Serpentine Walls (33 page)

Two hours later, the lights came back up as the audience applauded. The festival had been the usual mixed bag of interesting to embarrassingly awful entries. Pete supposed his own film had gotten a pretty good reception, although he’d been distracted by watching the back of Matthew’s head all afternoon. He’d also been nervous about Dad’s opinion, but at the end, Dad had leaned over and said, “That was good!” and then proceeded to clap and hoot so loudly that Pete felt himself turning red. He had been even more flustered when Matthew glanced around, smiled, and gave him a thumbs-up.

They made their way out to the lobby, Pete’s family and friends chattering about the movie while Pete thought about the card in his bag and how he could give it to Matthew. Mom, Angie, and Missy went to the restroom, and Dad clapped him on the shoulder.

“I’ve got to run. You did a good job, son. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks, Dad. Thanks for coming.”

Dad squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll talk soon?”

“Yeah, we will.” Pete was surprised to find that not only did he mean it, but he was looking forward to it.

Austin said, “I’m going to ride home with Mom. Later, Dad.”

“Right-o,” Dad replied. “Say good-bye to your mother and Missy for me.” And with that, he strode away.

John looked after him, his arm around Cleo, and then raised his eyebrows at Pete. “Well?”

“Well.”

“Your dad is handsome,” Cleo said. “And quite the alpha male. He’s way proud of you too.”

“You think so?”

“Are you kidding?” she began, but their conversation was interrupted by the return of Mom, Missy, and Angie, accompanied by Brian.

Everyone stood and chatted. Austin was making them laugh with funny stories from the past year’s campaign trail, when Cleo poked Pete and inclined her head. He turned, and his stomach did a flip-flop—Matthew was walking over to them.

“Matthew!” Angie cried, pulling him into the circle. “Mrs. Morgan, this is Matthew Layton. He’s the one that helped Pete with the film.”

Matthew offered his hand to Mom. He looked so heartbreakingly handsome in his blazer and nice slacks that Pete didn’t know what to do with himself.

“Oh,
you’re
Matthew.” Mom took his hand. “Pete’s said so much about you. I’m glad to finally meet you.”

“He has? The good parts are true, the rest is all lies.” Matthew’s joking expression turned serious. “It’s great to meet you too. Your son is very talented.”

“He is, isn’t he? I love seeing him have an outlet for all his creativity. He’s really thriving in this Echols Scholar program.”

Missy butted into the conversation. “Hi, Matthew, I’m Missy, Pete’s sister.”

“Hello, good to meet you.” Matthew smiled at her and directed his gaze to Austin. “And you’re… don’t tell me… you must be Austin.”

“Got it in one.”

Pete watched Matthew talk to his family with a sense of unreality, which Angie helped to dispel by driving her elbow into his side.

“Ouch,” he whispered.

She lifted her eyebrows and stared at his messenger bag.

“I know, I know,” he murmured, feeling encouraged by the fact that Matthew had come over to meet his family. Matthew met his eyes, and he tried to smile, sure his emotions were broadcasting all over his face. As Pete was figuring out how to slip him the card without his whole family watching, one of the film fest organizers came over, and Matthew excused himself to go handle something.

“So that’s Matthew, huh?” Missy said. “He’s adorable.”

“Isn’t he?” Angie said. “And perfect for Pete.”

“Truly,” Cleo said.

Pete wanted to groan, but he couldn’t help glancing at Mom for her reaction.

“He seems like a real sweetheart,” she said. “I approve.”

“Well, that does it,” Austin said. “He’s got the Mom seal of approval. When’s the wedding?”

“Shut up,” Pete said.

“Y’all hold your horses,” John interjected. “Pete’s got a few things to work out first. Moving on to the important question, are we going out to dinner?”

“I think we should before we head home,” Mom said.

“Yay!” Missy cried. “What?” she asked, glaring at Austin, who was laughing at her exuberance. “I love Charlottesville.”

Pete saw Matthew coming back into the lobby. “You guys figure out where we’re going. I’ll be right back.”

“Good luck,” he heard John call.

Heart in his throat, he moved into Matthew’s path. “Hi.”

Matthew stopped and then moved closer, his expression friendly but guarded. “Hi. The film looks great on the big screen.”

