Reading Time: 149 Minutes

Title: Spread Your Wings and Fly
Series: Becoming Evan
Series Order: 2
Author: Chimera01
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Contemporary, Drama, Family
Relationship(s): Gen
Content Rating: R
Warnings: Underage Sex, Canon Abuse and Violence, Character Death, Racism, Mentions Sexual Assault, Adult Language, Sexual Situations, Mentions Domestic Abuse, Mentions Mental Illness.
Author Note: Glossary tab is on main series page
Word Count: 62,099
Summary: Evan Buckley grew up without the love of the person who should have loved him the most. This is what happens when an Emotional Support Grandmother takes him under her wing—and sets him free.
Artist: Twigen

---

---

 

Chapter Four: Seventeen-Part One

Evan stood in the falling snow watching the red fire truck pull up to the burning building. He was high on adrenaline, slightly sooty, and enraptured by the flames.

Flames that Evan had spotted when gathering cleaning supplies from the back of the Martial Arts Academy he attended three times each week. Evan and the other students took turns cleaning after classes, which was why Evan was in the back room in the first place. Unlike with many building fires, the smell of smoke was not what he noticed first; it was the red-orange glow coming through the shaded window of the business across the alley from the academy.

Forgetting the supplies, Evan ran to the front of the building, shouting for Master Eng to call 9-1-1 before rushing out the door. Evan didn’t really know anything about the businesses on the other street, and the alley was fenced for garbage pick-up and employee parking, so he had to run around the entire block to find said business and the small fire he had noticed.

From the front street, there was no indication of a fire.

No smoke. No flames. No ash in the wind.

The building was three storeys, with a used bookstore on the bottom floor and apartments on the upper two. The bookstore was closed that day and was locked tight, and the side entrance to the apartment levels also needed a key. Looking around, Evan ran into the pharmacy directly across the street and asked to use the phone to call the fire department, telling the cashier that there was a fire across the street.

It was October and the weather had turned wintery unexpectedly. Even Evan’s fancy high school was using space heaters in classrooms because the heating system wasn’t ready for the change.

By the time the fire department turned up, a crowd had gathered on the sidewalk in front of the pharmacy and flames were shooting out of the first-floor windows. The pharmacist had called the owner of the bookstore, and in return the bookstore owner called the tenants of the apartments. Snow had begun falling as the crowd gathered, and Evan was transfixed as he watched the firefighters.

Before even hooking the hose to the hydrant, firefighters were watching the building, looking for hidden dangers and casualties inside the building. The person in charge had pulled what appeared to be blueprints from somewhere before directing the placement of the hoses.

By the time the fire was out, Evan could no longer feel his toes.

But he was filled with a knowing—the conviction of what his ‘calling’ might be.

Upon arriving home, after assuring his grandmother that he was, in fact, not injured in any way, Evan grabbed his laptop and began to research firefighting and the requirements thereof.

“Evan, will you be joining me for dinner?” Magdelina asked from the hall, startling Evan, and causing him to fall from his chair.

Evan blinked up at her and asked, “What time is it?”

Magdelina rolled her eyes. “It is five-thirty, Evan. It is time to begin dinner preparations. Where have you been?”

“Um, there was a fire today, next street over from the Academy.”

“I see,” Magdelina said patiently.

“I wasn’t in it, obviously.”

“Si, obviously.”

Evan blushed. “I mean, I saw the flames from across the alley, and I called 9-1-1.”

“This was a good thing to do, querido.”

“Yeah, and then I stuck around and watched.”

Magdelina leaned against the door frame and chuckled. “I will also admit to watching a minor disaster—but only once it was known that there was no tragedy.”

“Um, yeah, there were a lot of people there,” Evan admitted, rubbing his neck. “But we stayed out of the way, you know. Let them work.”

“This is also very good, Evan. Was the building saved?”

“I don’t think so,” Evan admitted. “The fire was bad, and there were apartments above the shop. But it was amazing! The firefighters, I mean. They didn’t just jump out of the truck and aim water at it, you know. They took their time and studied it, finding out the best way to attack.”

“It sounds as if there is a lot of training involved with fighting fires.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was looking up online just now. There is a training academy, and first-aid training, and search and rescue and fire science.”

“Evan!” Magdelina interrupted. “There was a point to this research, si?”

“Sorry, Lina, I just got carried away with it all.”

Magdelina gingerly sat on Evan’s bed, patting the mattress beside her. “Talk to me, mi estrella brillante.”

Evan sat next to her and folded his hands in his lap. “I know Maddie always wanted to be a nurse and take care of people, and Daniel always wanted to be a doctor. And I know they wanted those things because of all the time they spent in the hospital when Daniel was sick. But I do not have those memories, Lina. I love riding roller coasters with Daniel and Dad, but I would hate building them or working in a theme park.”

Magdelina wrinkled her nose. “I should say so.”

Evan laughed. “I’ve been getting a lot out of therapy, but I have no desire to become a therapist, and I was a great wrestler, but…”

Magdelina laughed and pulled him into a side-hug. “But wrestling and orienteering and hiking are all wonderful ways to spend free time, but they have no appeal as a career.”

“Yeah, that.” Evan blushed. “I enjoy competing in Aikido competitions, but as much as it’s a skill that I can carry through my life, it’s not a career. I mean, I could teach, but my heart isn’t in it. I started that whole deal as a way to protect myself in a non-violent way, and because my therapist said it would give me some control over my life.

“I can figure out math equations, and I can tutor, but I do not want to be a math teacher. Especially in a high school, because I have no patience for that now. I have studied hard for my SATs and I’m sure I scored well, but I had no idea what colleges I should apply to or what I want to study. I have no talent for art or music even though I have a great appreciation for it. I have no plan, really.”

“College is not for everyone, Evan,” she soothed. “And you may find that you do not want college for many, many years.”

“Like you?”

“Si,” she agreed. “I was a wife and mother incredibly young, and even then, there were few women in the workforce outside of wartime activities. My modeling career was an afterthought that amused my Daniel so very much, even if I made good money.”

Evan grinned slyly. “I seem to think you still make good money doing that, Lina.”

“Ah,” she said, brushing her knuckles against her lapel in a self-confident gesture, “when you’ve got it, as they say.”

“I just feel adrift, you know? I mean, even Geoff knows what he wants to study in college, and he’s sent in a lot of applications. Of course, I think he wants to be a social worker just to spite his old man.”

“I think he wants to become a social worker to help others like himself, Evan,” Magdelina chided. “Not every child has the kind of support system to survive the way Geoff has.”

“Yeah,” Evan agreed. “And I know not everyone has an awesome grandmother like you to be that support system.”

“Evan, you do not have to rush into college. You did not even need to take those placement tests at this moment if you did not want to. Enjoy your last year of high school. Enjoy your part-time job at the climbing gym and hang out with your friends. Plan for that silly prom at the end of the year that I know you want to attend, even though you pretend not to.”

Evan blushed and chuckled softly. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Maybe. When you graduate, I shall take you on your adventure, just as I did your siblings. And perhaps during that adventure, you shall find your calling.”

“And if I think I’ve found it now?”

“Then you shall prepare for that while you are enjoying the last year of high school. Now, dinner?”

Evan squinted at Magdelina and asked, “Can we go out for Chinese?”

Magdelina rolled her eyes and stood, pulling him from the bed. “If you insist, nino tonto.”

~~

“The Winter Formal is coming up.”

Evan rolled his eyes and stuffed his notebook into his backpack. “Yes, Geoff. I am aware, what with all the freaking flyers all over the place.”

Geoff laughed and bumped shoulders with Evan. “I’m thinking about asking Michael to come with me, since we didn’t go last year because he was sick.”

Evan frowned slightly. “While that sounds good and all, are you planning on going to a dance at his school at all?”

“Nah, they only do Prom and some silly Senior Class Play.”

Evan slapped his hand against his forehead. “Don’t remind me about that, okay? Mr. Heckman is getting on me about being part of our Senior Play.”

“It’s supposed to be a musical, based on popular vote,” Geoff said with a sneer.

Evan laughed and shook his head. “We do not have that many talented people in this entire school for that.”

“So you’re not going to audition?”

“No, I am gonna offer to build and paint sets. Mr. Heckman can’t say no to that.”

“Right you are, right you are.” Geoff paused at the door to his next class and said, “Are you coming to Hilary Edgar’s party this weekend?”

“I think so,” Evan replied. “Lina is going to be in Ocean City this weekend, so she said to try and have some fun.”

“Well, you can pick me up, then.”

“Okay. See ya after class.”

Evan’s last class of the day was Gym, which was nice for his Senior Year. Evan both loved and hated it, because it meant that he could shower at home, but he had to keep his homework in the locker room with his gym stuff.

As a Senior, Evan was able to design his own physical fitness program, and his choice this year was weight training, along with his activities at the Martial Arts Academy and the climbing gym, and was something that Evan actually enjoyed. He’d had two more growth spurts in the past two years, and he now stood taller than his father. His wrestling coach was thrilled. The weight training was helping him build muscle mass, which Master Eng said would be necessary if he did not want to turn into a useless noodle. Of course, after he said such a silly thing, Master Eng had increased his Tai Chi training so that Evan was more comfortable in his growing body. The year prior, Master Eng had even taken Evan’s interest in the Sasuke Challenge seriously and crafted an obstacle course in the roof garden area above the Martial Arts Academy so Evan could increase his agility and strength. Between the weight training, climbing the wall at the climbing gym, and the Tai Chi and obstacle course, Evan was now six-feet, two-inches tall, one-hundred-ninety-five pounds (mainly muscle), and very silent on his feet.

Geoff called him a hulking sneak.

Philip Buckley had laughed so hard he fell off his chair when he had heard that.

The weight room was just off the main gymnasium, and the cheerleaders were practicing their gymnastics while Evan and the other wrestlers in his class were lifting weights. Evan was spotting a teammate at the free bench when he heard a lilting, “Evvv-aaannn!” behind him.

Evan took the bar from his partner and placed it back onto the rack before turning to face the blonde behind him.

“Hello, Meggan. How are you today?”

“I’m all better now that I’ve seen you.”

“And why is that?” he asked with a frown.

Meggan actually twirled a curl of hair around her finger and Evan barely refrained from rolling his eyes. “Are you going to Hilary’s party?”

“I was thinking about it, why?”

“Say you’ll save me a dance.”

Evan scowled. “Is your boyfriend going to be there?”

Meggan bit her lip before running her tongue over the bruised skin. “Why? Does he bother you?”

Evan shook his head. “I do not know what kind of game you think you’re playing, but I don’t want any part of it. But I bet Andrew Greer would love to play it with you.”

“Haven’t you heard? Andy’s gone off to join the Navy,” Meggan said with a pout.

“Good for him.”

“He’s going to be a real hero.”

“Again,” Evan said, slightly irritated, “good for him. What is your point?”

Meggan reached out to run her hand over Evan’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I just wanted you to know that there’s no competition for you, now.”

Evan sighed. “Meggan, have I ever given you any indication that I was personally interested in you?”

“Things change, Evan,” Meggan snapped. “You’re a big boy now and there’s a lot of interest in you. I just want to get ahead of the crowd.”

“Whatever, Meggan. I need to go, so good talk.”

Evan headed into the locker room to retrieve his backpack and gym bag, glancing back just to make sure Meggan had not tried to follow him.

“Man, that chick is relentless,” Evan heard and turned to see a teammate, Marcus Biggs, standing next to the lockers.

“Pardon?”

“Meggan McCann, right? You’ve got the look of the chased, Buckley.”

“Yeah,” Evan agreed. “For the last three years! What is her deal?”

Marcus shrugged and pushed away from the lockers. “Aimee told me that Meggie got dumped around semester break last year.”

“Leather Jacket?”

Marcus laughed. “I think someone finally pointed out that Meggan was eight kinds of jailbait, and he did not need a statutory rape charge on top of everything else he might have going on. Aimee was outside the music store when the break-up went down, and Greer told Meggan that she was bad news and he needed to get a real life.”

“Ouch!” Evan exclaimed. “I mean, I’m not nice to her at all for fear of her hitting on me, but I’m not that harsh.”

“It was harsh,” Marcus agreed. “But then Meggan went away for the summer and got some sort of makeover or something. Not that you would notice.”

Evan shrugged. “Blondes aren’t really my thing.” Which was completely true.

Marcus nodded. “Yeah, Jill Thomas is a much better choice, but not as good as Aimee.”

Evan laughed. “Like I’d try to take Aimee’s attention away from you.”

“Wouldn’t work. Anyway, back to Meggan McCann.”

Evan sighed. “Must we?”

“We must,” Marcus said. “If only so you know what you’re dealing with. After the start of school this year, Meggan made a point to mega-flirt with Ben Holder, which you would not have noticed because you avoid Meggan at all costs. By Thanksgiving break, she had moved on to Greg Moser, and then she was trying to get with Dan Warren. Never stays with a guy very long, and I got curious about that, so I asked Aimee.”

Evan’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know Ben Holder, but I do know that Greg and Dan come from wealthy families.”

“Yup,” Marcus agreed, popping the ‘P’ loudly. “Ole Meggan has a type, it seems. Aimee said Meggan was trying to prove that she could do better than Andrew Greer, which isn’t much of a step, you know? And it seems like Meggan is trying to become a trophy wife early.”

Evan’s face twisted comically. “Is that even a thing? And seriously, anybody is better than Andrew Greer, right?”

“Well, his judgment was always questionable, seeing as he was not-dating a high school girl. Personally, I think Greer caught the attention of Al McCann and got warned off for his trouble.”

Evan shook his head and busied himself with his gym bag. “If it had been my dad and someone that much older had been after my sister when she was in high school, I think he’d have done more than warning a guy.”

Marcus chuckled darkly. “Al McCann owns a bunch of dry cleaners all over Philly, so the family is not broke. But Aimee said Meggan’s dad wants her to stand on her own after school.”

Evan blinked. “So he’s not going to pay for her to go to college?”

“Oh, I’m sure he would, if Meggan had a mind to go. Aimee said Meggan’s one goal has always been to be a housewife, like on TV.”

“Ah, so she’s trying to hook up with someone from a wealthy family so she can have an easy life. Got it.”

“Yeah, so word is out that you’re rich, or something.”

Evan again shook his head and shouldered his backpack. “I’m wealthy in common sense, Marcus. I am rich in family. I am not getting married right out of high school, and I’m not supporting a lazy woman.”

“Harsh, man,” Marcus said with a laugh. “Can I tell that to Aimee? I would love to see her pass that along to Meggan.”

Evan waved his hand behind him as he left the locker room. “Do what you want, man. I have got to find Geoff. And Jill, if she hasn’t left the building yet.”

Evan found Jill Thomas first, just inside the main hallway, so he sauntered to her side. “Hey, lady,” he called, catching her attention.

Jill smiled and flicked her long, black hair over her shoulder. “Hey, yourself. I heard from a little bird that Meggan McCann asked you to take her to Hilary’s party this weekend.”

Evan scowled. “She made comments, and she made assumptions. A big assumption she made was that I might be slightly interested in spending time with her outside the gym. I don’t even like to spend time with her inside the gym.”

Jill pouted slightly. “But you are going to Hilary’s party?”

“Eh, Geoff asked me to go, and my grandmother is out of town.”

“Better not let Meggan hear you say that, or she’ll mysteriously find her way into your bedroom.”

Evan shuddered. “Now there’s a thought that will give me nightmares. Anyway, I know you’ve got that family thing this weekend, but have you heard about the Winter Formal?”

Jill smiled again. “Yep, I have, and I am free to go, so sayeth my mother. She talked it over with my dad, and even though I’m supposed to go to his place that weekend, he said I could go to the dance, and we would do the custody thing the weekend after.”

Evan smiled. “That’s great. Um, do you have a dress yet?”

“Nope, but Dad said he’d take me shopping this weekend.”

“Great again. I don’t want to go matchy-matchy or anything like that, but I would like to get you some nice flowers.”

“That is really thoughtful, Evan. When are you getting the tickets?”

“Well, now that I know I have a gorgeous date, I will buy the tickets tomorrow. You don’t mind if we share a table with Geoff and his boyfriend, do you?”

“Nah, I like Geoff. He’s your funnier half.”

“Thanks for that. I know where I stand now.”

“You stand right by my side, Evan Buckley, which is where you belong.” Jill gave his cheek a peck before pulling back with a grimace. “You need a shower.”

“Yes, I do. Have a good weekend with your dad, okay?”

“I plan to,” Jill replied cheekily. “And behave at the party, okay.”

Evan saluted her jauntily. “I don’t plan to be stupid, unlike many of our friends.”

~~

There was loud music pounding through the open windows when Evan and

Geoff walked toward the house.

Evan rolled his eyes and shot Geoff an incredulous look. “How have the neighbors not called the cops?”

“I wanna know how they have windows open when there’s freaking snow on the ground!”

Evan watched shadows pass across the large front window. “Too many people inside making it hot?”

“Probably,” Geoff agreed. “Well, the point of no return, I suppose. I cannot believe we made it all the way to Senior Year before going to a high school party.”

Evan laughed easily. “I’m social enough without this stuff, jerk! So are we going in, or what?”

“We’re going in.”

Before Evan could step closer to the house, Geoff grabbed his arm.

“Evan, make a pact?”

“Okay? What kind of pact?”

Geoff took a deep breath. “Swear we won’t let each other drink more than a beer, if that, and don’t let anyone get either one of us alone.”

Evan frowned. “You worried about anyone in particular, Geoff?”

Geoff sighed. “I hear things, you know. You might be the social one, but I am the quiet one, and people talk around me without noticing. And some people have not really taken too kindly to my ejection from the closet, if you know what I mean.”

Evan eyed the crowded house in front of them. “We don’t have to go in, you know. If you’re worried. We can always go back to mine and watch questionable movies and make our own food.”

“Not…really worried,” Geoff said after a moment. “I trust Hilary enough to try and enjoy the party, and she is looking forward to seeing us. I would just rather be safe than sorry. So, pact?”

Evan offered his knuckles for a tap. “Pact. Let’s go beard the dragons.”

The music wasn’t exactly deafening, but it was much louder than Evan was comfortable with. He and Geoff shouted greetings to various friends as they made their way past the front hall. The Edgar house was laid out much like Evan’s own, so he pushed through the crowd to find the kitchen, certain he would find their host there.

He was right, and Hilary Edgar ran over to him and Geoff as soon as she saw them.

“Oh my god! You came!”

Geoff laughed and hugged her. “Of course we came! You threatened my manhood if I didn’t get Evan to a party before graduation!”

“Wait,” Evan laughed. “This was a plot?”

“Of course, it was, you freaking giant! How else was I supposed to prove that you aren’t a huge stick-in-the-mud.”

Evan leaned down and booped Hilary on the nose. “Don’t call me a giant, you freaking midget!” Hilary Edgar was only four-foot, ten-inches tall, but her personality was huge, and her heart was even larger, so she had many, many friends.

“And who needed that kind of proof?”

Hilary opened her arms and gestured widely. “Oh, everybody! Hey, do you want something to drink? My father graciously supplied beer that we are not supposed to know about, but I have a wide variety of soda and bottled water.”

“I’ll take a water, thanks,” Evan said even as Geoff asked for a diet soda.

“I don’t know how you can drink that crap, Geoff,” Hilary scoffed. “It tastes like the worst kind of chemicals!”

“I’m trying to cut down on my sugar intake, thank you very much.”

Evan opened the water and bounced the cap off Geoff’s nose. “Diet sodas are actually worse for you than regular, nerd.”

Geoff blinked, catching the water cap with one hand. “You spout facts like that at a party, and you call me nerd?”

Evan shrugged. “Sorry, not sorry.” He turned to Hilary again and said, “This is a pretty big crowd.”

“Yeah, I know. I may need enforcers to make sure the house does not get trashed. I do not even know a lot of these people.”

Geoff choked on his soda. “What? Where did they come from?”

Hilary shrugged. “Friends of friends? I recognized some from the Mathlete competition last week. Anyway, go forth, my buddies, and enjoy the party.”

Evan looked at Geoff and shrugged. “Shall we forth?”

Geoff nodded and kissed Hilary’s cheek. “We shall forth, my lady. But you might consider turning down the music before Philadelphia’s finest shows up and ruins your night.”

Hilary’s eyes widened in shock, and she took off for the front room, leaving Geoff and Evan staring after her.

“Like she couldn’t hear it herself?” Evan said, shaking his head.

Geoff laughed again. “I’m gonna head to the back porch for a minute; I see a friend of Michael’s out there.”

Evan waved him off and pushed his way into the dining room, where some sort of card game was being played. He watched for a few minutes before deciding that he could not figure out the rules and wandered into the living room.

And ran smack into Meggan McCann.

“Hey, big guy!” she simpered, reaching out to touch his chest.

Evan backed away as far as the crowd allowed. “Hey, Meggan. How are you?”

“I’m better now that I’ve seen you, Evan.”

Evan shook his head. “I don’t know how many ways to say it, Meggan, but I’m not interested.”

Meggan scowled in a mocking way. “Why? Is Geoff Ratner more your type?”

Evan quirked an eyebrow. “And if he was? What business is that of yours? Or can you just not believe that anybody is not interested in you?”

“I think you’re just in denial, Evan. Why fight it when we have such good chemistry?”

“Chemistry is the only thing we have in common, and once that class is finished—once high school is finished—I won’t even have to look back at you.”

Meggan blinked, and there might have been a tear in her eye, but Evan refused to feel guilty. “You’re a smart girl, Meggan. You’ve got the potential to be anything you want to be. I just do not understand why you can’t see it.”

Evan put up a hand when Meggan opened her mouth to speak, and he backed out of the living room. Back in the kitchen, Evan disposed of his empty water bottle and grabbed a Dr. Pepper from the cooler by the back door. Popping the tab, he took a deep swallow before looking out the back door to try to find Geoff.

“I think he went to the basement,” Hilary said from behind him. “There’s a pinball machine and dart board down there.”

Evan smiled his thanks and moved to the basement door.

“Hey, Evan?” Hilary called before he went down, so he turned to face her.

“Meggan isn’t a bad person, you know? And she was really happy to know you might be coming to my party because she wanted to spend some time with you.”

