less.â
Kyle almost crumpled. What could he say to that?
In the distance a premature firecracker popped and echoed.
âI know you better than anyone,â Trent said. âDid you really think I would turn from you?â
âI donât know!â Kyle said quickly. ââ¦I was afraid.â
âWe made it through Danaâs broken heart, and Carlyâs momâs affair, and my parents almost getting divorced, and Carly finding out sheâs adopted. It was only a matter of time until it was you or Claudia. Only, this time, since itâs you, Iâm afraid youâll change.â
âIâve always known. This isnât a surprise to me. Iâm more me than Iâve ever been.â But Kyle had to wonder if that was true. Heâd changed since heâd arrived on the island. Knowing the truth hadnât prepared him for accepting and dealing with it.
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