“Thanks.” Pete went blank, staring into Matthew’s blue eyes. “Um….”

“Was that your dad you were with earlier?”

“Oh, yeah,” Pete said, relieved to have a topic. “That was him.”

“I thought so. That’s good. I’m glad he came.”

Pete nodded. There was a short silence as they stood there looking at each other.

“I miss you,” Pete blurted and then bit his lip.

Matthew’s eyes got soft, and he cleared his throat. “I miss you too.”

Now or never
. “I wrote you a card.” Pete opened his messenger bag and pulled it out.

“Wow.” Matthew accepted it from him and began to open it.

“Don’t read it here!” Pete said hastily. “It’s kind of private.”

“Okay.” Matthew pocketed the card, gazing at Pete with no hint of his earlier reserve. “I want to talk to you. I’ve got to get things wrapped up here, but you’re going to be at Rodney’s party, right?”

Pete made a face. “I don’t think I have a choice. All the entrants have to attend. I’m going out to dinner with my family first, though.”

“I’ll see you at the party, okay? And we’ll talk.”

“Okay.” Pete turned to go with a sense of triumph, then stopped when he felt Matthew’s hand on his arm.

Matthew’s expression was oddly serious. “Thanks. For saying you miss me.”

“No problem. It’s the truth, you dumbass.” His grin belied his words, and Matthew matched it with one of his own.

T
HE
crowd chattered, laughter rang out, and the fire in the fireplace at Professor R’s faculty home cast a cheerful glow. Professor R and Aidan held court in the living room, standing close to each other, a chemistry between them and a familiarity in the way they looked at each other that was palpable.
Oh well
, Pete thought,
at least
they look good together,
although the thought of Aidan being tangled up with Professor R made him ill.

Pete was studying the CDs next to the stereo, waiting impatiently for Matthew to get to the party, when he felt a hand on his arm. His pulse quickened, but it wasn’t Matthew standing there, it was Aidan, looking down at him with those big green eyes, his mouth curved into a sexy smile. Pete’s body still reacted to Aidan’s presence.
It probably always will
, he thought, catching a whiff of Aidan’s spicy scent.

“How are you, Pete? Listen, I want to show you something. Come with me.”

“Um, okay, but just for a minute. I’m waiting for someone.”

“No problem. Right this way.”

Aidan drew Pete through the living room with his arm around his back. No one paid any attention when Aidan ushered Pete through a set of wooden sliding doors into what appeared to be a lushly appointed den. Aidan slid the doors shut and faced Pete.

“God, baby,” he whispered, putting his hand on Pete’s shoulder, “I’d forgotten how adorable you are.”

Pete backed away, shrugging off Aidan’s hand.

“What was it you wanted to show me?” he asked, folding his arms in front of him.
And why have you turned back into a creepy seduction machine?
If this was Professor R’s influence, Pete wanted to tell Aidan to escape while he still could.

“Aw, don’t be that way. It’s just that we thought you might be interested in getting together. You’re so hot.”

“And quite intriguing,” said a voice with a British accent. Professor R stepped out from behind a wooden screen in the corner of the room.

Pete looked from one beautiful man to the other, his mouth agape, anger flashing through him.

Oblivious to his distress, Aidan brushed his hand over Pete’s cheek. “Have you ever been in a threesome, baby?” He ran his thumb along Pete’s lower lip, murmuring, “I’ve always loved your mouth,” before Pete jerked his head away.

“They’re very amusing, threesomes,” said Professor R, who had walked closer. He placed his hand lightly on the back of Pete’s neck.

Pete’s cock twitched, despite his revulsion at this little scene.
You bastards.

The wooden door slid open, and Matthew entered the room, saying, “Rodney, I—” He halted, eyes wide.

Aghast, Pete broke away from Aidan and Professor R and started toward him, but Matthew had gotten one good look at the three of them, flushed beet red, and left.

“Matthew! Wait!” Pete cried and took off after him without a backward glance. He ran into the living room and smack into Parker.

“What on earth?” Parker put out his arm to steady him.

“Which way did Matthew go?” Pete asked, craning his neck to see around him.

“He flew out of here like a bat out of hell. That way.” Parker pointed to the hallway that led to the kitchen. “What’s going on?” he added, but Pete was already running out of the room.