“Yeah, I know she’s probably not a bad person, Hilary. But she has made bad decisions in the past, and she keeps trying to drag me into her drama. I’ve been dating Jill for a while now, and we might not make it past graduation, but I really like her. I like her enough to not disrespect her by falling for Meggan’s crap.”

Hilary offered a sad smile. “I know. You are a good guy, you freaking giant.”

“I love you, too, Midge.” He grinned before descending into the basement.

He found Geoff easily enough and joined in the impromptu dart tournament. After a few turns, Evan said he was going up for another bottle of water and asked if Geoff wanted anything.

“Nah, there’s another cooler of soda over there,” Geoff said, gesturing toward the squishy sofa against the wall.

Evan waved him off and headed for the stairs. At the top, he met Meggan again. He huffed in annoyance, but she offered a shy smile.

“Peace offering?” she asked, holding out a bottle of water, so he squared his shoulders and nodded once.

“Can we talk, Evan? Please? I owe you an apology.”

Evan took the offered water and said, “Yeah, fine.”

Meggan led the way to what would have been the study in his own house but was a cozy sitting room here. Pulling the door closed behind then, she perched on a flower-patterned sofa and patted the cushion next to her. Evan sat stiffly next to her and twisted the top off his bottle. It came off easily, but he did not think much of it, and he took a sip of the icy liquid.

“You wanted to talk, Meggan, so talk.”

Meggan sighed. “My dad always called me his pretty princess, ever since I could remember.”

“Sounds a little sexist, but okay.”

Meggan laughed harshly. “Sexist, right. Dad is a real macho man sometimes, but he’s soft around my mother and me. I have a younger brother, did you know? Anyway, daddy always said my brother would inherit his business when he got older. I, however, would inherit nothing. Because girls do not inherit in the McCann family.”

“Sounds like bullshit to me,” Evan said. “I think my mother might have heard crap like that when she was growing up, but I know my father never did.”

“I was given everything I ever wanted,” Meggan said as if she hadn’t heard him. “Pretty dresses and impractical shoes, dance lessons, spa days with my mother. My mother said that my best bet would be to marry well and have kids early, so I would be settled for the future, so she taught me everything I needed to get a guy.”

“Again, sounds like bullshit to me,” Evan said, taking another sip of the water. It tasted funny to him, a bit like salt, so he held up the bottle and saw that it was electrolyte water. He shrugged and took another sip before capping the bottle.

“Look, Meggan, I get that you were given a shitty world view, but from what I can tell, you never tried to change your circumstances. You’re going to be graduating in the Spring and you have not even planned for life after that. And spending all that time with Andrew Greer did not do you any favors because that guy was too old for you and was nothing but bad news.”

Meggan laughed again. “Funny about that because he always thought I was older until last year. I never met him around school, so it was easy to convince him that I was eighteen and new to town. I’ve always looked older, you know.”

“Make-up and a hairstyle, right?”

Meggan nodded. “It helped that I was what my mother called an early bloomer, so I had all the right curves. We spent time together a lot, me and Andrew, but he never took me places. He wasn’t working regularly, so he did not have the money for dates, but I think I could have convinced my father that I was with girlfriends. He never asked me where I went after school, anyway.”

“Uh-huh. What is your point here, Meggan?”

“I guess my point is that someone told Andrew about me last year. One of his friends or someone told him that I was only fifteen when he started talking to me, and he went to my father.” Meggan rubbed her eyes and sighed. “Andrew told me I was bad news for him, and he was getting as far away from me as he could, so he enlisted in the Navy. My father was pissed! I have never seen him so mad, Evan! I thought he was gonna throw me into a convent, he was so mad, and we’re not even Catholic!

“But he did send me away, Evan. All last summer, I was at this camp for troubled kids, because my father said I needed to get my head on straight. He called me a little tramp and said I would need to get my head on straight before the big, bad world ate me alive.”

“Wow, Meggan,” Evan whispered. “If you’re trying to get me to feel sorry for you, you’re doing a good job.”

“I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, Evan. I just want—hell, I don’t know what I want. I want a good guy to want me, I guess.”

“A good guy will want you, Meggan, but I am not that guy,” Evan said slowly. “I’m still figuring out my own life, so you sure as hell don’t want someone like me to try to figure out yours.”

Instead of responding to the comment, Meggan climbed onto Evan’s lap and cupped his shoulder with one hand, using the other to pull at the hem of his shirt. “You should drink your water, Evan. It’s hot as hell in here.”

Shocked at her boldness, Evan couldn’t move. He licked his lips, tasting the saltiness of the sport-water, and took another small drink before trying to push Meggan away from him. Meggan, instead, leaned forward and kissed Evan’s jaw.

“Aren’t you hot, Evan?” she whispered, slipping her hand across his tight belly. “I think we should get more comfortable. Drink up, Evan.”

Evan felt her fingers pull at the button to his jeans and pushed her away firmly, keeping a tight hold of his water bottle. “I gotta hit the john,” he said, carefully standing. The room shifted under his feet, but he tried not to show it.

“I can take you,” Meggan offered, reaching for him. “I know where it is.”

“I can find it, thanks,” Evan declined, and he heard his words slur. He looked at the water bottle again, noting that he’d not even drunk half of it. He tightened his hold on the bottle and slowly walked to the hall.

It was only pure luck that Geoff was just coming up from the basement on his way to the bathroom at the same time, so Evan grabbed his arm.

“You have to get me out of here now, Geoff,” Evan slurred. “I think I need help.”

“Are you okay, pal?” Geoff asked, taking in his disheveled friend–shirt untucked and jeans opened at the waist.

Evan shook his head slowly. “No, I’m not okay, and we need to leave now.”

“Okay, okay, should I call a taxi?”

“Not from the house, Geoff,” Evan insisted, voice tremulous and slurring. “We need to leave. Now. Pact, Geoff!”

The entire house was beginning to spin, and Evan doubted his ability to remain standing for very long, but he knew that he needed to be away from the house.

Geoff, finally understanding the gravity of the situation, grabbed Evan’s arm and began guiding him toward the front door, making sure he had their wallets and cell phones but leaving their coats behind. The bracing cold outside did nothing to rouse Evan’s senses and he grasped helplessly at Geoff’s arm.

“Okay, we’re away from the house, Evan, so I’m gonna call for a taxi. It is too fucking cold to walk to the nearest bus station.”

“Okeee, Eff. Gotta hurry.”

Geoff shook his head and called quickly for a ride to come pick them up, but Evan was too woozy to understand much. Time was passing, he knew that much, and he clenched his hand around the water bottle, making certain that he still had it.

Evan and Geoff were both shivering when the black and yellow taxi pulled up and Geoff shoved Evan into the back seat. Geoff directed the driver to take them to the local Emergency Room and Evan sat back onto the warm upholstered seat and tried to stay awake.

“Hey, Evan, wake up. We’re here.”

“I’m ‘wake,” Evan slurred, and the driver blinked at him.

“Hey, kid, your friend don’t look so good.”

“Yeah, I know,” Geoff said worriedly. “Keep the change, and thanks for being quick.”

“You need help with him? He’s a big guy.”

Geoff laughed. “Yeah, he’s a freaking giant all right, but I got it, thanks.”

Geoff dragged Evan out of the taxi and through the glass doors to the Emergency Room. A helpful security officer helped Geoff maneuver Evan through the doors and into a waiting wheelchair, which Geoff pushed to the reception desk..

“I need help,” Evan slurred. He lifted the hand holding the water bottle and wiggled it around before dropping his hand. “I think I was drugged. I need to be checked.”

“Wait, what?” Geoff asked.

“Are you serious, kid?” the officer asked as he reached for the desk phone, bypassing the nurse at reception.

“Somethin’s snot riiiiite,” Evan insisted, eyes drooping

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna call his father,” Geoff said. “Evan doesn’t get like this, ever.”

The next few moments, minutes, hours, all flew by. Evan answered questions as best he could while trying to stay aware. The security guard called the police to the hospital, citing a minor in some sort of distress even as a doctor wheeled Evan to an examination area. On the phone, Philip Buckley promised to drive from Hershey as soon as possible, agreeing to speak to an officer at the hospital that Evan had been taken to.

When the police arrived, Geoff answered some tough questions about the party, obviously not wanting to get Hilary or her parents in any trouble, but he could at least honestly state that neither he nor Evan had been drinking anything alcoholic.

“Ev’s a health nut, officer, honest. I think he had one soda that I saw, but he usually sticks to water or tea. Hot, I mean, not that bottled stuff.”

“Okay, so where did he get drugged?”

“I don’t know, sir. I was on my way to the bathroom when Evan saw me and insisted that we leave right that minute. I even left our coats behind because he said he needed to be out of that house, so I think he realized someone had drugged his drink.”

The doctor on call responded, “Yeah, we sent that bottle to the lab. It was smart of him to keep it.”

Geoff nodded. “Yeah, he is very smart. He wouldn’t take a bottle from someone he did not trust.”

The officer nodded, making notes on a pad. “Right, well did you get hold of your parent or guardian?”

“Um, yeah, my grandmother is coming to take me home,” Geoff said, “but I’ll probably ask if I can stay here so I can sit with Evan. Evan lives with his grandmother, who is out of town this weekend, but his father is on his way from Hershey.”

“Okay. If we have any more questions for you, they can wait until you are with your guardian.”

Geoff nodded. “It shouldn’t be long, officer. Gran sounded pretty indignant on the phone, so she’ll be here soon.”

 

Evan woke up nauseous and with the headache from hell. He whimpered from the pain.

He also noticed that he was not in his own bed at home. The whimpering increased in his confusion.

“Ah, hell, kid, what have you gotten into?”

“Dad?” Evan whispered. “What happened? Why are you here?”

“I’m here,” Philip said with a sigh, “because your best friend called and said you’d been roofied at a party.”

“Roofied? What?” Evan’s eyes widened in shock and recognition. “I swear, Dad, I only drank water. Except for one soda, I swear.”

Philip laughed sadly despite the dire situation. “I believe you. The hospital lab tested the water bottle you had with you, and it was liberally dosed with a drug. You only drank less than half, so you can consider yourself lucky.”

Evan rubbed his temples softly with both hands. “I don’t remember…a lot, really. I remember going to the party and talking with Hilary and a few guys I knew. Playing darts, I think.”

“That’s not surprising, Mr. Buckley,” said the doctor as he entered the room, followed by a police officer. “There is usually memory loss when Rohypnol or other so-called Date Rape drugs are used. Considering your size and the small amount of drugged water you drank, a heavy-duty dose was administered. Now, I am going to give you a follow-up examination, and then this fine officer needs to ask you some questions now that your father is with you.”

“Okay,” Evan said hesitantly, noticing a police officer had entered with the doctor, “but I really don’t remember much.”

The exam was another form of torture as a penlight was used on his eyes, causing his headache to worsen. Fortunately, his nausea was fading.

Once the doctor left the room, the police officer stepped forward with a nod to Philip and said, “I understand you have some memory loss, Mr. Buckley, but I have a few questions that you might be able to answer for me.”

“Okay, I’ll try.”

“Good.” The officer flipped open a notepad and read a bit before asking, “What time did you arrive at the party, Mr. Buckley?”

Evan thought for a moment. “Um, I think Geoff and I got there around eight-thirty? We got take-out pizza beforehand because it was a teen party, so we knew there probably would not be food there. We took the bus because I wasn’t going to try and park my SUV there with all the other cars that would be there.”

The officer nodded, making notes. “And did you have any altercations while at the party?”

Evan’s brow furrowed as he thought about the night, though his memory was fuzzy. “Um, I do not think so. I mean, I get along with most people, you know? I am a big guy and I’m on the wrestling team, so I try hard to not make petty enemies.”

The officer and his father laughed, making Evan blush, but then the officer asked, “So you didn’t have any arguments?”

Evan’s head tilted as he tried hard to remember. “There is this girl from school, Meggan McCann. She has been trying to flirt with me since freshman year.” Evan shook his head. “She’s one of those pretty girls that usually get everything they want, you know? And sometimes her flirting came across as sort of mean, like she was doing a favor by paying attention or something. I have been telling her since I was fifteen that I just wasn’t interested.”

The officer smirked. “Usually girls like that don’t take no for an answer.”

Evan snorted. “Meggan really didn’t. But she had a sort-of boyfriend, this older guy that looked like he belonged in a 1950s teen-gang movie, so I just avoided her when I could. But she was at the party, and she tried flirting again, so I shut her down kinda harshly. I mean, I’m seeing someone, and my girlfriend was not at the party, so I wasn’t going to disrespect her by flirting back.”

The officer nodded. “That’s understandable. So you shut her down and then what?”

“Um, I think I went to get a soda, and then I went to find Geoff, who was playing darts in the basement. We played for a while, and then I went to get another drink upstairs since the cooler in the basement only had sodas.”

“Not a big soda drinker?”

Evan shook his head. “Not really. Sometimes I’ll have one, but I actually prefer tea.”

Philip snorted. “He gets that from my mother,” he explained when the officer turned to him. “My mother is from Spain and is very European, so she drinks tea, sometimes coffee, and really snobbish wine.”

“Ah, okay.” The officer turned his attention back to Evan. “So you got another bottle of water?”

Evan frowned. “I think so? No, I was handed a bottle of water.”

“You were handed a bottle of water?”

“Yeah, I remember Meggan was in the hallway, and she asked to talk to me, to apologize. And she handed me a bottle of water. We ended up in an empty sitting room and she started telling me about herself. I drank some of the water, but it tasted kind of funny. It was this fitness water stuff, so it was a bit salty. I’ve had it before and it’s not my favorite thing, but this one tasted…off.

“I know Meggan closed the door to the sitting room so nobody could interrupt her, but I don’t remember much after she started talking. I know it sounds bad, but her life really is not that interesting.”

The officer smirked again while making notes, then he closed his notepad and tucked it into a pocket. “Okay, that tracks with what we got from your friend, Geoff Ratner, and the hostess, Hilary Edgar.”

“Officer,” Philip asked, “can you tell me what happened to my son?”

The officer hesitated. “I can’t say much, Mr. Buckley. There was a lot of ‘he said/she said’ when the kids were questioned last night, and officers are still questioning party goers today. Your son, however, is not in any trouble, and we are treating this as an attempted assault.”

The officer left and Philip crossed the room to sit on the edge of Evan’s bed. “Mother is out of her mind right now, Evan, but she can’t get away until tomorrow.”

Evan shrugged helplessly. “I don’t mean to make her worry, Dad. Lina needed to be at that business meeting, so just call her and tell her to stay until Monday night like she planned.”

Philip snorted. “You actually think she’s going to listen to me?”

Evan sighed. “It’s worth a shot, right? So, when can I go home?”

Philip got up and retrieved a duffle from under the chair he had been sitting on. “We were just waiting for the police to show up, so you’re good to go now. I have a change of clothes for you.”

Philip handed Evan the duffle before turning to the door to give him some privacy. Opening the door, Philip turned and said, “You did good, kid. Geoff said you kept that bottle with you until you got here, so they did have the proof they needed to charge someone with assault.”

Evan nodded and took a shaky breath. “I just wish I could remember…”

“I think it’s better that you don’t, Evan. Not now, at least.”

~~

The Winter Formal, officially called the Snow Ball, was actually fun.

Evan had never been one to dress up, but he had enjoyed shopping for his new suit with his grandmother. Turns out, having a fashion model for a relative brings lots of experience for making him look good.

Even Geoff gave him second and third looks, making Evan blush and Jill laugh.

And Jill looked fabulous in a flowing tea-length dress in ice-blue satin. Like many of the other girls, she carried a faux-fur muff, so the ‘corsage’ Evan chose was pinned to that rather than worn on a wrist band. Lina had convinced him to get silk flowers so that Jill could have it as a keepsake of her first formal.

Evan was having a fun time, laughing and dancing with Jill and his other friends. He even traded partners with Geoff for several slow dances, dancing with both Geoff and Michael while the two boys both danced with Jill. Their table was clearly having a fun time, and many classmates dropped by to chat, joke, and dance. Evan had even made liberal use of the digital camera Lina had provided, so many photos were taken to be later posted on MySpace.

Noticeably absent from the entire scene was Meggan McCann. Evan hadn’t seen her much around school since the night of the ill-fated party, but he had figured that she was making herself scarce since he’d ended up in the hospital. Hilary Edgar had shown up at Evan’s house two days later to apologize for what happened to him, and to return his coat, but Evan hadn’t blamed her. He did use the occasion to try to find out what happened that he couldn’t remember, but Hilary didn’t really have any information. She did say that Meggan left the house quietly shortly after Evan did, and Hilary only noticed because she was watching the door after Evan was carried out.

The party had been the first time anyone had seen Evan really out of sorts, so there were people watching for him. Hilary said people just figured he’d gotten food poisoning or something because of how he was holding onto Geoff, and nobody thought anything bad until the police showed up. When Evan tried to apologize for that, Hilary waved him off.

“Are you kidding?” she said incredulously. “The cops showing up made my little house party the talk of the school! The only thing that really saved me was the fact that my folks showed up about fifteen minutes after you left, and my dad removed the beer from the house. Nobody drank any of it, anyway, because I don’t have stupid friends, so he wasn’t mad about it. They only came home because one of the neighbors called him about the noise.”

Evan had laughed weakly and said, “I told you about that.”

“Yes, you did,” Hilary replied. “And I’m glad nothing bad happened to you because of my stupid party.”

So, while the Snow Ball was the Big Event of the school, until Prom later in the Spring, Meggan McCann was not present to show off a pretty dress or handsome date. Evan heard whisperings about her when he went to get drinks for his table, but he never paid attention to rumors. The only thing that really made him smile was when he heard a few girls commenting on Jill’s dress–and how she was easily the prettiest girl at the dance. When Evan delivered the drinks, he happily spread the word to his blushing date.

They made promises to do it all again for Prom, provided Geoff and Michael were still together. Evan had a feeling they would be.

 

Christmas break brought a much-needed escape from classwork. Evan had buckled down and took his SATs and ACTs in the fall, so he was waiting to receive those results. Unlike his classmates who took the tests in Junior Year, Evan wasn’t sure if he would be taking a gap-year after graduation before starting college, so he made sure the SAT delay would not hurt him in that regard. College applications could happen in the Spring, once his test results came in, so he tried not to stress about it.

Evan would be spending the week of Christmas with his father and mother because Lina needed to be in Peru, and he was nervous about spending that much time around his mother. Philip had assured him that everything would be fine. Evan was going to hold him to that promise.

The house in Hershey was decorated festively, just like every other house on the street. There were faux holly garlands wrapped around the light post in the front yard and the railings on the porch steps. Strings of icicle lights hung from the gutters. There was a huge evergreen wreath on the front door. The sight made Evan feel cozy and warm despite his trepidation.

Evan quickly paid the taxi driver and grabbed his suitcase, heading to the porch. Philip had opened the door before Evan had reached it, opening his arms to his son with a huge smile.

“Welcome home, son!”

Evan sank into the hug. “Thanks, Dad. How are things?”

Philip pulled back and picked up the suitcase, leading Evan into the house. “It’s pretty quiet right now. Your mother has gone to try and get Maddie to go shopping with her. Daniel called this morning, and he won’t be able to visit until the twenty-eighth, so you might want to hang around for that. Mother is flying back on the thirtieth, right?”

Evan shook his head. “I think the cousins have convinced her to stay for New Year’s, so I don’t expect to see her until the second.”

Philip looked at his son in shock. “You weren’t going to be alone all that time, were you?”

Evan laughed. “The Ratner Duo have declared I am to spend New Year’s with them, so I’ll be helping Geoff babysit his grandma and her buddies.”

“You could always stay here,” Philip suggested hesitantly.

Evan pondered that as he followed his father up the stairs. “Let’s see how the first holiday goes before deciding anything. Geoff won’t be disappointed either way. He’s learning to play canasta.”

“Is he still dating that Michael fellow?”

Evan laughed. “Yeah, they are going strong. I think they might actually be THE high school couple that stays together forever.”

Philip chuckled along with his son. “It may help that they’re not in the same school, so they don’t see each other every day.”

“You might be right,” Evan conceded. “College may be their breaking point, but I really hope not. I need to have faith in really good relationships.”

Philip set the suitcase on the full-size bed in what used to be Evan’s room, and Evan looked around. It had been redecorated since the last time he was here. Evan and Magdelina purposely stayed in a hotel every time they came for visits, but overnight visits were rare. The twin bed had been replaced, obviously, and the full-sized bed was not only wider, it was longer, which Evan appreciated. His bulk would not have fit otherwise. The walls were now beige when Evan remembered pale blue from his childhood. There were gold curtains on the two windows and mass-produced artwork in frames on the walls.

It was very generic, but Evan could deal with it for a week. He had brought his I-pod with him, and Lina had given him a Kindle as an early Christmas gift, so he had entertainment for his stay, and he didn’t have to contain himself to the room the whole time.

He hoped.

“Are you planning to attend Daniel’s official graduation party?”

Evan started, lost in thought. “Um, yeah. Lina’s thrilled, of course. She keeps bragging about her grandson, the doctor.”

Philip grinned. “I must admit to being quite proud, myself. Of course, I am proud of all my kids, no matter what they do.”

Evan bumped shoulders with his father. “Yeah, but a doctor is really something.”

Evan and Philip spent the afternoon watching holiday specials on television and chatting. When the sun had set, Evan proposed making dinner, not knowing when his mother would be returning, and Philip told him to go ahead and raid the pantry while he tried to call Margaret.

Evan was boiling water for pasta when Philip came into the kitchen wearing a frown.

“What’s up, Dad?”

Philip frowned at his phone before slipping it into his sweater pocket. “Your mother didn’t answer when I called, and Maddie isn’t answering, either.”

“Maybe they went to a movie? No phones in the theaters.”

Philip shook his head. “Your mother hasn’t willingly gone to a movie theater since…Honestly, I think she only went when we were dating because she wanted to please me.”

“Okay, wow. I did not need to know that about your dating life.”

Philip sighed. “I think I’m going to drive around and see if Margaret is at Maddie’s house. Are you okay by yourself for a bit?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I’ll hold off dinner for a while or make a sandwich if you’re not home soon.”

