Ben waited; his husband poked at a sheet-hill with toes, managed to get only a big toe stuck under the sheet, scrunched up that nose in mild irritation, and retrieved the foot. “It was on purpose. Getting caught, having the school call Stephen. I wanted to see what would happen. Whether Steve would come and rescue me. And he did. Because he’s loyal. And an i***t. A loyal i***t. I wasn’t worth it.”
You wanted to know whether he’d rescue you, Ben thought. You wanted to know whether anyone would. Whether you had anything left to believe in.
He said, “You were scared. And you were fifteen. And you wanted to know. That doesn’t mean you’re not worth it.”
“I was a manipulative little monster and you know it.”
“Maybe. But you were hurting.” He had an arm around his husband; he tried to rub som
