Mulligans

7. Time to Accelerate

Chase quickly made his way through the Beemer's gears into fifth and sped down the twisty lake road. He knew he was headed the right way from Tyler's vague directions; he didn't know exactly how to get where he was going, but he wasn't worried. It was a lake, hence some kind of closed loop, and Bre's family's summer house was somewhere on the water. Head in either direction on the lake road, and he'd eventually find it.

His mind, which had been so clear and free in those fleeting moments with Jarod in the woods, was now back to its incessant rambling. He'd felt so courageous when it was just the two of them there, like whatever anyone else thought didn't matter and couldn't touch him. You were hiding in the woods under the veil of darkness, he wryly reminded himself. That's not all that courageous. But even still, he'd taken a first step. He'd followed his instincts, and they were correct. He'd sensed that Jarod was interested in doing more than just talking football with him, and he'd been right. What would happen if he followed his instincts even more closely? Could he free himself from his own mind and its constant chatter and inhibitions?

He got excited again as he imagined Jarod's mouth on his own, as he felt the phantom pressure of the other boy's muscled body pressed against him. One thing was certain: the summer was lining up to be a lot more exciting. He glanced in the rearview mirror and was surprised to find himself smiling as he saw Tyler and Bre making out like cats in heat. He understood now that they were just following their instincts, lost in their own special world. And every time Tyler had tried to set Chase up on a date, it was because he cared. He wanted Chase to feel what he had felt tonight. Chase realized he cared for Tyler even more now that he understood the motivation behind all those setups, which he'd found annoying in the past. Tyler was doing it because he cared about Chase. He was just unfortunately misguided, through no fault of his own.

His mind flickered back to what Jarod had said. Would Tyler really freak out if he knew? Had something happened in the past to give Jarod that insight, or was he just projecting his own fear about the situation? In Chase's opinion Tyler had always been nice to everyone, the type of guy who easily blended with all the different cliques at college, but then they'd never really hung out with anyone who was gay before. He couldn't even recall a time when the subject of gay people had come up. Maybe Jarod was right. Maybe Tyler would freak out.

"This is it. Turn right into that next driveway." Tyler emerged from the back, wrapping an arm around each front seat to give directions. Chase pulled into the long tree-lined driveway and up to a beautiful A-frame log cabin. He watched in the mirror as the lovers shared another long kiss good-night.

"It's nice to be back. Together, I mean," Bre said, opening her door.

"Yeah."

"You'll call me tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, I'll call you tomorrow," Tyler said, climbing out of the backseat after her and giving her one last kiss before jumping in the passenger seat. "Fun night, huh?"

Chase put the car in reverse and backed up to the lake road. "Yeah, fun night. So, you and Bre are back together, huh? Just like that."

"Just like that."

"Is it serious this time?"

"Nah. I mean, yeah, serious for a summer fling. I don't know." Tyler laughed, pulling the passenger-seat mirror down to check his mug. "Man, my lips are raw. She was eating me alive!"

"So you're not in love with her?" Chase asked, throwing the stick shift into first gear as he pulled onto the lake road.

"She smells better than you if that's what you're asking. What is this? Like twenty questions?" Tyler joked, flipping the mirror back up.

"Just wondering."

"I think Christie's into you." Tyler offered the obvious.

"Yeah, she told me."

"So? What are you gonna do about it?" Tyler asked, clearly excited that his matchmaking might have actually found a match. "I think Jarod's into Christie too. I'd move fast if I were you."

Though wary of how Tyler might react, Chase was nevertheless tempted to admit he had a sneaking suspicion that Jarod was interested in someone else. He wanted to tell him so badly, wanted to share the amazing experience he'd had in the woods, to tell Tyler he finally understood what it was like to be excited about someone. That was what best friends did, wasn't it? Share everything: no secrets, no shame. But then he thought of Jarod and realized he also had a new friend who he owed something to. He owed it to Jarod to keep his mouth shut, at least for now. "I move at my own pace."

"Yeah, first gear," Tyler joked.

Chase rolled his eyes and shared the laugh as he accelerated and shifted the car up through the gears. Maybe it was time he accelerated his love life too....