“I’ll call if I’m going to be late.”

Evan watched his father leave and an unsettled feeling filled his stomach. He would not feel much like eating until he knew what was going on, so he settled on the sofa with his Kindle and began reading King Lear for his Senior Literature essay.

He was just getting a glass of water in the kitchen when his personal cell phone rang, but it was just Geoff calling to make sure he had arrived without incident. They chatted for a while and then Evan retrieved his glass of water and returned to the sofa and Shakespeare.

His phone rang again just as Lear came onstage with Cordelia’s body, and Evan fumbled for his phone.

“Hello?”

“Evan, I’ve found your mother. She’s in the hospital with Maddie.”

“What? Dad! What happened?”

“I don’t want to get into it on the phone, Evan, but I’ll be home soon. Your mother is okay, so don’t worry about that.”

“Yeah, okay,” Evan said numbly. “What about Maddie?”

Philip sighed. “I’ll be home soon, and we’ll talk then.”

Evan heard the call disconnect and he lowered his own cell phone, dropping it on the sofa beside him. His mother was fine, but Maddie maybe wasn’t. That was the only thing running through his mind, over and over again.

After a few minutes, and with no idea what hospital Maddie was in or when his parents would be home, Evan shot off a quick text to Daniel, asking his brother to call when he could. Hopefully by the time he did, Evan or Philip would have some actual news to tell him.

Evan finally decided to make dinner. He wasn’t particularly hungry, and he doubted his parents would be, either, but that would be one less thing to think about, and pasta could reheat well. He had just added the dry spaghetti to the big pot when he heard the garage door open, and he turned to face the door just off the kitchen.

Evan’s mother entered first, barely glancing at Evan, and dropping her coat on the back of a kitchen chair before moving to the well-stocked wine rack. Evan blinked at her owlishly before his father came in from the garage.

Evan opened his mouth, but snapped it shut when Philip shot him a look. Philip ignored Margaret, who was opening a bottle of Merlot, and he picked up her discarded coat and carried it to the hall closet. Evan glanced at his mother before following his father.

“What happened?” Evan whispered, and Philip motioned for Evan to follow him into the office opposite the living room.

Philip shut the door and sighed. “Maddie is in the intensive care unit at the regional medical center.”

Evan gasped. “What? What happened? Was it a car accident?”

Philip shook his head. “We haven’t seen much of your sister, despite the fact that she lives on the other side of town. Maddie called once a week but had been calling off family dinners more often than she accepted. The odd holidays were the only times we could get her here for any length of time.”

Evan nodded and perched on the edge of Philip’s desk. “Yeah, I barely get a text from her since Thanksgiving before last, and Lina just get’s that look on her face when Maddie is mentioned.”

Philip ran a hand over his face. “I’m familiar with that look. Anyway, Margaret had mentioned going shopping with Maddie before Christmas as a mother/daughter day, but Maddie kept putting her off. She said it was work related, and we let that slide because ER nurses have got to be busy, right?”

“Yeah?” Evan tried to be supportive of a sister he barely saw.

“Well, today Margaret called the hospital, explaining that she was Maddie’s mother and wanted to drop something off, so she would like to know when Maddie would be in, and Maddie’s Charge Nurse said Maddie was not coming in today.”

“Very sneaky of Mom,” Evan appreciated.

Philip’s mouth pressed together tightly. “It really should not have come to that, but ultimately, I’m glad it did. Margaret took a taxi to Maddie’s house just before you arrived. Doug wasn’t home, so Margaret knocked on the front door. Then the back door when Maddie did not answer. She looked through every window she could reach before she saw Maddie at the foot of the stairs, prone and unconscious.”

“Oh, god,” Evan swore.

“Margaret called the police because there was no hidden key anywhere that she could find, and then she waited until the police and an ambulance showed up and the police broke in the front door. They had all thought Maddie had fallen, and I think Margaret might have had a flashback to when you went down the stairs because the officer I spoke to said she just shut off.

“The paramedics thought she went into shock, so she was bundled into the ambulance along with Maddie.”

“But Maddie is okay, right?”

Philip shook his head. “She was as thoroughly examined as she could be while unconscious, and it appeared that she had been beaten badly. More than once. We were only told because we are her parents because technically Doug would have been the only legal contact with the doctors.”

Philip obviously was not saying something, but Evan was a smart guy and could put two and two together.

“Was Doug the one who beat Maddie?’

Philip sighed again, obviously in pain. “The police think so, but Maddie hasn’t woken up to tell for certain. When we were leaving the hospital, there was a warrant out for Doug’s arrest. Maddie is at the Medical Center in the town center, not the hospital she and Doug are employed at, so it is possible that Doug does not know Maddie has been found.”

“Who made the decision to keep her away from Doug, Dad?” Evan asked. “Will Maddie get proper care there?”

Philip offered a wan smile. “She is in fine hands, Evan. And Margaret and I made that decision for her care, just in case.”

“Can I see her?”

“You will be able to see her once she wakes,” Philip assured, “and after the police talk to her. From what the doctor told me, it looks like there has been ongoing abuse that was indicated from Maddie’s X Rays, so I really hope she does not try to hide this from the police.”

Evan nodded. “I texted Daniel to call when he had a chance, but he has not called yet. Which is good because we do not really have anything to tell him yet.”

Philip rubbed both hands down his face and squared his shoulders. “Well, maybe we should try to get some food before your mother opens a second bottle.”

Evan sighed heavily. “Yeah. When did the drinking start, really?”

“Oh, I’m not sure, Evan. Probably around the time Daniel decided to change his concentration to Orthopedic Surgery. Margaret liked the idea of Daniel working with cancer patients.”

“At least it wasn’t me this time.”

“Evan,” Philip said, grasping Evan’s arm to prevent him from leaving the room. “I need you to know that nothing going on with your mother, past or present, is your fault. I never blamed you and your siblings don’t blame you. The truth is, my mother once told me that your mother had limited capability for love. Margaret loves me with all her heart, and so when I suggest therapy, she goes. She loved caring for Maddie, adoring her little princess of a girl, but she thought she was required to give me a son.”

“So, what?” Evan asked with growing ire. “Two was her limit?”

“I know how it sounds, Evan, believe me.” Philip sighed. “Given the lengths Margaret went through to give birth to you, I would have thought you were wanted and loved desperately. Instead, Margaret turned all that love back onto Daniel. Even Maddie was overlooked once the Leukemia was gone, but you might not remember that.”

“Not really, no,” Evan said with a frown. “I have wonderful memories of Daniel reading to me and playing with me, and of you trying to teach me to throw a ball. I think Maddie used to put my hair in ribbons and put make-up on me when I was small?”

Philip chuckled softly and wrapped an arm around his son’s shoulders. “I remember that. Maddie doted on you as much as Daniel did, and I, foolishly, thought the three of us could make up for the lack of love from your mother.”

Evan allowed himself a moment of regret for the child he had been. Hugging his father, he said, “I know, Dad. And you did great, really. My therapist says I’m doing well.”

“That’s good,” Philip said. “Let’s go feed your mother.”

~~

“I should have been told immediately, Philip!”

Evan sat back on the sofa with Daniel and watched his grandmother rail at his father. He briefly contemplated making popcorn.

“Mother, there was nothing you could do that you hadn’t already done,” Philp tried calmly from his armchair. “And Maddie will be coming back here when she’s discharged from the hospital.”

“And what of Douglas?” Magdelina asked harshly, her voice rough with an anger Evan had never heard before.

“He’s been released on bail,” Philip confessed, “but the hospital that employed him has fired him and there is a restraining order against him to protect Maddie.”

“No es suficiente, Philip! Not by a long shot!” Magdelina began pacing furiously around the lounge, gesturing wildly with her hands.

Evan turned to Daniel and murmured, “Maybe we should set Lina on Doug?”

“Not a chance,” Daniel replied softly. “I want him to survive to see the trial.”

“How bad are Maddie’s injuries, Philip?” Magdelina asked calmly after a moment. “What will she be dealing with?”

Philip drooped forward in his favorite armchair and propped his elbows on his knees. “She has four broken ribs and a horrendous bruise all along her left flank. The doctor is monitoring that because he fears a clot in the area. Her face is broken, likely from being stomped on, and the fingers of her right hand are all broken.”

“Ay, Dios!” Magdelina exclaimed, dropping her head into her hands. She started to waver, so Evan and Daniel pulled her back onto the sofa between them so they could hold her. “She needs a private facility, Philip. We shall send her somewhere safe.”

“As much as I would love to do that, Mother, Maddie can’t leave the country right now. We’re waiting on a trial date, but I’m confident that Maddie will be safe here with us.”

“Actually, if Doug wants to find her, this is the first place he’ll look,” Daniel pointed out. “And he’s not allowed to leave the area because of the charges against him.”

“Has he been keeping Maddie from us all?” Evan asked. “Is he the reason Maddie’s barely been in contact even though she’s been close to us?”

“Maybe,” Philip acquiesced. “When the police were questioning her after Christmas, she seemed to be so ashamed, so that may be part of it as well.”

“Domestic violence is a horrible thing,” Daniel allowed. “I see it all the time at the hospital when I’m on call in the ER. The abuser can convince their victim that everything is all their fault, so they feel shame for being a ‘bad partner.’ It’s even worse when the abuser is a woman because people don’t normally believe that a man can be the victim in that situation.”

Evan shuddered. “I have no problems believing it.”

“We shall talk to the prosecutor,” Magdelina said decisively. “We will make them see the good sense in allowing Maddie to go to safety. If necessary, we shall send Margaret with her, and they can both be taken care of.”

Philip stared at his mother. “That…might be a good idea. But we can’t send them to South America because Margaret never did learn Spanish.”

“Bah!” Magdelina waved her hand at him. “Rubio Resorts has a lovely spa in Switzerland and the staff all speak English, French, and Italian beyond the National Language of the region. Margaret will not feel out of place and Maddie will be safe and cared for.”

“I’ll call tomorrow,” Philip promised. “You need rest, Mother. Please stay here instead of the hotel.”

“Fine, si, I will stay. Daniel will carry my small bag to the guest room and Evan will make some soothing tea.”

Taking the hint, Evan and Daniel immediately went to their tasks. The telephone rang, so Evan answered because he was closer to the phone on the kitchen wall.

“Buckley residence, who is calling?”

Evan paled as the caller identified himself and he lowered the handset. “Dad, it’s someone from the District Attorney’s Office. He sounds…intense.”

Evan handed the handset to his father and rejoined Magdelina on the sofa. Daniel poked his head around the corner and asked, “What’s going on?”

“We are not eavesdropping, Daniel,” Magdelina chided. “Come here and wait for your father.”

Daniel did as he was told and perched on the arm of the sofa. The trio watched as Philip’s posture changed from stiff and cautious to slumped relief, and Magdelina rose to confront her son when he hung up the phone.

Philip held out his hand for his mother before turning to his sons. “We need to get to the hospital to join Maddie. The District Attorney has an update for us and more questions for Maddie, but he said she’s not in any danger.”

“This is good, si?”

“I hope so, Mother. Let’s get our coats and go.”

The drive to the Medical Center was quick and silent. Evan, worried about his sister, was glad the traffic lights were on their side that evening. Once Philip parked the car, the Buckleys pooled out, heading for the entrance.

Maddie’s private room was on the second floor, and there was still a police officer posted just outside her door—a safety measure since Doug Kendall was released on bail. The District Attorney held a strong line against domestic abuse, and he didn’t want to put Maddie Kendall at risk while she was beginning to heal.

Philip and Daniel showed their IDs to the officer and Philip explained who Evan and Magdelina were before he opened the door to the room. Evan had heard about Maddie’s injuries, but he hadn’t been to visit her in the hospital because Maddie hadn’t wanted him to see her like that. He’d sent her Christmas gift with his father, and he’d lit a candle for her at Christmas Mass.

Evan thought he was prepared.

He was not.

Maddie, sweet, vibrant Maddie with an infectious smile and lilting laugh—was not in that hospital bed.

The Maddie in the bed was small, sunken, and bruised. Her face was swollen and bandaged and colored like a used paint pallet. She was propped into a semi-reclining position and one arm was suspended in traction with a heavy cast wrapped around it. She was pale and her hair was lank and colorless, ashy.

Evan choked back a sob at the sight, and Daniel wrapped his arm around Evan’s shoulders.

“She’s going to be okay, Evan,” Daniel whispered.

“I really don’t see how,” Evan whispered back. “She looks so…broken.”

“She will have the best of care,” Magdelina declared in a low tone. “I will find a mental therapist and a physical therapist that will work together.”

Just then, Margaret entered the room carrying two cups of tea from the cafeteria.

“What are you all doing here?” she asked. “I thought visitors were being limited for her safety.”

“The DA’s office called the house and asked us to be here.” Philip explained. “Someone is coming with more questions and an update. I hope it’s good news because he did mention that Maddie was not in any danger.”

Margaret sighed. “I hope so. She’s suffered so much.”

“Has she said anything else about the attack?”

Margaret shook her head and sipped her tea, setting the other cup on the table by the bed. “She sleeps most of the time, which is what her body needs for healing. When she’s awake, she cries.”

Margaret turned to her sons with a wan smile. “Thank you for sending the Christmas gifts here. They did cheer her up a bit.”

There was a knock at the door, and then a doctor entered, followed by a man in a suit and another uniformed officer.

“I’ll just do a quick check to make sure Mrs. Kendall is able to answer your questions, gentlemen,” the doctor told his shadows. “If she shows signs of distress, I will have to ask you to leave.”

“I understand,” answered the man in the suit before he turned his attention to Philip.

“Mr. Buckley? I’m Stan Kocheck from the DA’s office. I called you earlier?”

“Oh, yes,” Philip held out a hand in greeting. “Thank you for calling. I take it there is good news?”

Kocheck hitched one shoulder negligently. “I suppose that depends on how you choose to look at it.”

The doctor, having woken and examined Maddie, stepped back and allowed Kocheck to step forward.

“Mrs. Buckley, I realize you are in a great deal of pain and that you are reluctant to talk about what happened to you, but I want to assure you that there is now no danger of retaliation if you disclose what, exactly, happened to you on December twentieth of this year.”

“What’s happened?” Maddie rasped, voice rough and husky. “Did you find Doug?”

Margaret offered the cooled tea and Maddie drank deeply.

“As you were made aware,” Kocheck said, “Douglas Kendall was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide on December twenty-first of this year. He was released after posting bail and ordered to not leave the area while the investigation was ongoing. Douglas Kendall did, in fact, leave Hershey on or around December twenty-fourth. At that point, a warrant was placed for his arrest and his description was given to police officials state-wide. Douglas Kendall was spotted near Allentown on December twenty-fifth, and near Dingmans Ferry on the twenty-sixth.

“Douglas Kendall’s vehicle was abandoned in Matmoras on the twenty-sixth, and at that time we reached out to his family in Boston.”

Maddie laughed harshly. “He went to Boston? To his family?”

“His ultimate destination is unclear,” Kocheck said. “The State Police in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts were on the lookout, but it was unknown if he had acquired another vehicle or was using public transportation. What we do know is that, on the morning of December twenty-ninth, yesterday, Douglas Kendall was found near Brandeis University on the Yankee Division Highway and the State Police engaged in a chase to apprehend. While seeking to evade the police, Doug Kendall drove his vehicle, which was found to be stolen, off a bridge over the Charles River. He was killed on impact.”

Maddie gasped, covering her mouth with her hand and sobbing. “You’re sure?” she asked. “You’re positive he’s dead?”

Kocheck nodded. “There is no doubt that the driver of that vehicle was killed on impact. The river at that point was very shallow and the driver was going at great speed. Doug Kendall’s parents identified his body this morning.”

Maddie began sobbing in earnest and Margaret rushed to her side to comfort her.

Once she calmed, Kocheck asked, “Do you feel, now, that you can tell us exactly what happened to you, Mrs. Kendall? We do need to close this case, and Kendall’s family is blaming you for his death.”

“Of course they are,” Maddie choked. “It’s always anybody else’s fault except Doug’s.”

“Maddie, please,” Margaret begged. “Just tell us, finally, what happened. Tell us why, when you always seemed content.”

Maddie hung her head, wiping her eyes with her hand. Margaret pressed a tissue into Maddie’s hand and gripped Maddie’s leg loosely. Philip crossed to the bed and leaned down to kiss Maddie’s forehead.

“No matter what, I’m proud of you for surviving,” Philip said. “You are so strong, Maddie. We all think so.”

Maddie nodded and wiped her nose. She took a deep breath and sat as straight as she could in traction. “I think…things were not great from the beginning,” she said after a moment. “Doug was very charming and proper when I first met him. I was a student nurse, and he was a staff doctor, so we didn’t really interact much. He asked me to lunch about a month after I took a permanent position in the Emergency Room, and we dated casually for the next six months. We never lived together until we moved here from Boston, after he got a major job offer. His proposal was so…unexpected. It was romantic, of course, but very sudden.”

“You said you got married because of Doug’s grandfather,” Evan urged, and Maddie laughed bitterly.

“Yeah, there was this huge inheritance because his grandfather was a famous doctor in Boston—and an expert investor. But his grandfather was incredibly bitter about his only son not going into medicine like his daughters did, and he hated that Doug was in his thirties and still single, so I guess he suggested that it would go well for Doug once he was settled with a good, honorable wife.

“Of course, I didn’t find out a lot of this until after we were married. His grandfather was so proud when Doug was offered the position here, and even prouder when he introduced me as his intended bride.”

“When did Kendall start beating you?” Kocheck asked.

Maddie took a shuddering breath. “Oh, he hit me the first time after Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Apparently, I was too happy about moving close to them, and he made sure I understood that I was not going to be one of those wives who spends all her time with her family and neglects her husband. Doug was adamant that my position was to support him, so he was always taking me to fancy dinners with hospital administrators. Fundraisers and such, you know? I barely had time to call my parents once a month, much less writing or calling my brothers or my grandmother.

“And Doug’s grandfather lingered. I mean, his health wasn’t great, but he was not as on his deathbed as Doug had thought when we got married in the man’s hospital room. Doug would take me to Boston once a month to pander to the man, just to show him how settled and happy we were.”

“And this month?” Kocheck prompted.

Maddie wiped her eyes again and shook her head. “Doug’s grandfather finally died in November, just after Thanksgiving, but his will was in probate hell for the longest time. There were a lot of bequests to sort out before the final reading, you see, because several beneficiaries had passed on long before and Doug’s grandfather had not taken that into consideration when he updated his will. Just before Christmas, Doug’s father called and said the will was out of probate and that he hoped Doug was pleased about the huge donation his grandfather had made to Harvard Medical School in Doug’s name. When Doug questioned that, it was explained to him that, since Doug was now happily and successfully married and his career was on track, then his grandfather knew he did not need the money personally, so he made sure Doug’s Alma Mater would benefit.

“That’s when I found out about Doug’s gambling problem.”

“So he took his disappointment out on you?” Philip asked, furious.

Maddie blinked rapidly, clearing more tears from her eyes. “When we dated, we never went anywhere extravagant. My job paid me well enough that I could afford to live alone in Boston, and my family taught me to never take money for granted, so often I would cook for him and our dates would be movies in the living room. When we moved to Hershey, I used some of my money to help with the down payment on the house, but I kept my finances separate. After our marriage, Doug made sure my paycheck went into a joint account, and I was given a household allowance for bills and groceries and such, but he kept the books under lock and key, so I never really knew how bad it was. We were floating on my salary for two years, and I never knew. He felt that he had married down, somehow, and that I owed it to him to make do with what I made.”

Maddie looked up at Kocheck and saw that he was frowning at her. “When someone wants to hide things, they find ways.”

“I don’t disagree, Mrs. Kendall,” Kocheck replied. “I just can’t understand how anyone could consider having someone as beautiful and intelligent as you as marrying down.”

“Thank you,” Maddie whispered. She reached for her now-cold tea and finished it once Margaret handed it to her. “I overheard that phone call as I was on my way to meet my mother for shopping. And once he hung up the phone, he began ranting and pacing, talking to himself about not paying someone back. I stayed at the top of the stairs praying that he would leave the house, but he started ripping the house apart—and then he saw me.

“Doug stormed up the stairs and grabbed my arm, calling me worthless and useless and ranting about how if I were a good wife, I’d find a way to bring more money in. Then he drew back and threw me down the stairs. I think I hit every step on the way down and I was dazed at the bottom, trying to stand up. And then he was just there, and he kicked me in the side three or four times, yelling that everything was all my fault. I passed out when he kicked my head. I woke up here.”

Evan felt the tears burning his eyes as Maddie told her tale, and he clenched his hands into fists, wishing he could pay Doug back every bit of pain he had caused Maddie. But Doug was dead now, and Maddie was alive. He would never let her be out of contact with him again, not if he could help it.

“I’m very sorry that you had to repeat that story,” Kocheck said. “It will, however, allow the DA’s office to answer questions that Kendall’s parents have been asking. Thank you for your time and I wish you a complete recovery.”

“Thank you, Mr. Kocheck,” Philip said, again shaking the man’s hand. “We’ve got her now, and we’ll take care of her.”

After Kocheck left, Maddie turned tear-filled eyes to her father and asked, “Do you think if Doug knew about the family–if he would have acted better?”

“Querida,” Magdelina said softly, sitting gently on the edge of Maddie’s bed, “knowing that your family could well afford to pay his debts would likely have changed nothing. Cualquier hombre que golpee a su esposa usara cualquier excusa. Nothing you could have said or done would have made him a better man.”

Maddie broke down again, and Magdelina pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

 

Chapter Five: Seventeen-Part Two

The New Year brought Evan’s own problems home.

It was the beginning of his last semester as a high school student and his teachers were expounding on the importance of final exams. Evan knew he was going to graduate. He wasn’t the valedictorian by any means, but he was in the top ten of his class. Magdelina believed in education, so she had not allowed him to slack on anything related to school or learning.

But because he was feeling the same pressure as every other member of the senior class, Evan became active in study groups.

A study group.

