Ben's shoulder, his long legs relaxing and stretching out in front of him. Zach tried to settle to watch the film, deciding it was going to be nigh on impossible with Ben so close, and then in the space of ten 79
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
minutes, he was totally engrossed in what was happening on the screen.
"I have so many movies to introduce you to," Ben said enthusiastically as Die Hard came to an end.
80
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
Chapter 7
All too soon the movie was finished, and Ben
realized it was actually the twenty-sixth now, Zach's last day of being seventeen. He turned his face to cuddle against him, loving the simple affection this hug was giving him. He knew he shouldn't notice but Zach smelled like Christmas, a warm mix of the different aftershaves and colognes that he had received as presents. Ben sighed as he turned off the TV, sliding even farther down and back, pulling Zach with him until they lay side by side on the sofa, no mean feat given Zach topped six foot and Ben wasn't far behind. It was really only possible because they clung tight to each other. They just lay there talking about the film, about college, about things Zach had only ever dreamed about before.
Zach smiled. That innocent smile married with the puppy dog eyes, so intriguing, so damn sexy. "Why do you make it so that everything I want in this world seems possible?" Zach asked softly, pressing his head against one of Ben's hands, half closing his eyes.
"Because when you turn eighteen, anything is possible, Zach, if you want it enough."
81
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
The twenty-sixth passed in a slow, caramel soft,
warm lazy river kind of way. Ben didn't have to go on duty until six a.m. the next day and so, in best middle child tradition, was simply hanging around his momma's house with the intent to relax and enjoy his family.
Mark and Melanie came over just after lunch, the
kids running off for Christmas cookies in the kitchen. The two of them sat with Ben and Zach in the front room. Mark had smirked when he saw Zach in this year's fugly sweater, and Melanie had poked him hard enough for him to whine.
Zach was a little worried by the banter, but still smiled when Melanie mentioned Mark was lucky to have gotten away with not receiving the brilliantly green sweater for Christmas himself. After a while Mark left the room, Ben following, muttering something about beer. Zach wasn't really listening, but was suddenly aware he was on his own in the front room with this woman who looked at him as if he were a bug under a microscope.
"So," she began carefully, "I don't know if Ben mentioned it, but I'm a doctor."
"No, he didn't mention it. Only that your husband was a lawyer and was way tall."
She continued carefully, "You know, as a doctor, I 82
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
can be here if you need anything."
"Anything?" Zach was doubtful that she could supply anything.
"Anything medical."
"Oh," he responded, and then subsided into silence.
Apparently there was no way Melanie was going to let it rest.
"Ben said he found you asleep on the church bench, in the snow. How are you feeling after that?"
Zach blinked. "Fine, warm. I feel warm now, and I don't have like a cold or anything…"
"Is there anything you want to talk to me about?
Whatever you told me, you know it wouldn't go any further than us."
"About what exactly? I told you I feel fine."
"Ben said you have wounds on your back. Could I just check them out?"
Zach sat open mouthed. He had shown those to Ben
in confidence, and for his new friend to betray that confidence made him want to curl in a corner and hide.
"No!" he spat out quickly, shuffling away.
"Zach, no, listen to me. Ben is an officer of the law, and at the end of the day, he has a duty of care… and I am the doctor assigned to your case."
83
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
"I have a case?"
"Underage runaway living on the street? Yes, you are a case, at
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
minutes, he was totally engrossed in what was happening on the screen.
"I have so many movies to introduce you to," Ben said enthusiastically as Die Hard came to an end.
80
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
Chapter 7
All too soon the movie was finished, and Ben
realized it was actually the twenty-sixth now, Zach's last day of being seventeen. He turned his face to cuddle against him, loving the simple affection this hug was giving him. He knew he shouldn't notice but Zach smelled like Christmas, a warm mix of the different aftershaves and colognes that he had received as presents. Ben sighed as he turned off the TV, sliding even farther down and back, pulling Zach with him until they lay side by side on the sofa, no mean feat given Zach topped six foot and Ben wasn't far behind. It was really only possible because they clung tight to each other. They just lay there talking about the film, about college, about things Zach had only ever dreamed about before.
Zach smiled. That innocent smile married with the puppy dog eyes, so intriguing, so damn sexy. "Why do you make it so that everything I want in this world seems possible?" Zach asked softly, pressing his head against one of Ben's hands, half closing his eyes.
"Because when you turn eighteen, anything is possible, Zach, if you want it enough."
81
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
The twenty-sixth passed in a slow, caramel soft,
warm lazy river kind of way. Ben didn't have to go on duty until six a.m. the next day and so, in best middle child tradition, was simply hanging around his momma's house with the intent to relax and enjoy his family.
Mark and Melanie came over just after lunch, the
kids running off for Christmas cookies in the kitchen. The two of them sat with Ben and Zach in the front room. Mark had smirked when he saw Zach in this year's fugly sweater, and Melanie had poked him hard enough for him to whine.
Zach was a little worried by the banter, but still smiled when Melanie mentioned Mark was lucky to have gotten away with not receiving the brilliantly green sweater for Christmas himself. After a while Mark left the room, Ben following, muttering something about beer. Zach wasn't really listening, but was suddenly aware he was on his own in the front room with this woman who looked at him as if he were a bug under a microscope.
"So," she began carefully, "I don't know if Ben mentioned it, but I'm a doctor."
"No, he didn't mention it. Only that your husband was a lawyer and was way tall."
She continued carefully, "You know, as a doctor, I 82
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
can be here if you need anything."
"Anything?" Zach was doubtful that she could supply anything.
"Anything medical."
"Oh," he responded, and then subsided into silence.
Apparently there was no way Melanie was going to let it rest.
"Ben said he found you asleep on the church bench, in the snow. How are you feeling after that?"
Zach blinked. "Fine, warm. I feel warm now, and I don't have like a cold or anything…"
"Is there anything you want to talk to me about?
Whatever you told me, you know it wouldn't go any further than us."
"About what exactly? I told you I feel fine."
"Ben said you have wounds on your back. Could I just check them out?"
Zach sat open mouthed. He had shown those to Ben
in confidence, and for his new friend to betray that confidence made him want to curl in a corner and hide.
"No!" he spat out quickly, shuffling away.
"Zach, no, listen to me. Ben is an officer of the law, and at the end of the day, he has a duty of care… and I am the doctor assigned to your case."
83
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott
"I have a case?"
"Underage runaway living on the street? Yes, you are a case, at
Similar Books
