Unhinged √

39.

    When I wake, I'm wrapped in a single towel and splayed out on the bed with my face to the ceiling and my legs dangling a few inches off the floor. I pull on some clothes before picking up my phone which has been flashing on the bed. Benson is the one calling. Just the person I want to talk to.

"Jake! What the hell kid? Have you forgotten about the game? Where were you all of yesterday?"

"Oh, you know, in the headlines". He let's out a too long sigh.

"I told you this pregnancy was a disaster. Come on man, I thought you'd have learnt from me. Females are terrible on their own, worse if they have a child looming over you. Do you know how much child support is? Thank God for infertility".

I let him have his little sensei moment. Having been divorced three times, he believes he holds a degree in women's affairs. They were all beautiful love stories, iconic first meetings, cliche dates and extravagant weddings. All a sham, all ending with devastating debits from his bank accounts but he did it three times, the optimist. Anyway, his optimism has worn out and he has officially sworn off our opposite gender. He gave me a pat on the back when I told him I was gay.

"You know what I find puzzling Ben? How these pictures keep getting out without your knowledge. I mean, who pays these people for these things? Is journalism that lucrative now that no one came to you to make a deal for something so damning?"

"Ehm_ I"

"Another thing I can't wrap my head around is how you've taken over two weeks to find an apartment. You are usually not this sloppy but I think your age is getting to you. Maybe you do need that retirement after all, don't you think? I can't keep holding you back if you don't want to work for me anymore__"

"It was your mother". He blurts and I cannot even be excited that he took the bait.

"What?"

"She asked me not to get the apartment". He is tentative, so I know he isn't telling me everything.

"Is that all?"

"She blackmailed the hospital for the form and had someone take those pictures".

"What about the one with Ingrid?"

"Ehm. She got that from me, some photographer sent it to me".

"And you thought to consult my mother first instead of me. My God". The extend that woman will reach to make me miserable. She's most likely funding the media houses too, though blackmail would be a safer bet. She does like to play dirty.

"Look kid, I am sorry but you know she helped with my last two divorces, I'd be penniless without her".

"I didn't know that. It wasn't in your cv".

"What can I do? I can get_"

"Nothing. I want you to do nothing". I end the call and throw the phone back on the bed.

Fuck. Of course my mom used the media against me, another sick way of straightening me out but I can't dwell on that. The deed has been done and the only thing I should concentrate on is fixing my relationship with Travis.

    The guestroom door is wide open and at a glance, I can see he isn't there. It's a Sunday, he isn't at the garage, he doesn't work on Sundays. The clanging of utensils draw me to the kitchen. Ingrid is scooping pancakes onto three different plates, it's the first time I've seen her cook but my eyes stray to Travis who is looking at the plate she slides to him.

He slowly grab a fork as I approach them, Ingrid watching us with caution.

"Travis. Are you okay?" I ask as he takes his first bite. He chews slowly and swallows before looking at me, remorse and embarrassment in his eyes.