Evan studied with Geoff and Jill. Sometimes Marcus would join them for Chemistry or Literature. Sometimes Geoff’s boyfriend, Michael, would join them just as an excuse to spend time with Geoff during the week. The study group usually took place at Evan’s home because there were no younger siblings around to bother them, the kitchen was well-stocked and Evan could do more than microwave bagel bites and pizza snacks, and Magdelina was there to help with Spanish—a subject they all took as their language elective.

Not that the study-buddies needed her help often since Evan grew up multilingual like the rest of his father’s family. Evan’s Spanish accent was distinctly Andean, unlike his high school Spanish teacher’s Mexican, and Magdelina was often in conferences when that teacher tried to grade Evan poorly on his pronunciation. Technicalities counted.

It was during one study session that Jill pulled Evan from the kitchen to speak privately. Geoff laughed and wiggled his eyebrows, but Evan waved him off and led Jill to his grandmother’s office.

Closing the door behind him, Evan turned to his girlfriend and asked, “Is something wrong?”

Jill laughed. “No, silly! Although I suppose I did sound horribly serious just now.”

“Just a bit,” Evan answered cautiously. “So you aren’t telling me off or breaking up with me?”

Jill sighed and perched on the edge of the desk. “Evan, we like each other, right? And we trust each other?”

“I hope so,” Evan replied. “Otherwise I’m spending a great deal of time with someone who lies spectacularly well.”

Jill smiled and reached out to take Evan’s hand, and he pulled the rolling desk chair over so he could sit in front of her.

“I got my letters before Christmas,” Jill said. “I’ve been accepted to my top three schools.”

Evan laughed. “That’s great! I knew you could do it!”

Jill smiled. “Thanks. I think I’m going to Berkely. My dad will be completely pissed, and that’s a good enough reason for me.”

“Wow! That’s pretty far away. Are you ready for that kind of move?”

“I think so,” Jill shrugged. “I have spent my whole life in Pennsylvania. I live here, in Philly, with my mother, and every other weekend I visit my father in Trenton, New Jersey, but I have never really gone anywhere else. We don’t even travel for vacations. When my sister went off to Columbia, she said it was like entering a whole new world. I figure Berkely can be that for me.”

Evan nodded understandingly. “I guess going to college on the other side of the country would sound like a good idea, then.”

“Yeah, it really does. And my mom and I are planning on flying out during Spring Break to tour the campus, so I’ll get a better idea of what it’ll be like. Maybe we’ll see the beach while we’re there, and Isaiah and I can build a sand castle. He’s too young for Disneyland.”

Evan smiled and shook her hand gently. “Okay, that all sounds great, but why pull me in here to tell me in secret? Geoff would be just as happy for you, you know?”

“I know,” Jill said. “And I will tell him later, but I…wanted to ask something of you.”

“You can ask me for anything, you know that.”

Jill bit her lip, thinking for a moment. Finally she said, “We’ve been seeing each other for a while now, right?”

“Yeah,” Evan said. “Since Junior Year, I suppose. Why?”

Jill shook her head. “I know we’re just in high school, just kids, and we’re not planning on being together forever.”

“Well, no,” Evan said uncomfortably. “But I hope we will always be friends, at least. Are you sure you’re not breaking up with me?”

Jill laughed again. “Evan, we’ll always be friends, no matter how far apart we are, I promise. And as my friend, I want to ask you something very special.”

“Okay, then as your friend I will offer you any favor you ask of me.”

Jill nodded. “So, I’m going away to one of the most…liberal colleges of all time. And I know college is all about growing and learning and experimenting and just becoming an adult, but I’ll be so out of my depth at first, just trying to fit in. I don’t want to feel pressured in any way when I get there, and I know there will be pressure.”

“Yeah, but Jill, you’re a smart girl. Woman.” Evan laughed. “I doubt anyone could talk you into anything illegal or immoral.”

“No, not anything illegal,” Jill agreed. “But there’s other things. Things that I might like or might want to like.”

“Sex,” Evan surmised.

Jill nodded. “I want my first time to be with someone I like, if not love. Someone I trust not to do anything to hurt me, and someone that will make it good for me.”

Evan’s eyes widened. “Are…are you asking me for sex?”

Jill bit her lip and nodded briskly. “I just…we’re good friends even if we aren’t completely in love, and I do not want to go to college curious about all that…stuff. I want to know what I like when it happens, and not be subject to some greedy frat boy who is only into getting off, or some fumbling virgin desperate for a first time.”

Evan took a deep breath, releasing it noisily. “Okay, we’ll overlook that ‘frat boy’ stuff for the moment because it is ugly and totally realistic.” Evan looked up and took in Jill’s pensive face. “I am not any more experienced than you are, Jill. I doubt sex would be any fun with me because I would be fumbling around, too.”

Jill opened her mouth to respond but Evan held up one hand, squeezing her fingers gently with the other. “Just…let me make a call, okay? I will do some research, and then we’ll find a way for each of us to have a good first time.”

Jill frowned. “Who are you going to call?”

“My brother, the doctor.” Evan smirked. “I figure he might be able to give me some advice.”

Jill nodded. “So you’ll make a phone call and then what?”

Evan frowned. “Well, I suppose we’ll need to have a place to do this thing, so the only obstacle I see is what are you going to tell your mother.”

“What am I going to tell my mother about what?”

“Um, about why you need to spend the weekend here, at my house?”

Jill gaped at him. “What excuse are you going to give your grandmother?”

Evan laughed. “Oh, I am going to tell her the truth, Jill. One never lies to my grandmother.”

Jill covered her face with her hands. “She’s going to think I’m a tramp! I will never be able to look her in the face again!”

Evan laughed again, pulling her hands away from her face. “Jill, my grandmother is remarkably understanding. She will understand the need for privacy, and she won’t tell a soul.” Evan pulled Jill into his embrace. “She also will not judge either one of us. Trust me. I can’t count on one hand how many times she’s told me that I’ll soon be old enough for a torrid affair, and that it will change my life.”

Jill laughed, and then groaned. “Now I never will be able to look her in the face again.”

 

The phone call to Daniel was concise, to say the least. Evan merely asked if Daniel was up to a visit for a personal matter, and then plans were made for Evan to drive to Baltimore the following weekend.

Magdelina asked, of course, about the unexpected visit, but Evan figured she would because they usually went to Baltimore together.

“Jill asked, um,” Evan thought about the best way to explain the situation. “Jill’s going to college in California next fall.”

“That is very nice for her,” Magdelina said. “But what has this to do with going to see Daniel in the middle of the month?”

“Yeah, well,” Evan rubbed the back of his neck, “Jill doesn’t want to go away to school still a virgin. She asked me to be her first because she wants to have sex with someone she trusts, and someone she trusts to make it good for her.”

Magdelina quirked her eyebrow at Evan. “And just when, querido, did you become such a talented lover? I should think I would have noticed such a thing happening around me because you are never where you are not supposed to be.”

Evan snorted. “Well, I’m not, Lina. Experienced, that is. And that is why I’m going to see Daniel. I figure he can answer some very intrusive questions for me.”

Magdelina smiled and patted Evan’s cheek. “I see. I approve of the visit, so tell your brother that I shall see him at a later date.”

Magdelina grabbed her coffee mug and headed for her office. “I do not, however, approve of your plans with Jill. I will not deny you the chance to do things your way, but I would rather you wait until you graduate before you have a wonderfully torrid love affair. But when you decide upon when this experimentation shall occur, I shall take myself off to the coast. I will not need details.”

Before she could leave the kitchen, Evan rushed to her and kissed her cheek.

“I love you, Lina.”