He dashed down the short hallway into the kitchen and got held up by a group of people talking and drinking by a butcher-block table. Moving around them as quickly as he could, he saw a door standing open in the far wall and bolted through it, yelling, “Matthew!”

He skidded to a stop in the darkness, peering all around, the full moon providing the only light. Although he could barely see, he knew he was in the formal garden at the back of the house.

“Matthew?” he called, running along a brick walkway. He blundered through a maze of boxwood, cursing, the strong scent assailing his nostrils, and forged blindly ahead until he reached the serpentine wall at the far end of the garden. He followed it to a small doorway and burst through it into the alley behind the faculty houses.

“Matthew! Matthew!” he shouted, jogging along the alley, not caring that he was making a fool of himself. Once out of the alley, he scanned the area. A few students walked across the Grounds. Matthew was nowhere in sight.

P
ETE
jogged along Rugby Road looking for Matthew. He peered at the dark trees and buildings, holding his breath against the stink of the gingko trees. His feet hurt, a spot under his ribs began to throb, and he was about to give up when he neared Beta Bridge and saw a dark figure leaning against the side.

“Matthew?” he gasped.
Please, let it be him
, he prayed, along with a silent vow to step up his jogging regimen.

“Yeah?” said Matthew’s voice.

“Thank God, man.” Pete came to a halt on the bridge and leaned over, panting, his hands on his legs. “Why do you run so fast?”

“Is that what you followed me to ask?”

“No.” Pete gulped down a few more breaths as his heart rate gradually slowed, and then straightened up. Matthew stepped forward, his reddish hair visible under the streetlight. He had his hands shoved into his pockets.

“Hey,” Pete said in a rush, wanting to get this out. “Professor R and Aidan—that wasn’t, I wasn’t gonna… I mean, I didn’t even know they were planning to do that.”

“Oh, yeah? Looked to me like you were pretty into it.” Matthew stared across the street like something interested him over there, but Pete was pretty sure it was because he didn’t want to look at him.

“No! Not at all. They had just started coming on to me when you walked in. No way I would’ve done anything with them.” He knew he was babbling, but he had to make Matthew understand.

“Well, I guess I misinterpreted things, then.” Matthew crossed his arms over his chest and gazed down at the sidewalk. “I know you’re into Aidan, and you went over to Rodney’s that time, so—”

“Matthew!” Pete barked, wanting to shake him. Matthew’s head snapped up, and he finally met Pete’s eyes. “Please. I didn’t sleep with Professor R. Ever.”

“Oh. Okay. Thank God for that, I guess.”

“And Aidan is so not an issue. Did you read my card?”

“Not yet.”

Pete heaved a sigh and girded himself for some emotional honesty. “Okay. It basically said that you’re amazing, one of my best friends, and really important to me.” He glanced at the ground, afraid of Matthew’s reaction.

“Oh.”

“Way more important than Aidan ever was,” Pete added as he studied a crack in the sidewalk.

“Oh.”

“Um, and that you’re sexy and I love your freckles.”

He heard a small sound from Matthew that might have been a chuckle, but he didn’t dare look at him, not until he got out the next thing he was about to say.

“And that I want to be your boyfriend.”

Pete waited a couple of beats and then risked a glance at Matthew. He stood like a statue with his arms still protecting his chest, but the expression on his face had shifted to dumbstruck wonder.

Encouraged, Pete continued. “And that I’m scared shitless. Which is why I was such a douche at Coupe’s.”

Matthew gave a shaky laugh and let his arms drop to his sides. “Me too. The scared shitless part. And the being a douche. I’ve been avoiding you for the last two weeks.” Hope and fear crossed his face, making him look young, and Pete suddenly wanted to take him home and keep him warm.

“So, will you give me a chance?” Pete asked. “I’m really not an immature brat. Most of the time.”

“I believe you,” Matthew said, a small smile playing at his lips.

Pete got serious. “I won’t let you down.”

Matthew’s smile grew fond as he took a step closer to Pete. “I believe that too.”

Their eyes held, and everything became quiet inside of Pete. It felt like being on a precipice.
Screw it,
he thought, and
before he could lose his nerve, he reached out and took Matthew’s hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Um, holding your hand?” Pete winced as the suave line he could have said if his life were a movie ran through his head:
What I should have done long ago
….