be spending a lot of time on gay porn sites. Is he doing any studying? More than that—was there something Ryan wasn’t saying?
Ryan’s next message seemed to provide an answer.
Hey, Bro! I found this video. I’ve already wanked to it three times. I figured that scored high enough on the scale that you’d enjoy it too.
Then Robin dismissed such thoughts, and spent a few minutes watching the video, his hand a blur as he tugged on his dick.
Research, right?
By the time ten-thirty arrived, he was done. He grabbed his coat, stuffed his feet into his boots, and headed for the door.
“Going someplace?” Dad inquired as he passed the living room door.
“Yeah. I said I’d spend today with Ben. We’re gonna do some gaming. He just got Final Fantasy, and asked if I wanted to check it out. Maybe later we’ll go for a bike ride. He said I could stay for dinner too if I wanted. I won’t be home too late.” That covered all eventualities.
“Have you done your chores?”
“Yes, sir.”
Dad smiled. “Good man. Enjoy your day.”
Robin got the sneaking suspicion his dad was beginning to subscribe to his mom’s theory about Ben, which was no bad thing as long as neither of them started asking awkward questions.
He wheeled his bike to the road, then set off, heading for Dean’s. He pedaled fast, his heart pounding as he tried not to think about what his day might have in store for him. Lake Placid was its usual bustling self for a Saturday, everyone going about their business, with Christmas decorations and lights spreading over the village. Robin knew at some point his dad would want to put theirs up, but there was the possibility he was waiting for Ryan to come home for the holidays. It was a tradition for the whole family to get involved in, one that Robin had never tired of.
Ryan will be home next weekend. The realization brought mixed feelings. As aggravating as Ryan was, Robin missed their squabbles and snarky battles. But this time would be different. Ryan would want to know everything, and Robin did not want to share.
He got to Dean’s house in time to see him walking from his garage, a large box in his arms. “Hey,” Robin called out as he walked his bike up the path to the front door.
Dean raised his hand in greeting. “This is the last box. The rest are in the house. But there’s something I need to do first, and I wondered if you would come with me?”
“Where are you going?”
Dean grinned. “Well, there’s the small but vital matter of a Christmas tree. I usually get mine from Covel’s tree farm. It’s about a forty-five-minute drive from here. You don’t have to come. You could stay here and give Lady some attention. Because we both know she’s starved of that, right?”
Robin laughed. As if he would pass up the opportunity to spend time with Dean. “I’d love to go with you.”
“Great. Let me get my car keys, and we can leave now.” He disappeared into the house.
Robin leaned his bike against the exterior, and took a look at Dean’s neighbors. Already, he could see Christmas trees in windows, covered with colorful lights. Up and down the street, snowmen stood on front lawns, accompanied by reindeer and bright red sleighs, in which sat cheerful fat Santas.
Robin loved Christmas. The season had always held a special kind of magic for him.
“Admiring the view?” Dean asked as he stepped out of the house and locked the door. “Wait until we’re done with my place. You won’t recognize it.” He patted the posts that supported the front porch. “I’ve got lots of lights to wind around these, and then there are the blue icicles that hang above the upstairs windows.”
“You don’t expect me to put those up, do you?”
Dean laughed. “No, I have a much more important job for you. I need you to hold the ladder steady while I put them up. Normally I’d ask Kris—the guy you met here last weekend?—but he’s gone to see his dad who’s not doing so well.”
“Aw, that’s awful.” Robin recalled Kris vividly. “You know, I did think he was your boyfriend at the time.”
Dean arched his eyebrows. “What gave you that idea? Wait—scratch that. He sort of threw himself at me, didn’t he?” He chuckled. “Yeah, if I’d seen that, I’d have thought the same thing.” He opened the car doors, and they got in.
No sooner had Robin fastened his seat