“Silly boy!”

~~~

“Okay, not that I’m not happy to see you,” Daniel said after letting Evan into his apartment, “but why are you here? You said you had a question? That couldn’t be asked over the phone?”

Evan dropped his duffle bag on the sofa and hugged his brother. “I had many questions, Danny, and none of them could be asked over the phone.”

“Okay,” said Daniel as he dropped into the overstuffed easy chair, “so ask.”

“It’s about sex,” Evan said, sitting on the sofa. “It’s about all the sex, and how to be good at it.”

Daniel stared at his brother. “Well, then, maybe you should take it from the top.”

Evan rubbed his hands over his thighs and explained everything. Daniel sat and watched as Evan stumbled over Jill’s request and Magdelina’s parting shot about a ‘torrid love affair,’ but he didn’t interrupt his brother.

Once Evan got it all out, Daniel rubbed his hands together and stood up. “Well, then, I suppose a shopping trip is in order.”

Evan tilted his head as he followed Daniel with his eyes. “A shopping trip? For what?”

Daniel grabbed his keys and turned to Evan. “If you’re going to have better than average sex, you’re going to need supplies.”

When Evan’s eyes widened in horror, Daniel stepped forward and grasped his shoulder. “Evan, I can answer any sex question you might have, no matter how technical. I learned a lot about anatomy in school, and I have had the pleasure of having a wonderfully expressive lady friend. But I cannot tell you how to be good at sex, and I certainly refuse to be there to coach you. So—supplies.”

Daniel headed for the door leaving Evan to follow him. “It’s a perfectly painless shopping trip, Evan.”

Their first stop was at a bookstore, where Daniel showed Evan several sex guides, many illustrated, that could answer basic questions. Evan bought three. They were basic books with drawings as well as photographs, and they covered everything from basic anatomy to advanced sexual positions. Daniel offered his opinion on Evan’s choices, so he was happy with the books.

The next stop was to a public park near an adult toy store. Daniel turned to Evan and said, “You can’t go in because you are only seventeen, so I’ll have to shop for you. Before I go in, we need to discuss requirements.”

“Requirements like what?” Evan asked hesitantly.

“Well,” said Daniel, “you need to understand that toys should not be shared, so anything I buy in there for you to use with your girlfriend should be considered gifts to her.”

Evan snorted. “Yeah, okay. That makes sense.”

“And,” Daniel continued, “there are toys meant specifically for men, so you need to tell me if you’re interested in that sort of thing.”

“Toys for men?” Evan mused. He thought for a few minutes before his eyes widened in realization. “OH! For men. Got it.” Evan shot his brother a look. “Have you ever…”

Daniel chuckled. “Yeah, I have. I’ll leave out the details, but Helle is a wonder with a strap-on.”

“Yeah, I still think that was too much detail,” Evan objected with a laugh. “But, okay, I’m willing to try anything and everything that’s legal, so why not?”

Daniel nodded and clapped Evan on the shoulder. “Okay, then, those toys will not be gifts to your girlfriend.” Daniel eyed the shop for a moment. “This place has a wide variety, so I’ll get an assortment of sizes, shapes, and utilities, and you can look them over to decide what to keep. We can return anything you don’t like before you open the packages.”

Evan, who had been flipping through one of his new books, nodded at Daniel before looking up from a page and saying, “Just no swings, okay? I doubt Lina would look too fondly at me mounting one of those in my room.”

Daniel laughed. “I would never suggest a sex swing, Evan. That’s expert-level stuff right there. A bench, however…”

Evan laughed and shook his head. “A bench would probably be too expensive and would definitely take up a lot of space.”

While Daniel shopped, Evan read through the books and studied the illustrations, making notes in the margins. Evan always took his studies seriously, no matter the subject. When Daniel arrived back almost an hour later, Evan had made a lot of notations and bookmarked several pages. Daniel opened the back door first and deposited several bags on the back seat. Evan looked over his shoulder with wide eyes and shot a questioning look at Daniel when he slid into the driver’s seat.

“What?” Daniel asked with a laugh.

“Get enough, do you think? Evan snarked.

“I told you; you need to look everything over first. I have got a lot of choices so you can decide what you want to keep and what we’ll return. I also got excellent quality stuff because why buy cheap for such an intimate thing?”

Evan nodded and closed his book. “Yeah, that makes sense. I’ve never even looked online for anything like this.”

“Well,” said Daniel, “that’s about to change. Once you start having good sex, you’ll start looking for ways to make it even better. Of course, the best sex is always going to be with someone you care about. Random hook-ups can be a tension reliever, but they can leave you empty inside if that’s all you have. A personal connection is key to a good sex life.”

Evan squinted at his brother as Daniel pulled into traffic. “See,” he said, “that’s the kind of advice I need to get from my big brother.”

“Abuela could give you that advice, as well.”

“Oh, yeah, right after she encourages me to have a torrid love affair after high school.”

Daniel roared with laughter. “I wonder how many torrid affairs our beloved grandmother has had in her lifetime.”

“You think she has?” Evan asked.

“I think,” Daniel said as he pulled into his apartment parking lot, “that Abuela married incredibly young and was widowed incredibly young, and she’s never wanted to remarry. She’s a beautiful woman with a zest for life, so why would she remain unattached unless it’s by her choice? I’m sure she’s had her share of torrid affairs since Gramps passed away.”

“Yeah,” Evan said after a moment. “Lina certainly enjoys life too much to be alone with just me as company.”

Once in the apartment, Evan shoved his books into his duffle bag, so he didn’t forget them. Daniel took the shopping bags to the kitchen table and unloaded them.

“Okay, so we’ll go through all of this, and I’ll explain their uses and answer any questions you have.”

Evan approached the table with trepidation, looking over the multi-colored objects in transparent plastic packages. Some were in cardboard boxes with pictures on the fronts. Evan picked up a box containing a large purple ‘personal massager’ and gave it a shake.

Daniel held up a plastic bottle and wiggled it in front of Evan. “This is lube. You can get it anywhere, even the local drug store, so I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t recognize it.”

Evan blushed. “I use an unscented lotion on my own, thanks.”

Daniel nodded and handed Evan the bottle. “Unscented lotion is an excellent choice for masturbation. It certainly prevents chafing. But sexual lubricant is necessary for sexual use. Sometimes a woman will lubricate naturally, and it will be enough to ease penetration, but you can’t count on her natural abilities, and you can never use too much lube.”

Evan reached for a different bottle and examined it. “There’s different kinds?”

Daniel nodded again and picked up yet a third bottle. “There’s the basic stuff that simulates natural lubrication. It’s viscus and slippery, allowing smooth entry. There is a mentholated variety, which warms and is nice for stimulation, but don’t use it internally. Heated lube is good on nipples, though, so you can try that.” Daniel presented the bottle he was holding and said, “This one is great for anal penetration. It’s thicker and silicone-based, so it won’t dry out as fast as a water-based lube. This makes it the ideal for longer-lasting playtime as well. There are also flavored lubes, which I can get for you, that can be used for oral sex, but some of the flavors are kind of questionable. I’ll let you choose, but I recommend the strawberry and the peach. The banana never tastes quite right and the cherry tastes like cough medicine.”

Evan wrinkled his nose at that, and Daniel laughed.

“You should also be careful about the type of lube you use with condoms because oil-based lubes will damage condoms.”

“And that would be bad,” Evan surmised.

“Yes, that would be bad. Now,” Daniel said as he picked a small box from the pile, “this is a small vibrating wand.”

And so it went, from bottle to box to clamshell package, Daniel covered stimulators, massagers, and penetrators. Some were smoothe, some were bumpy or ridged, some had little silicone ‘fingers’ on them. Some were for female enjoyment, and others were for anal use for either female or male partners.

“Some women enjoy anal play and penetration, Evan, so don’t go into this thinking only guys like it.”

“Okay,” Evan began, pickling up a cherry-red dildo with a black harness. “But why do guys like it?”

“Ah,” Daniel said after a moment. “Let’s talk about your prostate.”

Daniel had Evan retrieve his books and he flipped through them until he found the section on anal intercourse, and he and Evan had another question-and-answer session.

They talked all through the night, until Daniel needed to get to sleep before work the next afternoon. Evan took a short nap before driving home, and when he left, he was carrying most of the assortment that Daniel had provided.

Once home, Evan texted Daniel to prove that he’d survived the journey, and then he brought everything into the townhouse and unpacked it in his room. He was opening the last of the packages when his grandmother knocked on his door.

Magdelina entered with Evan’s prompt and looked over his haul.

“I see Daniel was most comprehensive.”

Evan rubbed a hand over his head. “I think he was too comprehensive, maybe.”

Magdelina picked up one of the massagers and turned it over in her hands. “Would you rather have too much information about such an intimate thing, Evan, or too little?”

~~

“So what did you tell your mother?” Evan asked as he welcomed Jill into his home.

Jill handed over her messenger bag and hung up her jacket in the hall closet. “I went with your method and told the truth about a weekend study binge.” Jill shrugged at Evan’s incredulous look. “I just left out the part about your grandmother being in New Jersey instead of at home.”

Evan huffed. “That’ll do, I guess. I mean, it’s not exactly a lie. We will be studying this weekend.”

“And I left out what, exactly, we’ll be studying. Okay, then,” Jill said, clapping her hand. “So how do we do this?” She stopped and shook her head. “I mean, I know most of the mechanics, but…”

Evan laughed and grabbed her hand, pulling her to him and kissing her forehead. “I think we should be the dedicated students we are and hit the books.”

“Hit the books?” Jill frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Evan pulled Jill up the stairs and into his room, where he dropped her messenger bag beside his desk.

“My brother is a brilliant man,” he said and pushed Jill to sit on the bed while he pulled his desk chair toward her. “He took me shopping and he bought me some supplies. I offered to pay, but he said it was his responsibility as an older brother to see to my education in this matter.”

Evan handed Jill the three books, all with bright sticky-note markers and notes in the margins. “I figure,” he said when she began flipping through the books, “that we can begin by reading the sections together. The last thing I want to do is force you to do something you’re not ready for, so I think reading about it, in detail, will let you ease into it all.”

Jill nodded and began reading Evan’s notes in the section on oral sex. “Just easing into it. I like that.” She looked up at him and asked, “So, do you want to read to each other, or just sit silently and read together?”

“No shame, Jill,” Evan said. “I think we should be mature enough to read to each other if we’re mature enough to do the things in this book.”

The morning was spent just reading. Evan read the section on fellatio, and Jill read about cunnilingus. Jill read about nipple play, and Evan read about sensual massage. They went through all three books before taking a break while Evan made them lunch. While eating, Jill admitted to becoming turned on by the reading.

“Oh, thank god!” Evan exclaimed. “I thought it was just me! Hearing you talk about that stuff has got to be better than porn!”

Jill giggled. “I’ve never even considered porn.”

“I asked about it, but Daniel said that watching porn can be good for established couples to add spice to the relationship, but it can give unrealistic expectations for sex.”

“Unrealistic expectation?”

Evan laughed. “That stuff is edited, you know. So it may seem like the act itself is lasting an extraordinarily long time and is great every time, when in reality it’s not that perfect.”

“I don’t expect perfect, Evan,” Jill said shyly.

“That’s good, because I’m far from it.” Evan began clearing dishes into the dishwasher before asking, “Is there anything on your ‘no’ list?”

“Um, is it bad that I sort of want to try it all?” Jill answered. “I mean, how will I know I don’t like something if I haven’t at least tried it?”

Evan shot her a look as he closed the dishwasher and washed his hands. “This isn’t like trying new food, you know.”

“I know,” Jill laughed as she crossed to his side. “But it sort of is. Like a, um, sensual smorgasbord.”

Evan snorted and wrapped his arms around Jill’s waist and pulled her close. “Please don’t ever say anything like that again.”

“Okay,” Jill agreed. “So, since we’re here like this, I think we should start by kissing, yeah?”

Evan leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, enjoying the warmth of her mouth. He pressed soft kisses, each one longer than the last. He felt heat building up inside him and he tightened his embrace. Jill sighed against him, and Evan tentatively opened his mouth, tongue seeking the part of her lips. He tightened his hold further when she opened her mouth to him, and her tongue touched his.

He felt her hands slip from around his neck and press against his chest, not pushing him away but caressing his chest through his shirt. He pulled back and asked, “Do you want to go upstairs?”

Jill ran her hands down his chest to his waist, tracing across his belly. “Yeah, I think that would be best.”

Once back in his bedroom, Jill turned to him and pulled his shirt up and over his head. Running her hands again over his chest, Jill leaned forward and kissed his collarbone, then his sternum, licking softly along the way.

“I’ve always liked how you take care of yourself, Evan,” she whispered. “You’ve got a great body.”

Evan smiled down at her and pulled at the hem of her shirt, raising an eyebrow questioningly. When Jill nodded, he pulled the shirt up and over, dropping it to the floor. He looked at her, standing there in just her bra, and she blushed all the way to her chest.

“Can I touch you?”

Jill nodded. “You don’t have to ask, Evan.”

“Yes,” he said seriously. “I do. I’ll ask before every movement if I have to because it has to be your choice. I’ll never do anything you don’t want to do.”

Jill surged forward, pressing her mouth to his again while she used her hands to pull his hands to her cloth-covered breasts. “Touch me, Evan,” she whispered. “Touch me everywhere.”

Evan was happy to oblige, kissing down her throat and across her shoulder as he stroked the skin above the edge of her bra. He dipped his hands lower and ran his fingers lightly under the bra, skimming the skin beneath her breasts, smiling when her breath hitched. Evan kept stroking her breasts softly with one hand while he trailed the other down her belly to stroke around her waist.

“May I take off your jeans, Jill?”

“Yes, Evan, you may,” Jill moaned, and she quickly kicked off her shoes.

Evan kissed his way over her breasts and down her torso as he unbuttoned her jeans. He dipped his tongue into her belly button as he began lowering the jeans down her legs and she shimmied against him. When he reached down to pull the jeans completely off, he took a chance to press a warm, open-mouthed kiss to her pubic area, breathing hotly against her cloth-covered skin.

He was rewarded by a deep moan.

Evan stood up after removing Jill’s socks and Jill pulled him into another deep kiss.

“Evan, would you take off your jeans, please?”

Evan smiled. “I will—unless you want to do the honors.”

Jill bit her lip and looked up at him through hooded eyes. “I think I’ll work my way up to that.”

“Okay,” Evan agreed, and he undid his belt and unbuttoned his jeans. When he looked up after removing his jeans and his socks, Evan looked up to find Jill watching him with burning eyes. “You can touch me if you want.”

Jill blinked as if clearing her head, and then she looked up to meet Evan’s eyes and smiled. Jill reached out, running soft fingers down his chest and across his belly. Evan sucked in a breath when her fingers teased along the waistband of his boxer-briefs, and he felt his cock harden.

“Oh!” Jill exclaimed softly, and Evan closed his eyes when he felt her fingers run along his erection.

Jill pressed her whole palm against his cloth-covered flesh and moaned again. “Evan, I really don’t think this is going to fit,” she whispered.

Evan chuckled lowly. “Come on, Jill, we read the same thing today. It will fit if you want it to.”

Jill looked up to him with a smile. “Maybe we’d better practice first? With something not so…large?”

Evan pulled her hand from his body gently and drew her toward the bed so she could sit beside him. “What did you have in mind?”

Jill looked around the room until she found one of the notated books. She picked it up and flipped it open to one particular section. Turning the book in her hands, she showed it to him. “Maybe we can start here?”

Evan looked at the book and smiled. He took the book and laid it gently on the bed beside Jill, leaving it open to the section on oral sex. He reached out and stroked her shoulder, brushing the strap of her bra aside.

“Jill, may I remove this?”

Instead of responding, Jill reached up and unclasped the bra, pulling it off and tossing it to the floor. She then pulled Evan’s hands to her breasts.

“I want it, Evan,” she said breathlessly. “The whole chapter!”

Evan laughed before pulling Jill into a deep kiss, running his hands over her bare back, and moaning when she touched him in return. He kissed down her throat and across both shoulders before cupping both breasts and teasing her nipples with his thumbs.

Jill’s breath hitched again, and Evan whispered, “Is this okay?”

“It’s more than okay,” came the breathy response, so he dipped down and took one hard nipple into his mouth, sucking gently.

Jill shoved her fingers into his hair and gripped his head tightly.

Evan worshiped the other nipple before pushing slightly to get her to lay down. He kissed his way down her torso, nibbling and licking along the way. Evan’s fingers trailed along Jill’s waist before hooking into her panties and tugging gently. Jill lifted her hips, and he removed the panties completely.

Evan braced his hands on her hips, raising up to look at her.

“You’re beautiful,” he said.

Jill laughed. “You really think so?”

Evan drew one hand across her hips, stroking over her pubic bone and trailing his fingers through the coarse hair over her mons pubis. He leaned down, gently kissing the fringe of pubic hair. “I really think so.”

Evan leaned forward again, kissing her hips and lower belly before moving down her legs. He kissed his way down her thighs to her knees, where he bent one leg and kissed behind one knee. Jill gasped loudly so Evan did the same with the other leg before kissing his way to her ankles. He gently stroked Jill’s ankles before cupping one heel and pressing fingers gently into the sole of her foot.

“That feels wonderful,” Jill moaned, and Evan smiled.

“Acupressure,” Evan explained softly. “It’s part of physical therapy and I learned it with Tai Chi. But it can also be part of sensual massage.”

“I think I like this part,” Jill admitted. “I want to learn to do it for you.”

“I can show you,” Evan said. “When it’s your turn. It’s my turn to play now.”

Jill laughed as Evan continued massaging her feet and toes, leaving her weak with the sudden lack of tension. Once he felt her sag limply against the bed, Evan began working his way back up, massaging her legs and kissing the places his hands had relaxed. When he reached her hips again, Jill parted her legs and Evan gently rubbed his thumbs in circles on her inner thighs. Jill’s legs moved further apart, and Evan’s thumbs circled closer to her pubis. He could see drops of moisture on the hair covering her vulva.

He blew air gently over the area and Jill shuddered.

“Jill?” he asked.

“Please,” she responded with a moan.

Evan’s fingers parted her labia, moisture gathering on the tips, and he stroked gently along her slit. Jill moaned, encouraging him. Evan pressed kisses to her inner thighs, pushing her legs further apart. Jill bent her knees slightly, opening her legs to allow Evan more access to her secret places.

Leaning forward, Evan licked gently, lapping along her slit, and Jill moaned, thrusting her fingers into his hair to hold him into place. Evan smiled to himself as he used his long fingers to spread her wide open, and he licked her silken folds, pushing his tongue inside of her and enjoying her salty-sweet taste. Evan licked and kissed her from the bottom of her slit to the top, using his thumbs to uncover her clitoris. The tiny bud was hard against his tongue, and he sucked gently against it. Jill moaned and writhed with his attention.

Urged on, Evan pressed one long finger against her opening and teased at her. Jill began rocking against his mouth, keening her pleasure. Evan thrust his finger shallowly and gently into her vagina, trying not to hurt her, and he began licking harder at her clit, rolling his tongue over it every time she moaned.

Suddenly, Jill gasped and began to shake with orgasm, but Evan didn’t stop his attentions until she calmed. When he pulled back, he was slightly out of breath, his mouth glistening with a mixture of his saliva and Jill’s own secretions. He was dazed by the natural high he got from giving Jill so much pleasure.

Jill was a mess.

She was panting as if she’d just run for miles, and her hair was ratted from the way she’d been writhing on top of the pillow.

Evan thought she’d never looked more beautiful.

He carefully pulled a spare blanket from the bottom of the bed and covered Jill so she didn’t catch a chill. He leaned forward and kissed her mouth, smiling with her arms stretched out to grab him and pull him closer. Evan laughed against her mouth and pulled away to grab his boxers.

“You’re not leaving me here, are you?” Jill pouted. “I haven’t had my turn yet.”

Evan laughed again and shook his head. “You need to recover, and I need to rectify a mistake just now.”

Jill propped herself up on one elbow. “What mistake?”

Evan jerked his thumb over his shoulder, indicating his door. “My brother told me to make sure I had plenty of water on hand because we’d get dehydrated if we did everything right. I forgot, so I’m going to grab some bottles and a few snacks while you rest here. Or, you know, go to the bathroom.”

“Water would be great,” Jill admitted with a grin. “So would the bathroom. But we’re definitely having my turn when you get back.”

Evan practically skipped down the stairs to get the water. He also grabbed a few protein bars just in case. When he got back upstairs, Jill was wrapped in one of Evan’s button-down shirts, reading the annotated sex book.

“Are you getting yourself worked up again?” Evan asked cheekily.

Jill responded with a grin. “There are a lot of things we can do without actually having missionary-position sex.”

“Well, yes, I know that. But I thought you wanted to do that, too.”

“Oh, I do,” Jill assured him. “I just wish we had some…toys…to play…with. Why are you grinning like that?”

“I got so turned on reading with you,” Evan laughed, “that I completely forgot to show you what else Daniel provided for me.”

Jill scooted to the edge of the bed and snagged a bottle of water from Evan before he pulled his duffle bag from the closet. He hefted it onto the bed and unzipped it, keeping it closed for a moment.

“I don’t want you to be intimidated, okay? Because I sure was until he started describing proper uses for these things.”

“I won’t be,” Jill promised. “Let’s see!”

Evan opened the bag and began pulling items out, starting with the small bottles of lube. As he displayed each item, Evan dutifully explained what they were and how they were used, just like Daniel did for him.

Jill took everything in with wide eyes, clearly not expecting the collection. She picked up the red dildo with the black harness and examined it fully. “Are you really up for using this?”

Evan shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Daniel assures me that every man should become familiar with his prostate and the pleasure it can provide. Besides, I’d never ask anything of you that I’d not do myself, you know that. If there is penetration to be done…”

Jill laughed and swatted Evan’s arm. “Stop joking! This is supposed to be a serious experiment!”

“Oh, no,” Evan denied. “I have been assured that if we aren’t laughing, smiling, and having fun, then we aren’t doing it right. Unless you want to be the kind of woman that just lies there and thinks of England?”

“Nope,” Jill said after she finished her water. “I’m having fun, and I want to keep having fun.”

“Okay, then, what shall we do next?”

Jill pushed everything except the flavored lube and a slender vibrator back into the bag and shoved Evan onto his back. “I believe it’s my turn, so Evan—may I explore your body the way you explored mine?”

Evan’s breath caught at the intensity of her gaze. “Yes,” he rasped, “you may.”

Jill grinned and dove in for a kiss, parting his lips with a gentle nibble before thrusting her tongue into his mouth. Jill kissed Evan’s chin and cheeks before moving down toward his throat, where she sucked lightly—enough to arouse without leaving any marks. Jill used her teeth against Evan’s shoulders before kissing his well-muscled chest. Like Evan, Jill’s hands were not idle, and she stroked his flanks while kissing her way down his chest.

Evan was floating in bliss. His every nerve felt like it was on fire, and he clenched his hands into fists to keep from grabbing Jill and distracting her.

He also didn’t want to seem like he was forcing her into doing anything.

When Jill reached his nipples and bit lightly before sucking away the sting, Evan moaned loudly. Jill huffed a laugh against his fevered skin. “Do you like that, Evan?”

“Oh, yes!” Evan hissed.

Jill bit and sucked her way down Evan’s abdomen, dipping her tongue into his navel much like he did to her. Her fingers traced over his erect penis still clothed in damp cotton. Jill sat up and rubbed her thumb over the leaking head of his cock and Evan groaned.

“The books say this means you’re aroused,” Jill said as she licked traces of fluid from her thumb.

“If you can’t tell, something is wrong.”

Jill laughed, a deep, sultry sound. “Oh, I can tell. May I remove your boxers, Evan?”

“You most certainly may,” Evan growled, lifting his hips to make the task easier.

Jill quickly got to work sliding the boxers down Evan’s long legs, trying hard not to touch his skin until the cloth was fully removed. Jill dropped the boxers to the floor and then drank in the sight of Evan sprawled on the bed before her. Starting at the top of his toes, Jill began to worship Evan’s body.

Gentle fingers pressed and massaged Evan’s feet, digging into the soles like Evan had done.

“That’s good,” Evan encouraged. “Just press into the arch gently and then move your thumb to just between the toes.”

Jill nodded and did as instructed, bringing a happy sigh from Evan. Taking that as a prompt, Jill began massaging Evan’s ankles and calves. She leaned down and kissed his knees before nibbling at the thick muscles of his calves. Evan moaned again, urging her on. Jill massaged his powerful thighs, kissing ahead of her hands, licking the sweat that formed.

Evan writhed and twisted, chasing her touch. Jill kissed and kneaded her way to the tops of Evan’s thighs until she encountered the smoothe, hairless skin at the junction of leg and hip. Just above that, nestled in coarse, dark-blond curls, was a perfect, erect penis. Jill blew cool air across the member, from the base to the uncircumcised tip, and Evan shivered.

“All of the pictures in the books have circumcised dicks,” Jill said casually. “I’m not really sure what to do with this.”

Evan chuckled despite the intimate situation, and Jill joined the laughter.

Evan tried to sit up, but Jill just pushed him down again. “You can show me from there, right?”

“Yeah,” Evan agreed. “I can show you from here.”

Evan took her hands and placed them gently around the base of his erection. “You can stroke from the base upwards, pulling gently. You can also fondle my testicles gently.”

Jill dipped her fingers low and rolled his balls gently, enjoying hearing Evan’s breath quicken. She saw a pearl of liquid form from under his foreskin and she reached up and slid the foreskin back, revealing the leaking head of Evan’s penis. Hesitating for a moment, Jill leaned forward and licked the fluid, rolling it around on her tongue to savor the taste.

“You’re not bad, Evan. Just a bit bitter.”

“I’ve heard I can fix that by eating pineapple.”

Jill wrinkled her nose. “I can’t stand the stuff.” She leaned down and licked again, feeling the hot flesh jerk against her tongue. Jill licked and sucked just the tip of Evan’s penis, treating it much like an ice cream, until she got up the nerve to suck more of the length into her mouth.

Evan groaned, hands fisting into his blanket as Jill bobbed on his cock, her hand twisting up and down the length. It was almost embarrassing, but he felt his orgasm building quickly. Evan had the presence of mind to tap Jill on the shoulder to warn her, but she didn’t pull back quickly enough when he found release. Streams of cum shot from his cock, but Jill didn’t pull away. She didn’t swallow, but she kept sucking and stroking until Evan jerked away from over-stimulation. While Evan tried to collect himself, Jill spit cum into the hem of the shirt she was wearing.

