Three years.
I looked at Nathaniel. I cant feed the ardeur off just Jason for long.
You know you have more control over it now. Jean-Claude can divide the ardeur up among us. I know last time it worked because youd fed off the crowd at Guilty Pleasuresbut we can try to feed you for a few days, just like we do when youre in the middle of a police investigation.
Jason looked at me. Youre not seriously thinking about saying yes to this, are you?
Are you seriously thinking its a good idea?
He grinned. Probably a really bad one, but watching you and my father go head-to-head might be worth it.
Hes dying, I would think youd want me to be nice to him.
Be nice to him if hes nice to you, but dont let him push you around. Hes a bully.
You really dont like him, do you?
Jason shook his head. No.
Did he abuse you physically? Nathaniel asked.
Jason looked at him, with a strange, almost empty expression on his face. He was always hurting me by accident, trying to toughen me up. Hed try to teach me a sport and Id come home bruised and bloody. He broke my arm finally trying to teach me football, and Mom wouldnt let him take me out by ourselves again. He was always careful that it wasnt abuse. Nothing you could call him on, buTHE was always too rough, too harsh for my age, my size. I started therapy in my teens because the school counselor encouraged it. Therapy taught me that my dad was abusing me. He wanted to hurt me.
I touched his face. Jason, Im sorry.
His face was very solemn. Me, too.
You dont want to go home by yourself, do you? Nathaniel asked.
No. Id ask you to go with me, but if I show up with you itll just confirm what my dad and most of the town thinks. He grinned suddenly. Well, anyone who didnt have a teenage girl about my age. The fathers hated me.
I would think that your being promiscuous with the girls would make your dad happy, I said.
Youd think, buTHE seemed to hate me for that, too.
If someone wants to hate you, you cant stop them, Nathaniel said.
Jason nodded. Yeah, my dad has hated me for as long as I can remember.
Youre my best friend; if you want me to go with you for moral support, Ill go, Nathaniel said.
Jason smiled, then shook his head. Nothing personal, Nathaniel, but you are not going to help me convince my dad Im straight.
Nathaniels straight, I said.
BuTHE doesnt look like my dads idea of a straight guy. And its all about appearances with him.
I took a deep breath, let it out. How long would you need to be there?
I dont know, a couple of days at least.
I cant believe Im saying this, but Ill go, if you want me to.
Jason looked at me, startled. Youre joking, right?
Do I look like Im joking?
No, he said, and he sat up, kneeling in the bed. The sheet was behind him, so he was very not clothed. Even though wed just finished having sex, I found myself fighting to give him eye contact. Sometimes my hang-ups puzzle even me. This is like the biggest favor ever.