“Sorry about that,” she mumbled.

Evan laughed. “Are you seriously apologizing for giving me the time of my life?”

Jill blushed and she covered her face with her hands. “No? Maybe. Wasn’t I supposed to swallow?”

Evan shook his head and pulled her down on top of him. “I don’t think so, but I seriously don’t care. That was amazing!”

Jill giggled and cuddled closer, tucking her arms to his sides. “I need a shower and some real food.”

Evan nodded against her head. “I have an ensuite, so you can take that one and I’ll use the shower in Lina’s room. Then, I’ll make dinner.”

Jill smiled and kissed him gently on the lips. “And then we can play some more?”

“Well, you did tell your mother we were studying all weekend.”

They did, in fact, study all weekend. Jill picked each activity herself after re-reading chapters from the books. Evan kissed and massaged her until he was very familiar with her body. Jill reciprocated, using various toys to bring him pleasure over and over. At one point, Evan began laughing when Jill was using a diagram from one of the books to find his prostate. When Jill objected, Evan told her to look at herself for a moment. Sitting back, Jill looked at the bottle of lube by Evan’s hip, the book at her side, and the latex glove on her hand (to protect him from her fingernails), and then she started laughing as well.

“Are we taking this too seriously?” Jill asked when her laughter abated.

“I think we’re taking it just seriously enough.” Evan sat up and cradled Jill’s head with one hand, kissing her forehead. “Look, we’re having the time of our lives right now, just enjoying each other and learning what we like about sex. Even if we split apart after graduation, or we never do this again, I’ll know what I like, and you’ll certainly know what you like. We’ll be the most experienced of our whole senior class, and it’ll just be between the two of us.”

Jill smiled and kissed him in return. “And it’s because we trust each other. Now lie back and think of England while I figure this thing out.”

When she finally figured that thing out, Evan arched off the bed with the most amazing orgasm of the weekend. Encouraged, Jill reached for the strap-on she’d been avoiding and proceeded to fuck Evan’s brain out. After he recovered, Jill was game to try anal play herself. Evan was gentle and patient and so very tender, and even though she lacked a prostate, Jill honestly said she enjoyed it.

At the end of the weekend, when Jill was packed and ready, Evan made sure she took most of the used toys with her. Jill tried to protest, but Evan explained what Daniel had told him about sharing toys, so she took them and promised to think of him whenever she used them. Evan flicked his eyes upward to where the strap-on was stored and said he felt the same.

~~

“Evan,” Magdelina called from her office, “please come here.”

Evan gamely closed his notebook and left it on the coffee table where he’d been revising a History essay and strode to the office door.

“Hey,” he said, looking at his grandmother’s frown. “You look upset. Did I do anything wrong?”

Magdelina folded her hands together on top of her desk and nodded at the chair in front of her. Once Evan was seated, she said, “I have just received a disturbing phone call regarding the incident at that party you attended before the holidays.”

Evan grimaced, remembering the hospitalization, but not what exactly happened.

“Was that the hospital?”

Magdelina shook her head. “No, that was a concerned parent. A Mr. Alvin McCann, as a matter of fact.”

Evan shook his head, thinking. “I know a girl at school, Meggan McCann. I told you about her, remember? She’s the one that’s been angry-flirting with me since Freshman year.”

Magdelina inclined her head. “I do recall that you have mentioned her several times. I also recall that you do not hold the girl in high regard.”

“Not really, no,” Evan admitted. “I mean, she doesn’t seem to understand that I’m not interested in her in any way, so she keeps trying to put herself into my…orbit, I guess. But I haven’t seen her around since the semester started. Of course, we only have one class together and she’s not my lab partner.”

Magdelina pursed her lips for a moment as she stared at Evan, but he met her eyes unwaveringly. After a moment, she nodded and picked up her phone. “Please return to your studies, Evan. I understand that the United States Government is giving you problems.”

Evan stood, offering a small salute. “I think the United States Government gives a lot of people problems,” he quipped as he left the office.

Before he closed the door, Evan heard his grandmother asking to speak to his father.

That evening, while Evan was washing the dinner dishes, Magdelina poured herself a cup of tea and sat in front of him at the kitchen island. “Your father is coming tomorrow, Evan.”

“Okay?” Evan looked up as he dried his last plate and asked, “Did I do something wrong?”

Magdelina shook her head. “I do not believe so, but there are questions that must be asked.”

“And Dad has to be here to ask them?”

Magdelina sighed and folded her hands together around her mug. “At that party, you were drugged, si?”

Evan nodded and leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms across his chest defensively. “Yeah. I mean, that’s what the doctor and the policeman said. I don’t remember much about it.”

Magdelina offered a sad smile. “That such a thing has happened to you makes me very sad, mi querido nieto. However, something has come up–an unfortunate result of such a difficult night, and your father and I hope to find a solution to this thing.”

Evan frowned, thinking hard about what he could remember of that night, but everything was blurry. He could remember arriving, and he remembered greeting Hilary Edgar, and he remembered some stupid card game that he still didn’t understand.

And Evan remembered arguing with Meggan McCann.

And Alvin McCann had called his grandmother.

“Is this…about my argument with Meggan?” Evan asked hesitantly.

Magdelina huffed and picked up her mug. “An argument? No, Evan, not an argument. And I know you will worry all this night, now that you know your father is coming, but I beg of you to not ask further until he arrives. Ten un poco de paciencia, por favor. All will be well.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Lina,” Evan said, “because I do. But I will worry, because you have never needed Dad as back-up for anything, and that means this is serious.”

“Serious, si,” Magdelina agreed. “But it is nothing we cannot handle as a family.”

Evan moved through the following school day like a robot. When Geoff asked what was wrong, Evan could only tell him that it was a family problem and that his father was driving up that afternoon.

“It’s not your sister, is it?” Geoff asked in concern, but Evan only shook his head.

“No. As far as I know, Maddie is healing well in Switzerland. Mom will be coming back next month, after she’s sure Maddie can be left alone.”

“So this is all you, then,” Geoff surmised. “Is there anything I can do?”

Evan offered his friend a smile. “Nah, but thanks. I don’t really know what’s going on, but Lina said she’d fill me in once Dad gets here.”

“Okay, man, if you’re sure. Call me later and let me know what’s going on, if you can.”

Evan knocked shoulders with his friend and left the school with his head hanging low. Worry had filled him, but he was almost sure there was nothing wrong going on.

Almost sure.

The bus he normally took to and from school let him off a block from his house, so he was slightly chilled by the time he entered the townhouse. The spring weather hadn’t quite come in and a light rain had begun before the bus reached the stop. Evan hadn’t bothered with a hooded jacket that morning, so he was quite damp when he opened the front door, and he shook his head roughly to dislodge much of the rain from his hair.

“Evan Buckley! You are not a collie!”

Evan looked up sheepishly and offered a grin to his father.

“Hey, Dad. How was the drive in?”

Philip rolled his eyes and pulled Evan into a hug. “The drive was fine, you idiot. How was school?”

Evan pulled back and took off his coat, hanging it on the hall tree. “Who the heck knows, Dad? I’ve been worried all day.”

Philip sighed and hooked an arm around Evan’s shoulders. “Come into your grandmother’s office, okay? We need to talk to you about something serious.”

“Yeah, I figured it was serious,” Evan muttered.

Philip hugged Evan close for a moment. “Look, whatever happens, whatever is said or asked, I need you to remain calm, okay? Getting angry or indignant is not going to help anybody, but we do need to get as many facts as we can.”

Evan pulled back and looked at his father. “Are…is Mr. McCann in Lina’s office right now? Am I being ambushed, or something?”

Philip shook his head. “No, son, it’s nothing like that. We do have a plan to meet with the McCanns later, and Magdelina would like that to be here, where she has the home court advantage, but I would never spring something like that on you when you have no idea what’s going on.”

Evan took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay, okay–that’s good. Let’s go talk.”

Philip led Evan into Magdelina’s office, where she was pouring a cup of peppermint tea for Evan.

“I am sorry to have worried you, querido,” she said ruefully. “I have no excuse, other than I had had an upset and was not certain how to deal with it.”

Evan took the tea and sat in a cushioned chair in front of her. “Yeah, we’re all about the upset lately. So–what is it that has you upset?”

Magdelina looked at Philip, who only nodded at her. Sitting back in her chair, she crossed her legs at the ankle and said, “Yesterday, as you know, I received a telephone call from Mr. Alvin McCann. He introduced himself to me as the father of one of your classmates, Meggan, and he informed me that his daughter…his daughter had informed him that she was pregnant and that you are responsible for her condition.”

Evan spewed tea all over the carpet.

“Oh, hell no!” he coughed, as Philip rushed to get a towel from the kitchen.

Magdelina took the teacup from Evan and handed him a napkin to clean his shirt.

“That was not the reaction I expected to see,” she said when Philip returned. “Would you like more tea, nieto, or shall I merely pour it onto my nice carpet?”

Evan shook his head and wiped his face with the towel Philip handed him. “Sorry, Lina, but–just no. I might not remember much that happened that night, but I do know that I did not have sex with Meggan McCann. I wouldn’t touch her with someone else’s severed arm.”

“And yet, she seems to insist that you did have…relations with her.”

“Lina,” Evan said calmly, “I have never lied to you, I will never lie to you, and I certainly would never lie to get out of this kind of responsibility.”

“Evan,” Philip said gravely, “this McCann fellow seems to believe that his daughter is pregnant. And several of the other party guests did report that they saw you follow her into an empty room before you were taken to the hospital. The police were clear about that.”

“I don’t doubt that Meggan might be pregnant, Dad,” Evan said with wide eyes, “but I’m telling you–I am not responsible. In no way am I responsible.”

Philip looked into Evan’s eyes for what seemed like an eternity before he straightened and said, “Okay. I believe you.”

Turning to his mother, Philip said, “Mother, please call the McCanns and invite them over for a discussion. Evan, please go and change your shirt. Make it something nice, so you don’t look like a slob in front of our guests.”

“What shall we do about dinner, Philip? Assuming any of us are in the mood to eat after this confrontation.”

Philip shook his head. “I don’t know, maybe we’ll get a pizza after they leave.”

Magdelina’s nose wrinkled. “Must we? I would rather have something healthy after this, to counter the chocolate I feel we shall all deserve later.”

Evan took his time changing, making sure his pants were crease-free and his shirt was buttoned correctly. He was wasting time and he knew it. Listening for the doorbell, Evan reached for his cell phone and sent a quick text to Daniel:

E:How early can paternity be determined?

D: I thought I taught you better than that!

E: It’s not like that. I’ll tell you l8tr. Jst ansr question

D:9-12 weeks

D:Ask for a NIPP test

D: You better not be a babydaddy, Evan!!

Evan took a quick look at his school calendar and did some math. If Meggan was pregnant, and if she got that way on the night of the party, then she was more than fifteen weeks by now, so one of those tests could prove paternity easily. Since his memory of the night was unreliable, he was going to have to depend on Meggan’s father, insisting on proving that Evan is the potential father.

If Al McCann was as much of a hardass as his friend Marcus said he was, then he would insist on a DNA test. It would just be so much better for Evan if he insisted on it first, long before a baby was born.

And if Meggan insisted that Evan was the father, then there was a good chance that Meggan was the one to drug Evan at the party, and he really needed her to admit to it.

Evan was sitting on the sofa in his living room, staring at an open book in his lap but not seeing any of the words. He didn’t even know what the book was.

His leg was blessedly still, but he did jump a bit when his father reached out to adjust the book, flipping it over.

“If you’re going to pretend to read, at least have the book the right-side up.”

Evan blinked up at his father. “Thanks. Is it almost time?”

Philip looked at his watch. “Unless the guy can’t read a map, they should be here soon.”

“And Meggan’s going to be with them?” Evan wasn’t surprised to find out both of Meggan’s parents were coming to confront the boy they thought impregnated their little princess, but he really wanted to look into Meggan’s eyes when the accusation came.

“Yes, querido,” Magdelina said as she entered the room. “The daughter will be with them. Will you be able to keep your temper?”

Evan huffed and closed the book he’d been using as a prop. “Yes, Lina, I can keep my temper. I can’t guarantee Meggan will, though.”

“That is not for our family to deal with, I’m afraid.”

The doorbell rang and Magdelina straightened her skirt. “Philip, please admit our guests.”

Evan moved to stand up, but Magdelina put her hand on his shoulder. “No, you stay seated, Evan. It is not for you to greet our guests.”

Evan nodded and placed the book on the coffee table, finally noticing the cover.

“I can’t believe you were letting me pretend to read Don Quixote. In Spanish.”

“I cannot believe you think I would have a translation of that work in this house,” Magdelina countered just before Philip led the McCanns into the living room.

“Mr. McCann? I am Magdelina Buckley. We spoke yesterday.”

Alvin McCann was a burly man who stood just under six-feet tall and had the build of a football player. Beside him was a woman with blonde hair and a trim figure. Evan gave her more than a cursory glance because he was sure that he was seeing how Meggan would look in twenty or thirty years. Evan watched the hall while his father and grandmother handled the pleasantries, waiting for Meggan to make her appearance. Evan hadn’t seen her since the night of the party, not that he’d been looking for her.

After the McCanns were seated on one of the sofas in the living room, Mr. McCann called for Meggan and she appeared. Evan was…stunned.

Meggan McCann, bubbly, blonde, always put together with perfect make-up and designer clothes, had changed. A lot.

Gone were the perfect waves in her hair and the fitted dresses and the expert make-up; instead, Meggan was wearing baggy jeans and an oversized henley, and her hair was in a lank braid tied with a pink bandana.

If the situation were any less serious, Evan would have laughed at the sight of her. He was trying to figure out if she was acting a part or if she was dressing that way to appease her parents when his father’s voice caught his attention.

“You do understand, Mr. McCann, that Evan doesn’t really remember much of that night?” Philip inquired, causing McCann to puff up angrily.

“That sounds like a good excuse,” he said, “but I don’t buy it. My daughter certainly remembers.”

“Actually,” Evan broke in evenly, “if Meggan is so certain that I had sex with her while I was drugged, then we can go with that story.”

“Evan!” Magdelina exclaimed. “Are you certain?”

Evan shrugged. “I’m sure, but I would like to request you and Mrs. McCann go to the kitchen, please? Make some tea or coffee. Please?”

Magdelina’s eyes narrowed. “And why should I leave my own grandson, in my own home?”

Evan turned pleading eyes to her and said, “Because I’m going to be indelicate, and I’d like to not have you witness that.”

Magdelina huffed and glared at Evan, but she stood and offered to make Mrs. McCann some coffee. As the two older ladies left the living room, Meggan began to follow them.

“No, Meggan,” Evan said crossly. “If I have to deal with this, then so do you.”

“Yes, Meggie,” Mr. McCann ordered, “come sit by me and we’ll get all of this out in the open.”

Meggan reluctantly sat beside her father and Evan stood and crossed to the bookshelf beside the television stand. He stood there for a moment, watching Meggan as she tried to shrink beside her father. Evan sighed and shook his head before crossing his arms and leaning on the bookcase.

“Mr. McCann, sir,” Evan said politely, “I barely remember seeing Meggan at Hilary Edgar’s party. I know I saw her when I first got there, because she made a heavy pass at me and I turned her away. Some time later, according to the police officer I spoke to, someone at that party saw Meggan lead me into a room on the main floor of the house, and then a while later I left that room and that house.

“Now Meggan has told you that she’s in an unfortunate condition, and that she got that way in that room at the Edgar’s house, but I don’t think that’s possible.”

“And why don’t you think that’s possible, Mr. Buckley” McCann asked sarcastically.

Evan sighed and tucked his hands into his pants pockets. “Well, I may never have had sex with another person at the time of the party, but I am a healthy teen-age boy, and I do…take care of myself fairly regularly.”

“Really, Evan?” Philip groaned.

“Sorry, Dad,” Evan said, “but it needs to be said, and Lina didn’t need to hear this. Now, as I was saying, I’m quite familiar with how my body works, okay? And while I don’t remember spending time with Meggan before I went to the hospital, I do know that I didn’t feel chafed or sticky while I was being examined. I didn’t feel chafed and sticky the next day, and they certainly didn’t wash me while I was recovering.

“But if you don’t want to take my lack of stickiness into account, and you really want to believe that I had relations with Meggan when I was drugged and not in control of my own body, then we can play it that way. The way I figure it, the party was in late November, and it’s now mid-March, so if Meggan is pregnant, she’s over fifteen weeks, correct?”

“Yes,” McCann clipped. “And that means it’s too late for an abortion, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“I would never suggest such a thing,” Evan denied. “But I will suggest a paternity test.”

“But that means we have to wait until after the baby comes,” Meggan complained. “And you’ll leave me without any support until then?”

Evan shook his head and said, “No, Meggan, that’s not true. There is a test that you can do now, something called an NIPP test. I asked about it, and then I looked it up before you got here. See, if you are pregnant, then the baby’s DNA is already in your bloodstream. All we have to do is test your blood against a DNA sample from me. I volunteer, of my own free will.”

“Well, then,” McCann said agreeably, “let’s get that done. As soon as possible, we’ll get that done.”

Philip nodded. “I can make some calls to a private lab, and it can be done by the end of the week.”

“No,” Meggan whispered. “We can’t do that.”

McCann looked at his daughter in shock. “And why not? You said he was the one, and he’s actually volunteering to prove it.”

Meggan shrank into the sofa and crossed her arms over herself. “We can’t,” she said, “because Evan didn’t…do anything.”

“Excuse me, young lady?”

Meggan’s eyes began to tear. “I’m sorry daddy, but Evan didn’t do anything.”

“Then who the hell did you let knock you up?”

“Nobody!” Meggan shouted, and she flew off the sofa and crossed the room. “I’m not pregnant! I just figured…I don’t know what I figured.”

“You know,” Evan said as he moved closer to his father, “I kept that water bottle that was drugged. The officer we talked to said there were two clear sets of fingerprints on it.”

Meggan began to cry. “It was a stupid, stupid idea,” she sobbed. “I just wanted someone nice to want me.”

“Is Meggie crying?” Mrs. McCann called from the hall. She rushed in and took Meggan into her arms. “What have you done to my baby?”

“I think,” said Philip as he reached for his phone, “the question might be: What did your baby try to do to my baby.”

~~

“So you need to tell me what’s going on about Meggan McCann…”

Evan shot Geoff a glare and glanced around the library. Fortunately, there was nobody nearby.

He sighed and said, “She took a plea. Big fine, probation, restraining order.”

Geoff frowned. “She could do that?”

“Yeah, she could.” Evan stretched his neck from side to side, relieving his aching muscles. “Her age worked against her,” he said eventually. “I didn’t know, but she was held back a year at her previous school, so she was already eighteen, and I am not. Slipping the drug to me was a misdemeanor, but if she’d actually managed to rape me it would have been a different story.”

“Yeah, but still—if it had been the other way ‘round, the cops would have tossed you in the slammer really quick.”

“Yeah, Geoff, I know.” Evan sighed. “I’ll take the restraining order, though, because she really creeped me out. And I’ll never take for granted how easy it was for her to assault me. The next time you hear someone say men can’t be raped, just laugh in their face.”

Geoff shook his head and closed his math book. “Consent is everything, man. I don’t even eat a slice of my grandmother’s pie without her consent.”

Evan shook his head. “I’m sure that made sense in your head, man, but out loud it sounded crazy.”

“Yeah, well, in my head I was very astute. Now please proofread my essay because I think my theme is all over the place.”

~~

Evan moved slowly and carefully through the kata, each movement precise and sharp. Beside him, Magdelina mirrored his movements easily. Master Eng watched with a critical eye, ready to step forward to correct any posture or movement.

The Martial Arts Academy was almost a second home for Evan and had been since his leg cast came off when he was ten. Magdelina had brought him there to teach him body confidence, but he’d gained so much more.

Evan learned inner strength along with muscle strength. He found peace in the katas in the training room and challenge on the obstacle course in the roof garden. Evan trained his muscles in the weight room at school, but he trained his mind at the Academy. He learned grace and movement despite his size.

However, he still wasn’t comfortable on the dance floor, and prom was coming up quickly. Magdelina had been hoping extra exercise would help him in that regard, but it was not helping.

“I do not understand, Evan,” Magdelina complained when they finished the katas. “You said you danced quite well at your Snow Ball.”

Evan shrugged. “I mean, we jumped around and had fun during the fast songs, and we swayed and rocked to the slow ones, if you want to call that dancing. But isn’t prom supposed to be more…formal? Special?”

“I would not know, Evan, as I had no prom. Perhaps ask your father.” Magdelina quirked an eyebrow and smirked. “Or perhaps ask your brother, since he was so helpful the last time you sought his advice.”

Evan blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. Magdelina had asked, only once, if his ‘study weekend’ was successful. Evan said that it was and that he learned a lot, and then the topic was dropped.

Evan’s father had once told him that if he wasn’t mature enough to say something out loud, then he wasn’t mature enough to do that thing.

He also told Evan that nobody needs to hear about someone else’s sexual exploits, so he should be a gentleman and not brag about that stuff. Boys had a habit of lying about that stuff, and girls didn’t need the hassle.

Evan agreed with all of it. He kept to himself anyway, a result of his early childhood. Geoff knew a lot of Evan’s past, but he didn’t know everything, and Evan had certainly never told him about his weekend with Jill. He respected Jill too much for that.

After almost two months, Jill still blushed when she looked at Evan, and she only ever kissed his cheek in public. Evan thought it was sweet. Geoff thought it meant that Jill was madly in love with Evan.

Evan did ask his father about dancing, when Philip had arrived to help Evan rent a tuxedo for the prom. Philip thought for a moment before saying, “I don’t remember much about my prom, honestly. Just the pictures with my friends in front of a cheesy backdrop. Formal dancing is more for society balls, really, so I did learn to waltz and foxtrot for my mother, and it did come in handy at my wedding.”

Evan nodded and blew out a relieved breath. “Okay, thanks. I just…got into my head that prom was really important, you know?”

Philip laughed. “Prom is important for the girls, who like to brag about their dresses and dates. And from what I remember, especially regarding your siblings, the dates are just accessories for the dresses.”

Evan frowned at that before his eyes widened and he pulled out his phone.

“Jill! Do you have your prom dress yet?”

“We’re at the store now, why?”

Evan sighed in relief. “I need to know what color you’re getting so we can go matchy-matchy.”

Jill laughed loud enough that Philip could hear, and he smiled indulgently at his son.

“Okay, well—I’m looking at yellows and greens right now.”

Evan bit his lip. “Um, yellow is okay, but I think green would look better because your eyes have green flecks in them that really pop when you wear that green sweater.”

“Oh! Okay, that’s really sweet. Um, that color is Spring Green, in case you’re tuxedo shopping.”

“Thanks, that’ll be helpful. Especially since I’m probably going to go with a snazzy suit for prom.”

“No tuxedo? That’s a shame!”

Evan grinned at his father and Philip shrugged. “Yeah, my body is a problem. I’m all leg, it seems, so renting a tux isn’t gonna cut it. The usual tuxes don’t come in extra-long for rental, so we’re going to buy.”

“I don’t think your body is a problem at all, but you’ll look great no matter what you wear.”

Evan blushed and disconnected the call before turning to his father, who was smirking at him. “What?”

Philip laughed. “You’re a good-looking young man, Evan. I’m surprised you don’t have girls lined up to date you.”

Evan shrugged again. “I have trust issues, you know. Jill is a good friend above all, and she’s fun to be with.”

“Right,” Philip agreed. “Well, green, is it?”

“Um, yeah.” Evan turned to the clerk at the tailor’s and said, “My date said her dress is maybe Spring Green?”

“Yes, that is a good color for blonds like you. Unfortunately, jewel tones are in this year.” When Evan looked questioningly, the man explained, “Bright pinks and blues, mostly, with lots of beading. My sister owns a formalwear shop across town.”

“Well, Jill has curly, black hair down past her shoulders, though I think she’s getting it done for prom. And her eyes are…I think she said hazel, so green looks good on her.”

“Well, it will look good on you, as well.” The man led the way to a counter at the back of the shop. “We can do a light-colored suit for you, with a green waistcoat and pocket square.”

Evan and Philip looked at fabric samples before making a choice, and then Evan spent time on a padded stool in his boxers while measurements were taken. He’d never had a bespoke suit before, but it was necessary because of his size. He was still tall and lean, but he had bulked up quite a bit since the Snow Ball, so the suit he wore then no longer fit.

Magdelina said his weightlifting was starting to be a problem because finding clothes was difficult.

Hours later, the suit was ordered, and Philip and Evan were headed to a florist.

Philip chuckled as Evan looked wide-eyed at the prom floral selection. “I remember helping Daniel order flowers for prom. He went with the standard rose wristlet because it was simple. His date got him a white carnation.”

Evan frowned. “Daniel is allergic to carnations.”

“Yes, and he came home swollen and itchy from wearing it the whole time.” Philip shook his head. “Daniel missed the after-prom party he was looking forward to and Margaret babied him all night.”

Evan wrinkled his nose. “I’m glad I won’t have that problem. Jill got me a glittery fern leaf for the Snow Ball. We went with silk then, so I think that’ll be a good idea this time.”

Evan’s phone chimed for an incoming text, and he opened it to see a photo of Jill, looking very pretty in a green knee-length dress with thin straps and darker green lace at the top. Evan showed his father the photo and said, “Maybe yellow daisies?”

Philip hummed and said, “Maybe we should ask the nice lady at the counter. I’ll be honest, I’m absolutely horrible at flowers. Margaret hates them so I always go with a nice dinner out for birthdays and anniversaries.”

Evan grinned at his father. “I’m glad I got that honest, Dad. Daniel said he’s the same way.”

Philip chuckled. “My father never brought flowers to Mother once they were married. He said she appreciated experiences more, so he always took her places. We had the best vacations when I was a kid.”

“Maybe that’s why she tries to show us the world once we graduate high school, to give us experiences.”

Philip clapped Evan on the shoulder. “I’m sure that’s why. Now, let’s order some nice flowers for that pretty girl.”

Once back in the car, Philip adjusted his mirrors and cleared his throat. “Um, wow—I haven’t had to have this conversation in a long time.”

“What conversation, Dad?” Evan asked, confused.

“I know you’ve probably talked about this with someone, hopefully you got good information, but…”

“Oh, is this the sex talk?” Evan asked, aghast. “Dad—we went over the basics in health class when I was twelve, okay? I’m more than covered. I even went to Daniel…”

“Daniel?” Philip looked at him briefly before pulling into traffic. “I…suppose that makes sense. You and I aren’t really close anymore.”

“Dad, he’s a doctor! Of course I went to him! I was embarrassed enough to ask him, and I certainly couldn’t ask Lina, but I figured a doctor with a hot girlfriend would give me straight answers.”

Philip chuckled. “Helle is attractive, isn’t she? Anyway—not the point. I’m pretty out of it as far as teenagers go, but there used to be a trend around prom. An after party, usually at a hotel paid for by the senior class, and sometimes pairs would get rooms.”

Finally understanding where his father was going, Evan blushed. “Um, okay, well, I’m just seventeen, so I won’t be renting a hotel room. And if I somehow did manage to do that, I’d probably want to get a room at a family hotel, and the closest one is in New Jersey, and not the part of New Jersey that’s close to Philadelphia. And, if I were to somehow convince Lina that getting a room at the hotel in New Jersey, which I’d be doing so with my closest friends, who are also seventeen, was a good idea, then I’d put Lina at risk for allowing underage young adults to travel across state lines for what probably could be an after-prom orgy.

“So none of that is going to happen, okay?” Evan paused when Philip nodded. “Lina did offer to host an after party at the house, so Geoff and his date, and Jill, and maybe Marcus and Aimee, will be coming over for movies and food and just hanging out. No orgies, I promise.”

Philip laughed. “Okay, that’s good. I’m…sorry for being so…”

“Dad,” Evan interrupted, “you are not a crap father, okay?” He sighed and rubbed his face with both hands. “I think, with everything going on with Daniel, that you did the best you could for all of us. I don’t think anybody could have planned for how Mom…reacted. But I never once blamed you, and you were there for me every step of the way.”

“I’ve tried to be a good father, Evan, but I know I can’t make up for an absent mother.”

“I never wanted you to be anything more than you are,” Evan confirmed. “And I know you support me, no matter what.”

~~

Evan stood proudly beside his brother as his father took photographs, his black mortar board sitting jauntily on his head.

Graduation was anticlimactic for Evan. His grades had always been good, so he graduated in the Top Ten for his school, but since he wasn’t planning on college right away it didn’t seem to mean as much to him. Evan had also ceased planning his ‘graduation adventure’ because he hadn’t made up his mind where he wanted to visit.

He felt mostly adrift, with no plan whatsoever.

Daniel told him to follow his heart, just like he did. Philip told him that having a wide-open future was not necessarily a terrible thing.

Magdelina told Evan he should follow in her footsteps and become a fashion model in Europe, which made Evan blush.

He got no advice from Maddie, who was still in Switzerland, healing.

Margaret just begged him not to embarrass the family, since they’d been so good to her.

Still, he was proud to hold his diploma and to pose with his friends and family for photos. He’d send some to Maddie with a message to be well, and he’d keep some in a scrapbook he’d been making since he moved in with his grandmother.

And he was looking forward to the graduation party that was being co-hosted by his grandmother and Mrs. Ratner. Geoff had introduced his boyfriend to his grandmother before prom and Michael would be at the party. Jill would be there as well, after a fashion. Her father was in town to take her to dinner to celebrate her successful launch into adulthood.

Evan would certainly miss her once she went off to Berkely, but they’d not had another ‘study weekend’ after that one time. Somehow, their friendship had deepened after then, but the budding romance had cooled down. Jill was still affectionate with Evan, always hugging him and kissing his cheek when she saw him, but she never tried for more and he wasn’t interested in pushing the issue. They’d grown apart naturally, which Evan thought would happen anyway once she went off to college.

Geoff and Michael were still going strong, but they were heading in opposite directions as far as college was concerned. Geoff was heading to Chicago and Michael was going to New York.

Evan wished them well.

 

Chapter Six: Eighteen/Nineteen

Evan stretched his arms over his head before bending forward and touching his toes. The burn felt good. He looked to the side and saw his grandmother and father standing close to the metal barriers, huddled in their weather-proof jackets. The rain fell lightly but steadily over the entire area and there was a light fog obscuring the taller structures of the arena.

He was here, after many years of watching and training.

Japan. Midoriyama Studios.

Sasuke Challenge.

Evan smiled to himself as the counter ran down for the competitor ahead of him. When he was a kid, this was a dream. Take the challenge to become a Ninja Warrior—the ultimate obstacle course and speed challenge, utilizing upper-body strength and balance.

A pipe dream, he once thought; a fantasy to hold his interest while he trained for the school wrestling team. He fantasized more once he and his best friend, Geoff Ratner, discovered Parkour when they were sixteen and took to the streets and parks of Philadelphia to bounce off walls, benches, and statues (and sometimes cars if they were crossing a busy intersection). It was like flying, and more than a little reckless and dangerous, but Evan enjoyed the thrill of it all.

Once his Tai Chi master, Master Eng, found out how serious Evan had been about the whole thing, he built a special course in the roof garden of the Academy, and Evan spent as much time climbing there as he did at the climbing gym he worked at. He became quite an expert at the Salmon Ladder, which only increased his shoulder strength. At Master Eng’s urging, Evan increased his weight training, building more muscle tone and definition. Evan was already tall, standing over six feet, but his height was all in his legs, so most of his strength was in his legs as well. Evan worked hard to correct the imbalance.

Evan spent the two years after high school working as a climbing instructor at the gym, often taking small expeditions into New River Gorge in West Virginia, or to Smoke Hole Canyon for more sporty climbs. Rock climbing at Coopers Rock was also a favorite of his, which he discovered during orienteering classes.

Evan’s grandmother, Magdelina, urged Evan to search beyond his comfortable ‘back yard’ to help find his bearings, so Evan traveled a bit in his shiny Nissan Xterra. He did free climbing in Rumney, New Hampshire, crack climbing at Devils Tower, and shear wall climbing at the Shawangunks in New York. During the colder months, Evan took his love of roller coasters to Florida, where he haunted Universal Studios from late October to Mid-November.

Magdelina joined him occasionally, staying in a comfortable hotel room while he scaled rock faces or shopping while Evan took on the Incredible Hulk roller coaster. She allowed herself to be talked into riding the water rides, and she was bemused by the Lost City of Atlantis section of the Islands of Adventure, but she couldn’t bear coasters.

She did, however, enjoy a good scare, so the Horror Nights events around Halloween were great fun for the both of them.

But Evan never stopped training his mind and body, even while he explored his country. And he always returned to Pennsylvania and his family there. Well, his father, anyway. And he always returned to Master Eng with stories and photographs of his climbing adventures.

And during his last visit, Master Eng took video of Evan running the obstacle course at the Academy, and he sent it in to the show runners at Midoriyama—an audition tape sent in secret.

Evan had been accepted to apply for the show in person, so Magdelina made arrangements for them to travel to Japan. When Evan made it past the audition process and was set to join the competitors, Magdelina called her son and invited him to join them for the filming.

And now, there they were.

Evan had told Philip and Magdelina not to expect too much from him, because out of the one-hundred competitors, at least sixty percent were knocked out of the running during the first phase Speed Round. Philip said he didn’t care because he just wanted to support his son.

And now Evan had watched thirty competitors run before him, and only two had made it past the first round. There were even more competitors waiting to go after him, and they were all stretching and jumping and generally psyching themselves up for the run, but Evan was centered and calm. All the climbing and hiking and Tai Chi had made Evan a calm, assured young man.

Even if he failed at this, he still succeeded because he was actually here.

Evan winced as the man in front of him slipped from the log stack and rolled back to the starting platform. He knew the first three obstacles weren’t going to be a problem, but the fourth one, a mini-tramp onto a climbing net, was giving everybody problems and was the cause of most of the failures that day.

Evan stepped forward and crossed himself, praying briefly for good luck.

Six obstacles stood before him. Just six. He had seventy-five seconds to pass, or to fail.

The count-down began, and when the tone sounded, Evan sprang forward. He hurtled over the moving log pile until he reached the ridiculous rolling log, but he held tight and made it to the platform with the balance board. His long legs made the flight over the board easy, but they were going to be a curse on the mini-tramp. Evan knew he would be able to reach the net without trouble, but he had to keep his feet out of the water.

Deciding to use his height to his advantage, Evan swung himself over the top of the rope net rather than climbing from underneath like everyone else. It was a rough ride down the ropes, and he was certain he heard his grandmother cursing in Spanish as he approached the warped wall, but he focused on again using his height and strength to his advantage.

The platform was slick with rain, and he only had about eight feet to run and gain the speed to attack the fourteen-foot wall, so he paused for a moment. He had thirty-five seconds to climb the wall before climbing a rope up a sheer surface to beat the clock. Taking a deep breath, Evan rushed forward, hitting the curve of the wall in four steps, and using a climbing jump to reach the top of the platform, pulling himself easily over the top. Twenty seconds to go, and Evan reached for the thick, slick hemp rope and began using his strong arms to climb the shear wall in front of him.

And then he pressed the plunger, setting off a stream of white smoke.

Ten seconds were left on the clock.

Evan had made it to the second stage. He wasn’t the fastest competitor, but he was still in the running.

By the time Stage One was finished, there were only ten competitors left. The sky was beginning to darken, and the air was becoming cooler. Evan had gotten to eat a protein bar and drink a bottle of water while waiting for Stage One to finish, and now he was admiring the way the colored lights illuminated the next section of the course: a thin ledge leading to a smooth-walled cage, then a reversed conveyor belt, and ending at three weighted walls, each heavier than the previous, that would need to be lifted to get to the final platform.

Evan would have the same fifty seconds as everyone else to complete the level. Because of his time on Stage One, Evan was now in the middle of the competitors, so he watched the others ahead of him with cool detachment.

The Spider Climb would be the worst part for Evan, again because of his legs.

~~

Evan gasped and rubbed his fingers together to ease the pain.

If he thought it was rough just watching this on television, actually going through it was much, much worse. He fought the Spider Climb, forced a metal cube to roll along a tubular track, and swung from flimsy curtains, but the Cliffhanger was the truest test of his climbing skills. Evan had to traverse a set of ledges only wide enough to hang from his fingertips, but he managed.

His fingers hurt, though. And he had two obstacles left ahead: Jumping Bars and the Ladder Bars. It was all upper body from there out, and he was one of only three competitors to reach this level—and the last to compete. Evan felt all eyes on him as he moved to the series of hanging bars that he needed to swing from to reach the last climbing obstacle.

~~

Evan looked up at the huge tower above him and grimaced.

Why had he wanted to do this again?

He shook his head and accepted the chalk bag from the production assistant.

Thirty seconds to scale the structure, and the first part was a Spider Climb that split apart if he wasn’t fast enough, and then it was just him and a rope to finish the ten-meter climb.

The countdown began:

BEEP…

BEEP…

BEEP…

BOOP

And he was off, springing high onto the shaft, bracing his hands and feet against the sheer Lucite panels, and he began jump-climbing higher and higher, mentally counting down from fifteen seconds to prepare for the wall to split, leaving him only the thick rope to finish the climb.

Arm over arm, breathe in, breathe out, Evan began to whisper to himself:

“As I begin my day, I turn to you, Lord, and ask for strength. Be my rock whenever the day shakes me. Guide me through the day as I navigate choppy waters that might come my way. Empower me to speak up when I need to, even if my voice shakes.

“Amen,” he finished just as he pressed the plunger that ended the challenge. White smoke shot forth and the timer stopped with just two seconds to spare, and Evan sank to his knees and wept with relief.

Much later, when he was eating a celebratory sushi dinner with his family, Evan sent a text to Geoff, telling him to keep an eye on the gaming channel around November thirteenth, but did not tell him why. He sent the same text to Jill, even though their contact was sporadic at best.

He wanted to share his little victory with his favorite people, and he knew his grandmother had been video-calling Daniel each time Evan was on the course. His father, of course, would pass the message along to Maddie, but Evan didn’t think he’d personally hear from her any time soon. Maddie was a mess, and Evan knew it would take time for her to heal, both mentally and physically.

“So, Evan,” Magdelina began, “now that you have done this impossible thing, what more shall you do?”

Evan shook his head. “You mean besides sleep for a week? I don’t know, Lina. Maybe I need to find my bearings some more.”

Philip looked concerned but Magdelina waved him off. “You shall come with me, si? We shall shop tomorrow for memories of this thing, and then we shall go to the resort in Peru. Your father will be designing a new resort for Rubio Resorts, and I would like to take you with me for a planning session.”

Evan tilted his head with a frown. “What on Earth could I help with as far as planning?”

Magdelina laughed. “You have traveled, Evan, so I would like for you to meet with the family to discuss what should best be included in such a family resort.” She waved her hand negligently. “It matters not at this moment, but we shall go to Peru. Your father is welcome to come, but he needs to return to Margaret soon.”

Philip laughed and saluted his mother with his chopsticks. “I do need to head home tomorrow. This trip was unexpected, and Margaret was vexed that I came.”

“Well, I’m glad you were here,” Evan said. “It meant everything to me.”

~~

After Japan in autumn, Peru was a welcome relief.

The coastal region was warm and sunny, even if the temperatures never reached over seventy-five degrees. Evan managed to sleep on the flight from Japan, but nineteen hours on a plane, even in first class, isn’t optimally comfortable. Once they landed in Lima, the family car drove them to the large resort, a jewel in the Rubio Resorts crown.

The hotel had one large main building containing conference rooms, a convention center, several bars and restaurants, and three floors of luxury suites. The site, however, was spread wide, and there were smaller casas with family-style cabins or large lodges. Evan had never been to any of the resorts outside of the hotel in New Jersey, so this sprawling coastal resort was a fantasy land.

There were even smaller ‘resorts’ further inland with a more rain forest atmosphere.

Evan spent the first two hours he was there just walking along the beach, letting the cool water sweep over his toes as his feet sank in the sand. It was too cold for surfing, but Evan definitely had that on his list of things to try.

Maybe.

Someday.

Evan looked out over the rolling water and inhaled deeply. He could feel it—his life was changing again. He was about to turn another page and begin a new adventure, a new life.

But he still didn’t know where he was headed. He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and stared at the ocean, wondering if his answers could be found in that water somewhere.

Probably not.

Evan huffed a laugh and turned his head, noticing a wooden shack on the edge of the beach. A lot of people were hanging around the shack, but it didn’t look like a bar. He turned his head in the other direction and noticed that he hadn’t walked far from the resort entrance, maybe a mile or so. For someone with such long legs, Evan could mosey with the best of them. Magdelina had taught him that hurrying when he had nowhere to go just allowed the world to pass him by.

Evan checked to make sure he had his wallet before dropping his shoes and stepping into them. He walked closer to the shack and found that it was a tattoo shop. The people milling about were clearly tourists, but they looked respectable and young. The shop itself was well lit and clean. There was a scent of cigarette smoke in the air, but the only smoking Evan could see was being done outside. There wasn’t even a trace of sand on the tile patio in front of the shop.

After a moment’s hesitation, Evan strode through the open front door and asked politely if appointments were needed. The tattooed man standing in front of the shop said he could come in, so Evan described what he had in mind.

By the time he met his grandmother for breakfast the next day, Evan was sporting a brand-new tattoo on his chest: a watercolor-style compass rose over his heart. Magdelina complimented his choice of decoration and ordered a spicy sausage dish. Evan blinked once before shrugging and ordering a fruit bowl and coffee.

~~

“You’re new, aren’t you?”

Evan spun around to find a tall, slender man standing by the old-fashioned jukebox, smiling at him.

“Pardon?” Evan asked and the man smiled wider.

“I asked if you were new here,” he said with heavily accented English. “Are you a guest at the resort?”

Evan shrugged. “Something like that. Do you work here?”

The man nodded. “I tend the bar on the weekdays.”

Evan glanced around at the patrons. They were a well-dressed bunch, but it was definitely a casual crowd. Most of the tables were open and there were one or two people dancing to the drum-heavy music. “Not too busy today,” he said.

“No, not right now.” The man gestured Evan forward toward the bar. “Can I get you a drink?”

Evan smirked and moved closer to the bar. “I’m not much of a drinker. What do you suggest?”

The man’s grin grew even wider if that was possible. “You’re just a baby, huh?”

Evan shook his head. “No, not really. I like to keep my body clean. No junk, you know.”

The man’s eyes traveled over Evan’s body, from head to toe and back again. Evan tried not to blush at the attention.

“Your body is a temple, huh? I have Pisco and Frutillada, or just plain cervesa. I have agua if you are timid.”

Evan crossed his arms on top of the bar and said, “I’ll have the Pisco.” He was nineteen, which was old enough to drink there. He could have ordered alcohol in high school if he lived there, but Magdelina believed his brain should have matured properly before he began drinking alcohol.

“My name is Lucas,” the bartender said as he passed Evan a shot glass.

“I’m Evan,” he replied.

“So what brings you to Peru, Evan?”

“I’m just…spreading my wings.”

Lucas laughed and began cleaning the glasses.

Evan had spent a lot of time wandering around the resort, but he only saw his family in the evenings. His cousins were delighted to meet him, especially since several of them had the same birthmark he did, which was apparently a familial characteristic.

Evan didn’t know. He used to hate his birthmark because Margaret had called it ugly once when he was young, and Evan had never forgotten.

Now he was seeing a copy of that birthmark on several of his cousins, so he asked Magdelina about it.

“Ah,” she said with a fond smile. “It is called the angel’s kiss, querido. My great-grandfather had such a mark, and one of his sons had it, but the mark skipped around in the family. My father did not have the mark, but my youngest brother did. Two of my oldest brother’s children had the mark, and now some of the younger generation carry it. I was so happy to see it on your precious face when you were un bebe precioso.”

“So basically, anybody could look at me and know that I’m part of the family here?”

Magdelina laughed. “I suppose, nino tonto. But—most of the visitors here do not ever see our family in the resorts, and neither do the employees. We do not walk around wearing badges with ‘I am the Rubio’ etched upon them.”

“Well, no,” Evan laughed. “That would be silly.”

“Why do you ask such a thing?”

Evan shrugged. “I’m thinking I can maybe get a part time job while I’m here. I mean, don’t get me wrong—I love answering Alessa’s questions about what I think a family resort should be…”

“No, say no more,” Magdelina said. “We will set you comfortable, si? You will stay in one of the modest guest cabanas and I will ask Bruno if there is a place for you. You can earn some spending money, si? Perhaps to get another tattoo?”

Evan chuckled. “Master Eng will be horrified.”

“Si, but also proud. Your show will be airing soon, so expect messages galore!”

Magdelina was as good as her word, and Evan was soon ensconced in a comfortable one-room cabana near the jungle pool. The area was mostly populated by young couples or groups of singles traveling between semesters, so there were no children running around the place.

There were, however, parties almost every night.

Evan was given a position as a trainee bartender, and even though he did not work in the same area as Lucas, Evan saw him often during his off hours. The bar Evan worked in was popular with resort employees as well as the younger guests.

“I see you settled in, Evan,” Lucas said one night.

Evan slid a beer glass down the bar to a patron and grinned at Lucas. “Well, this seemed like a good place to be while I continue to figure things out.”

Lucas took his own bottle from Evan and turned so he was leaning back against the bar, and just started watching the crowd. “This place is fine for spreading your wings, my friend.”

 

Day after day, Evan handed out more bottles and glasses, learning how to mix daiquiris and other mixed drinks as they were ordered. He was a quick study, so he began collecting tips like mad—or maybe the tourists were taking pity on him. He flirted with servers and was flirted with by customers, and Lucas was present every other day, trying to invite Evan to parties away from the resort. Sometimes Evan went with him, laughing and dancing into the late night.

On his days off, Evan spent time at the beach chatting up the locals. Sometimes he went with his cousins, who were happy to show him the special, hidden places that tourists never went; the real jewels of Peru that were off the beaten path. Isobel Rubio, a cousin a year older than Evan, made it her personal quest to teach Evan how to dance properly, in the Latin way, as she put it. Evan laughed when she told him, telling her that his long legs might be a hindrance, but by the time his grandmother visited again, Evan knew how to swing his hips and pop his booty as well as the other young men in the clubs.

Evan went home every night alone, but he wasn’t lonely. He could have had bed partners if he’d wanted them, but sex never seemed as important as a real connection, and he made plenty of those without sex.

After the Sasuke episode aired in America, Evan’s phone blew up with texts from his old high school friends. Geoff was in the middle of a degree in Social Work, as far from Peru as he could be, but he called personally to curse Evan out about going to Japan without him and doing something so crazy. It was just like old times.

Geoff asked what Evan was going to do with the prize money, which ended up being around $10,000/USD, and Evan told Geoff he was currently bartending in Peru.

“Are you getting laid every night at least?”

Evan laughed. “No, but I probably could be.”

“Man, I thought your grandmother wanted you to have a torrid affair at some point.”

Evan paused. “You know, you’re right. I’ve been smiling and being pleasant, and I bet some of those girls flirting with me are really serious about it. I should do something about that.”

“Just be safe, Evan. I mean, I know you will be, but only trust yourself while I’m not there to watch your back.”

Evan smiled even though Geoff couldn’t see him. “Yeah, I will be. Safe, sane, and consensual is the way to be. I still only trust drinks I make for myself.”

“Evan…man, I hate to tell you this.”

“What, Geoff? Is it…about Meggan McCann?”

“Oh, boy, is it,” Geoff said after a moment. “You know she didn’t do so well after she took that plea deal. After getting kicked out of school, she just floundered for a long time, you know.”

“Yeah, I remember she just dropped off the face of the Earth for a while.”

“Well, she ended up in Ocean City, Maryland after we all graduated, and she was working in a boardwalk shop and living with about eight other people on the beach somewhere.”

Evan snorted. “Ocean City is a dive city, man. It’s only good for spring breakers and tourists.”

“Yeah, well, she got knocked up about a year ago, so she moved back to Philly. My sister told me when I called for her birthday. I don’t think anyone knows who the baby daddy is.”

“Huh. Is it bad that I can only think that Karma landed on her hard? I mean, she tried to baby-trap me without even having sex with me, so isn’t it fitting that she’s got a kid without a daddy now?”

Geoff snorted. “That’s harsh, but very true. I just thought you should know; in case you see her around—or she sees you. I hear she curses your name often, even now.”

“Right, well, thanks for that. I’ve gotta go, Geoff. Stay happy.”

~~

Evan practically bounced into the bar for his shift that afternoon, garnering the attention of everyone present.

“You seem to be in a good mood,” said a sultry blonde as she approached the bar. “Is it spreading?”

Evan smiled in return. “Maybe. Good moods should always be contagious, right? What can I get for you?”

The blonde’s eyes traveled over Evan’s face and chest, taking in his muscled arms under the resort t-shirt he was wearing before settling on his plastic name tag. “Well, Evan, this is my last night here, so why not share that good mood and make it something sweet.”

Something in her tone made Evan blush and he reached for a cocktail glass and swirled ice into it. Evan deftly mixed her drink and handed it to her before being called away by another patron, and by the time he turned back to her an attractive older man had joined her.

Shaking his head at his potential bad luck, Evan served beers and Pisco Sours for patrons for a few hours until his meal break.

When he was hanging a bar towel over the counter and taking his sandwich to a table in front of the television, the blonde approached him again.

“Hey, Evan,” she purred as she sat in the chair across from him. “So that good mood definitely got passed.”

Evan saluted her with his water bottle. “I’m glad to hear it. You shouldn’t be in a bad mood on the last day of vacation.”

“Yeah, so,” she said, glancing over his shoulder, “I was wondering something.”

Evan twisted in his chair to find the older man she was with, standing at the exit, obviously waiting for her. He turned around and looked at her, and she smiled invitingly.

“That’s my man, Franco. I’m Angel.”

“I bet you are,” Evan murmured, and she smiled in delight. “You were wondering what?”

“Well, like I said, this is our last night, and we want to make it something special. This guy at another bar, Lucas, said you might be interested in a party.”

Evan pushed his empty plate away from him and capped his bottle. “What sort of party?”

Angel quirked an eyebrow and bit her lip softly, drawing his attention to her mouth. “I’ve got this fantasy, you see, and a vacation away from everyone you know is just the perfect place for a fantasy.”

Evan watched her as her eyes flicked over his shoulder again, and his stomach flipped as he finally figured out what she was hinting at. “So the two of you?”

“I’d love it if you could join us, Evan. Just for a night. Just a few hours, really.” She leaned forward, reaching out to run fingers over his bare arm. “Franco said you’d be perfect; a young, innocent man to share.”

Evan felt his own eyebrows rise to his hairline. “Oh, um. I…my shift isn’t over until eight.”

Angel smirked. “That’s perfect. Do you want me to pick you up, or do you want to come to me?”

Evan looked down at himself and said, “I probably shouldn’t be caught with a guest while wearing my uniform, such as it is.”

“I’ll come back before eight, then, and give you my key. Thank you, Evan.”

“Don’t thank me yet. We haven’t done anything.”

Angel left and Evan took his empty plate and water bottle back to the bar area. He washed his plate and disposed of the bottle, and then he got back to work.

None of his coworkers even looked at him sideways.

 

Just before half-past eight o’clock that night, Evan found himself standing in front of one of the luxury cabanas offered by the resort. It was, he recalled, in the section casually referred to as ‘honeymoon central,’ and all of those cabanas were spaced far enough apart that noise did not carry.

There was already a Do Not Disturb tag on the door, but Evan was given a key. Taking the cautious route, Evan knocked even as he inserted the key into the lock. When he entered the room, there was a flickering light as if there were candles lit on every surface. Evan managed to not roll his eyes just in case Angel was close enough to see him. Didn’t she understand what a fire hazard was?

“Evan, is that you,” a female voice called, and again he managed to not roll his eyes.

“Um, yeah, it’s me. Were you expecting someone else?”

Angel came around the corner wearing a satin robe and a smile. “Franco stepped out to get a bottle of wine because there wasn’t anything to our taste in the minibar.”

“Ah, okay.”

Angel reached out and grabbed Evan’s hand, pulling him past the entry room and into the lounge. Evan barely had time to look around at the luxurious furniture before Angel said, “Why don’t you take off your shoes and get comfortable. We ordered a fruit and cheese platter for refreshments if you’re interested.”

“Not right now, thanks,” Evan said as he wiped his hands over his thighs. “I think I should get some clarification about what your, um, fantasy entails. Just so I know what you expect here.”

Angel pouted and pulled him down to the sofa. “Are you nervous?”

“Should I be?” he countered. “I mean, it’s not every day a gorgeous woman asks me back to her room.”

Angel leaned forward and ran her hands over Evan’s shoulders. “That’s a shame, because I bet a lot of women think about it.”

Just then the door opened, and Franco appeared. He was, indeed, carrying a bottle of wine and three glasses. The bottle was already open.

“Are you starting without me, Angel?” Franco asked, and his voice was as smooth as rich chocolate, with a delicious Italian accent.

“No,” Angel pouted. “Evan wants to…discuss things.”

Franco smirked and lowered the wine and glasses to the coffee table. “So, not completely innocent then.”

Evan shook his head. “Not exactly. But I am in a foreign situation, so I just want to know what you want with me.”

Franco sat behind Angel and circled her trim waist with one arm. “Angel is my one and only love,” he said, frankly. “We promised each other that once we left this place, we would be only with each other. However,” he said as he kissed the side of her neck, “Angel would like very much to experience more than me for just once. She saw your smile and wanted you. I see the appeal as well.”

Evan blinked. “So—I’m here for her? Just her?”

Franco sat back with a surprised smile on his face. “If you are open to more, perhaps we can all…play.”

Evan regarded the unusual duo sitting in front of him.

Angel was tall and slender, without many curves, and had curly blonde hair and eyes so blue he was certain they were contacts. Franco was her opposite in color, with dark wavy hair and eyes that were almost black. He was also tall, but not as tall as Evan, and he was wiry in build, rather like a runner. Franco had the look of a man who took care of himself but did not spend hours in a gym.

He certainly didn’t have to because Evan could admit that the man was attractive.

Evan licked his lips, mouth suddenly dry. “Well, I’m game for most anything,” he said, and Angel almost purred. “But,” he held up a hand, “we play safe, and we play sober. Or I’ll play sober because I don’t trust bottles that I haven’t opened myself.”

Franco nodded, satisfied with Evan’s answer. “I shall have wine, because I went to the trouble of retrieving it, but we have sealed bottles of water—and of course, the water cooler in the kitchenette works perfectly well.”

“Okay, then, where would you like to…play?”

Angel reached out and sank her hands into Evan’s hair and pulled him into a deep kiss. Evan gasped as she shoved her tongue roughly into his mouth, but he allowed her to take the lead. She was aggressive, so he would let her be aggressive; Evan knew he could easily defend himself if he had to.

Evan surrendered to the kiss, allowing himself to touch Angel in return. The skin of her throat was silky and soft, and she released his head long enough to undo the sash to her robe. The satin fell open slightly and Angel’s hands were again in his hair, pulling his head down toward her breasts.

Taking the obvious hint, Evan placed open-mouthed kisses down Angel’s throat and sternum before taking one rounded breast into his mouth. The tight bud of her nipple was hard against his tongue, and he flicked it gently while sucking on the swollen breast.

Angel moaned, tightening her hold on Evan’s hair, and he felt the sofa shift as Franco moved from his position behind her.

“She is lovely in her intensity, is she not?” Franco asked, and Evan could only groan in response.

Evan kissed his way to the other breast, laving attention to the hard nipple even as he reached up to grasp and fondle the breast that he left behind. Evan felt Franco move closer behind him before the other man reached out and pulled Angel’s robe open wider, shoving it off her shoulders. In response, Angel shifted backwards so that she was reclining slightly, her legs parting enough that Evan could smell her arousal. Franco pressed against Evan’s back as he moved in to kiss Angel’s mouth and one of Angel’s hands left Evan’s hair to grasp at Franco’s shoulder.

“Touch me, Evan,” Angel whispered huskily, and Evan complied, running one hand up her leg from ankle to hip, pushing the satin out of his way so that he could feel only silky skin. Angel moved one leg outward, drawing Evan’s attention, and he stroked his hand from her hip to her thigh, circling inward until he could feel the heat of her.

Franco moved away then, and Evan felt the cooler air against his back. The absence of the other man gave Evan room to slide backward, and he kissed his way from Angel’s breast to her belly, laving the soft skin with his tongue and leaving a wet trail from her navel to her pubic bone.

Their position on the sofa wasn’t conducive to much more than kissing and fondling and it became clear that Angel, at least, was eager for more. She grasped Evan’s shoulders and pushed him up and away, briefly kissing him before saying, “I need your mouth on me.”

Evan stood from the sofa, allowing Angel to stand, and then Franco was there holding out his hand and pulling Angel to the bedroom.

“Come, Evan,” Franco invited. “Let us play.”

Evan kicked off his loafers and unbuttoned his shirt while following the duo into the bedroom. There were candles on the dresser, but none were close to the bed, and there was soft music playing—lively Latin rhythms that set an intimate mood.

Angel dropped her robe completely before dropping back on the bed, allowing Evan to see honey-hued skin and long limbs—and a completely shaved mons pubis. Evan stared for a moment before dropping his own shirt to the floor. Angel beckoned to him with one long finger, smiling saucily when Evan stalked toward her.

Angel was reclining on the bed the wrong way ‘round, so her legs were hanging off the edge. Evan knelt between her knees, and he began kissing her legs starting at the ankles. He massaged her calves as he kissed his way upward, and he urged her legs further apart when he got to her knees. Angel groaned deeply and Evan looked up to see that Franco had stripped and was kneeling by Angel’s head, and Angel had lifted onto her elbows to take Franco’s thick cock into her mouth.

The sight was enough to completely ignite Evan’s passion, and he leaned forward to kiss along Angel’s thighs, using his deft fingers to push her legs wider. Evan licked around her labia, tasting the salty sweetness, and he stroked her dripping slit with two fingers, pushing inside gently before stroking upward to her clit. He kept his tongue moving lightly on the outside of her labia, teasing her until she began thrusting her hips upward.

When she moved her hands toward his head, Evan pulled away completely and thrust his fingers deep inside of her, rubbing her clit with the thumb of his opposite hand.

“You do look good like this, Angel,” Evan said as he twisted his fingers gently, still thrusting inside of her. “But we’re playing safe or we’re not playing.”

“I agree, Evan,” Franco said. “Allow me to provide some…safety.”

Evan nodded and then dipped his head to kiss along Angel’s thighs. She began to move her hips in a circular motion and Evan increased the pace of his thrusting fingers. With his thumb, Evan massaged around the clitoral area, keeping direct pressure off the tight bud so that Angel wasn’t pained by the movements.

Franco returned, kneeling beside Evan, and he added his own hands to Evan’s ministrations. Franco pulled Angel to the very edge of the bed and handed Evan a dental dam package.

“I appreciate the care you are taking, Evan. Few would be so cautious and concerned.”

Evan took the package and opened it deftly before placing it over Angel’s vulva.

“I learned caution very early,” Evan admitted as he looked into Franco’s dark eyes. “One should always take care of their partner in these situations.”

“She is most precious to me,” Franco said, and he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Evan’s mouth.

Evan gasped at the unexpected kiss, unsure how to react for a moment before he surrendered to the feeling of a hard mouth against his. Franco’s lips were firmer, his skin warmer, and there was a slight rasp of whiskers against his face. Franco took advantage of Evan’s gasp and thrust his tongue inside Evan’s mouth, rubbing against Evan’s own. Evan tasted the wine Franco had been drinking as he returned the kiss, only to be pulled away by frantic hands when Angel got tired of being ignored.

Evan laughed and apologized, replacing the dam, and kissing the side of Angel’s knee. He dove in, then, and began licking into Angel like she was his favorite dessert. The dam, fortunately, was flavored, but her scent overwhelmed the scent of the latex, and her arousal urged him on.

Franco had removed himself back to the bed and Evan glanced up to see the other man feasting on Angel’s breasts.

Evan used tongue and fingers to drive Angel on, and soon enough she was cresting into orgasm, keening, and pulling on Evan’s hair as her hips thrust into his face. He kept licking and sucking her clit until she began to calm and twist away from him.

Evan scooted backward and disposed of the dam in the bin next to the dresser. When he stood up and turned to the bed, Angel was flushed with release and had begun sucking Franco’s proud erection with earnest fervor. Evan was unsure of his place until Angel beckoned him forward.

“Let me play with you, Evan?” she pleaded, and Evan shed his khakis and boxers before joining them on the bed.

Angel had finally twisted around to lie correctly on the bed and was using pillows to prop her head for the blow job she was giving to Franco. At her urging, Evan knelt at her side opposite Franco, and then Angel had her hand on Evan’s erect cock, stroking and squeezing even as she continued to suck at Franco’s cock.

Franco handed Evan a condom and said, “She loves to do this.”

Evan nodded, feeling a bit dazed, and opened the wrapper and rolled the latex partly over his erection until Angel slapped his hand aside and rolled it to the base, fondling his balls when she reached bottom.

Evan gave in to the sensation, rocking his hips in time with her strokes. His eyes drifted closed and he tucked his hands behind his back to keep from forcing Angel’s grip. He opened his eyes again when Angel stopped stroking and took him into her mouth, sucking hard until he hit the back of her throat. She swallowed around him, pumping the base of his cock with her hand, and he groaned loudly.

“Angel,” Franco murmured, “you look so beautiful with your mouth wrapped around him.”

Angel moaned and the sound reverberated through Evan’s cock. He jerked in place as his orgasm built, but he wasn’t quite there yet. Angel reached between Evan’s legs and probed his perineum with deft fingers, stroking just to the edge of his anus and teasing the skin of his testicles. Evan felt his testicles tighten as his orgasm rose and his hips stuttered as Angel sucked deeper. Evan gasped and Franco leaned forward to take him in a rough kiss, tongue rolling against his before sucking it into Franco’s mouth. Caught off guard, Evan reached out to grab Franco’s shoulders and he deepened the kiss, pulling Franco forward.

Angel let her hands drop from Evan’s ass and she grabbed the rim of the condom to keep it from sliding off his softening cock. She shimmied down between the two men to dispose of the condom and then perched on the edge of the bed, watching them kiss. Angel reached out and drew her hand down Franco’s abdomen, teasing the edge of his pubic bone but not touching his still-erect penis.

“This is amazing!” Angel hissed. “Two gorgeous men to play with, all for me!”

Evan pulled back from Franco with a start. “Oh, um…”

“No,” Angel said, rising onto her knees to place a finger on Evan’s lips. “No, don’t stop, please. You are…so sexy when you do that. You are so uninhibited, Evan, and I want to do…everything.” She drew him down to her level and kissed him. “I want to touch you and to feel you touching me.” And another kiss.

“I want to feel you inside of me. I want…”

Angel kissed him yet again before pushing him to lie flat on the bed. “I want to feel things, Evan. I want to feel things with Franco, but we’re still learning about each other.” More kisses, along his jaw and down his throat, open-mouthed. “You have such a sensual touch.”

Angel’s hands were moving again, over Evan’s shoulders and chest, and she was kissing down his chest and over his abs. Evan closed his eyes as he felt his cock begin to stir again and Angel hummed in delight.

“You are so ready again,” she murmured. “We have so much fun ahead of us.”

Evan felt her mouth and hands drift over his thighs—and then another set of hands began stroking his chest. He opened his eyes to see Franco leaning forward to kiss him, and then he closed them again when Franco’s lips closed over one nipple, sucking it to a hard point. Franco sucked and kissed one nipple while playing his fingers over the other, and Angel’s fingers stroked and tickled his hardening cock.

“I, uh,” Evan licked his lips, still tasting the latex of the dam. “I came to play, so we’ll play. Just—we’ll play safe, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Angel agreed. “We’ll play very safe.” She kissed up Evan’s thighs, tongue making tiny circles on his skin. “I really want to taste you, though, so I think I’ll pout while we play safe.”

Evan laughed. “That’s fine. You go ahead and pout.”

“I will not be pouting,” Franco said as he straightened his posture. “But I am very willing to play.”

“Yeah,” Evan said breathlessly. “I see that.” Evan reached out and pulled Franco down for a deep kiss. There was something—a desire that Evan didn’t recognize. He’d certainly had a few sexual partners, usually climbing partners that shared a taste for the danger and thrill. Everywhere he traveled, Evan was able to find a group that welcomed a new member because climbing alone was a stupid idea, and there was usually the chance for a hook-up before the adrenaline wore off, but he’d always been with women.

Evan loved the feel of a woman, the taste and scent. Ever since high school and Jill, Evan made sure that he knew how to please a woman—and how to accept the pleasure they gave to him. But until that moment, Evan had never been tempted to be with a man, not even as a third in a threesome.

And yet—Franco had kissed Evan first. And Evan had liked it.

A lot.

Evan opened his mouth to Franco and ran his hand through the other man’s silky hair. The contrast of Franco’s hard mouth was a different delicious than Angel’s softness and Evan was eager for more—as much as this duo would allow.

Angel had been busy teasing Evan’s cock, stroking and petting and blowing hot breath along the length, but now she was rolling a new condom over his full hardness and Evan was breathless, anticipating the next move in this scene.

Angel took hold of Evan’s hand and pressed it to her breast, and he gently squeezed the soft mound, flicking her nipple with his thumb. He palmed the whole mound and pinched the nipple tightly when Angel moaned. Franco pulled away from Evan to kiss Angel before he leaned down and licked at the nipple that Evan was playing with, and Evan felt a shot of desire. Angel leaned forward for her own kiss and Franco turned his attention fully toward her.

Evan watched as Franco’s hand drifted down Angel’s belly until it was buried between her legs. Angel sighed and spread her legs further, crawling up Evan’s body until she was straddling his waist and Evan grasped her hips. He licked his lips as Angel started grinding her pelvis into his belly, Franco’s hand trapped between them. Evan could feel the tiny thrusts Franco’s fingers made against Angel’s vulva and he felt his cock grow even harder.

Deciding to be bolder, Evan pulled one arm free and ran his hand up the back of Franco’s leg, kneading the flesh along the way. Evan massaged Franco’s thigh and watched as Franco’s hand paused its movements between Angel’s legs. Franco pulled away from Angel’s kiss and looked down at Evan.

“Yes, please,” was all he said before resuming his attention to Angel. Evan took the permission for what it was and stroked Franco’s ass for a moment before reaching between Franco’s legs and stroking his thick cock.

Evan concentrated on the feeling of another man’s cock in his hand. Franco was circumcised, unlike Evan, and he was thicker than Evan was. Evan knew the mechanics were the same, so he squeezed around the base the same way he did to himself before stroking slowly from the base to just below the head. He rubbed his thumb over the head, feeling thick liquid leaking from the tip, and Franco moaned.

Evan began stroking in earnest, and Franco’s breathing became haggard. Angel shoved Franco away from her, pushing him toward Evan’s shoulders before she positioned herself over Evan’s cock and sank down slowly onto his length. Evan saw Angel pass a condom packet to Franco before she began riding his cock like a wild woman.

Franco flicked the packet between his fingers, drawing Evan’s attention, and then he raised one eyebrow. Evan swallowed and nodded gamely, so Franco rolled the condom on while Angel rode Evan’s cock, setting an easy tempo. Once Franco was ready, Evan had regained some of his courage and he reached out to pull Franco’s hip higher. Franco leaned forward and Evan opened his mouth for Franco’s cock. The weight of it against his tongue was intoxicating and Evan licked and sucked just like he enjoyed it, pulling it deep into his throat before sucking hard.

Angel gasped at the sight and began riding harder, pressing on Evan’s shoulders to keep her balance. Franco pulled her forward to kiss her before saying, “This was your best idea ever.”

~~

Evan left Angel and Franco much later that night. He detoured by the main bar on the way to his cabana, just to see if Lucas was on shift.

He was, and he smirked when he spotted Evan by the door. Evan just offered a two-fingered salute in response and Lucas laughed.

The next day, Evan made a visit to the tattoo shop on the beach for new ink. The artist frowned at his request, but when Evan explained his reasons, the artist congratulated him and began pulling the ink for the tattoo gun.

Two hours later Evan left the shop with calligraphic script running down the inside of his left forearm:

No todo lo que es oro brilla, no todos los que deambulan están perdidos

(not all that glitters is gold, not all who wander are lost)

Evan had also decided about his path through life.

His grandmother was thrilled.

 

Chapter Seven: Twenty-three

Evan may have gone the long way toward college, especially since he decided to get a degree from his parents’ Alma Mater, but he did get there—and he worked extra hard to graduate by the time he was twenty-two.

It meant summer classes and ultra-full class loads, but Evan made it work by taking most of his courses online. And in between classes, projects, and exams, Evan managed to live quite a full life.

He climbed Salkantay while waiting for his application to Carnegie Mellon to be accepted (or declined) and managed to trek to Machu Picchu once with his grandmother before he left Peru for good. Many photographs were taken and sent to his father and brother in the US.

A cousin, descended from his grandmother’s middle brother, cousin-napped him to Rio de Janeiro for Carnival, and he allowed himself to be painted, glittered, and sequined before joining the massive parade and party that introduced the Easter season. He danced, drank, and had a fun time—and yes, he had sex, but only with a tourist from Canada. His cousin teased him massively for not hooking up with one of the locals, especially considering how sensual his dancing had been during the Samba-fest, but Evan found the college student, a man, to be compelling and comfortable.

Right up until his girlfriend tried to go full-on psycho on him when she found them in their hotel.

Evan’s cousin did not tease him about that part.

Evan managed to finish most of his Civil Engineering degree online before leaving South America, and only returned to Pennsylvania for his final final exams. His last two full semesters. His grandmother was proud to see that Evan had finally bloomed just as she always knew he would. And while Evan could have completed the degree online, his best friend forever, Geoff Ratner, was getting married and wanted Evan to be there for him.

Evan was prepared to be Best Man when Geoff married Michael Healey after they both left school, but Geoff wanted his sister to stand with him. Evan could totally understand that, since Geoff had tried very hard to regain a relationship with his sister after he was thrown out of the family home when he came out of the closet in high school. Michael, while a good friend, did not know Evan enough to ask him to be Best Bud for his side—and he was asking his father to stand up for him anyway. Instead, Geoff asked if Evan had ever thought about marrying him, and Evan asked if Geoff was crazy or just drunk.

“Nah, man,” Geoff laughed, “I mean, did you ever think about getting one of those online minister thingies? You know, so you can marry me. And Michael. To each other.”

Evan frowned, because he hadn’t thought about that sort of thing. Why would he? But after talking to his brother, Daniel said it would be a unique solution to the Best Man decision, and if Evan were to go through with it, Daniel might ask Evan to officiate a wedding when Daniel asked Helle.

“You mean you aren’t already married to that wonderful woman? Daniel! What is taking so long?”

Daniel laughed. “You do know how long medical school takes, right? I don’t want to distract her when she’s just beginning her residency.”

And then Evan discussed the issue with his grandmother, and she thought it was a delightful idea.

So Evan came back from South America to officiate the wedding of his oldest friend—and to finish his degree.

And because he was going to finish his ‘four-year degree’ in little more than three years (and a lot of work), Evan added to his workload with another associate degree in fire science. Also online. When he wanted to be, Evan was a study machine. Education was especially important to his family and Evan had always been a good student. He didn’t want the whole master’s degree in Fire Science right then, but he knew he would probably go back for that one later. He’d already achieved one personal goal by competing in the Sasuke Challenge, and another by visiting Machu Picchu.

The only personal goal left in Evan’s plan was to become a firefighter.

He had a plan, and he’d mentioned it many times to his brother and grandmother. His grandmother merely told him to stay on his track and all goals would be met with hard work. Daniel told him that he would be proud of Evan no matter what he ended up doing for the rest of his life.

Evan’s father was just as proud of all of Evan’s accomplishments, from the climbing tour of the United States to the Public Servant career path. Philip bragged to everyone who stood still long enough to hear about it, and Evan was sure his father’s friends were sick of hearing about him.

As for Evan’s sister? Well…Maddie spent three years in Switzerland healing, both mentally and physically. Their grandmother, Magdelina, visited her often, as did their mother, Margaret. Philip called her weekly and Daniel wrote emails and physical letters, but Evan sent postcards from every place he’d ever visited. When he couldn’t find a good-enough postcard, Evan would make one out of a photograph that he took personally. Many of those photographs were selfies taken while hanging off a cliff or in front of a well-known landmark, so Maddie would at least recognize him if she ever saw him again. But after Switzerland, Maddie took a long sabbatical through Europe, much like the river cruises she took with Magdelina after her high school graduation.

She never wrote back to Evan, and never sent a card or email congratulating him on his high school graduation, his online ordination, or his impending college degrees.

Evan wrote her off, albeit reluctantly. Daniel advised that Maddie just needed time after everything she’d been through, but he had a sour look on his face when he said it.

So, when all was said and done, Evan was once again dressed in a black graduation robe, with a jauntily tilted mortarboard on his head, posing with his smiling brother as his father took photographs. This time, Geoff was not standing with him, but he had sent a card.

Evan hadn’t heard from Jill Taylor in many years. She did send an email, telling him all about himself after the Sasuke aired, and it made him smile because she had always told him when she thought he was being ridiculous. He thought about seeing her at a high school reunion, but that would be quite a way off. Evan had plans.

Lots of plans.

Mostly those plans involved moving from Pennsylvania.

It wasn’t that Evan didn’t like being close to his family; Evan had just caught temporary wanderlust. He planned to settle down. Somewhere.

Evan wanted a family of his own. Sure, Maddie’s marriage was a disaster, and Evan’s own parents were entirely too codependent for his liking, but Daniel had been with the same woman since Evan was in high school and it looked like they would be starting their own family soon now that Helle had obtained citizenship and had begun her residency at Johns Hopkins. Daniel was making noises about wanting children at any rate.

So, yeah, Evan wanted a family, and he wanted a career, and he wanted to help people. He just didn’t want any of that in Pennsylvania.

So he did a lot of research, probably more than was necessary, about fire departments, regulations by state, qualifications, and population density. He also researched recreational climbing availability, because of course he did. During his research, Evan discovered Search and Rescue units, which was different from just firefighting. And there were entire subsets for urban search, wilderness search, swift water rescue, open water, etc., etc.

Evan was exhausted by the end of the whole thing, but he ended up sending applications to fire academies in several states. While waiting for acceptances (or denials), Evan enrolled in classes for Search and Rescue certifications. Evan signed up for every certification he could find, and he was fortunate that many classes could be taken online. He was also prepared to travel for physical certifications. He found that he liked the idea of wilderness rescue because of his time spent guiding rafters on the New River, and he had actually helped several search and rescue teams during his climbing expeditions.

Evan was a week shy of his twenty-third birthday when he received confirmation for placement in fire academies in several cities. Boston was right out for many reasons, the least of which was his family’s bad record with that city. Evan didn’t feel like New York City would be a good fit for him. It was much too…much.

In the end, Evan Buckley found himself packing for Denver, Colorado. He’d climbed there several times and he liked the area, despite the winters. Evan had plenty of money because his grandmother had started savings accounts for each of her grandchildren when they were born. Daniel used his account to buy an apartment after he got tired of living in dorms, and Maddie used her account (and the unfortunate life insurance from Doug’s passing) to live after leaving the clinic in Switzerland. As far as Evan knew, both of his siblings still had quite a bit left in those accounts—but he never asked because that would be rude.

Evan, however, had used his Sasuke money to pay for college. Most of it, anyway. He also earned a lot while living in Peru and didn’t have many expenses because his housing was paid for. And his earnings as a climbing guide in various places helped a lot. Evan allowed Magdelina to invest her original contribution as she saw fit and he never asked questions about it. When she handed him his account information before he left for Denver, Evan almost fell out of his chair.

He’d been raised to be frugal and conscientious, to never take money for granted despite his family’s wealth, so Evan knew he could rely on his own wits and skills to support himself. He also knew that Denver was an expensive city to live in, even if he only got a small apartment.

Thanks to a wealthy grandmother who was savvy with investments (and quite secretive about it), Evan didn’t really need to work.

Ever.

Evan was in awe of his grandmother.

~~fin~~

---