Diary of a Teenage Taxidermist (25 page)

Ethan on the other hand took a deep breath and rubbed his eye again. “Oh my, God, your mom is gonna hate me,” he moaned and pinched the base of his nose. “And now my head is starting to hurt.”

Robert’s mouth went dry. “Do you want me to help you upstairs? You could lie down while I settle things with Mom.”

“No, I’ll stay. I don’t want her to think I’m weaseling out of talking to her. But I’ll need to lie down soon. Thank you for standing up for me.” He looked up at Robert and hugged him tight. He seemed so small and delicate nestled in Rob’s arms, which were as thick as Ethan’s legs.

Robert swallowed and leaned down to nuzzle Ethan’s nose, slowly leading him to the living room. There, at least, Ethan could lounge on the sofa until Mom was back. Rob could only hope she wouldn’t disinherit him for that stunt.

They sat together on the sofa, with Ethan’s head in Robert’s lap, which at least gave Robert something to do with his hands as he anxiously awaited his mom’s return.

“I hope I find a job soon,” Ethan muttered all of a sudden, breaking the heavy silence.

“It’ll be fine,” said Robert, even though he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. Slowly, he moved his fingers across the soft skin of Ethan’s cheek, swirled them over the ear and brushed away the silky hair. Ethan was so beautiful.

The door slammed so hard the windows shook.

“Robert,” his mom called out. “What on earth was all that? Both of you have a lot of explaining to do!”

Robert swallowed and put his hand over Ethan’s ear. Loud sounds would be hard for him to stand while having one of those headaches. “We’re here, Mom,” he muttered.

Ethan put his hand over Robert’s and slowly opened his eye. “I’m so sorry Mrs. Hunter. I never meant for this to happen.”

Robert’s mom pulled an armchair close to the sofa with a vicious screech of wood making a mark on the floor. “Robert, that was so low. How are you going to make it up to me?” She dropped into the seat and crossed her arms on her chest. Her skin was so flushed with anger, Rob half expected vapor coming out of her ears.

He stared at her, his heart beating hard in his chest. “I’m sorry, it was all so sudden...”

She silenced him with a raised hand. “Chris had a pickup truck. That didn’t look sudden to me.”

Ethan scrambled to sit up, his moves heavy as if he were trapped in molasses. “It’s because I have this project I need to finish, and my parents locked my workshop. I need to finish it so bad, there’s a store in L.A. waiting for it. I can’t do it in my house. I swear I won’t be a problem.”

“Yeah, I promise you won’t even notice there are more people in the house,” said Robert, squeezing Ethan’s hand gently. “I can bring you breakfast in bed every day for the next month to make it up to you. I’m so sorry, Mom.”

Mom groaned and rubbed her face. “Okay. So where will Ethan be staying?” Robert was sure this question was a trap.

He pressed his mouth shut and shrugged. “With me?”

Ethan entwined their fingers, but seemed extremely interested in the carpet.

“Oh, so you’re nesting already?” Mom pouted as she looked at them skeptically. “Are you using protection? I doubt the school covers sex education for gay people.”

Ethan’s grip became so hard it hurt. “We… I…”

Robert looked at her, stunned. “Is this really when we have ‘the talk’, Mom? With my boyfriend in the room?” he muttered, feeling sweat beading on his back. Was she implying they would both be promiscuous and infect one another with some ugly diseases? Just because they were gay? That was so unlike her.

“Well, you’re both going to be staying under my roof. And I’m assuming your boyfriend is involved in the sex, so yes, we need to have ‘the talk’.”

Ethan groaned. “We know about stuff…”

Mom squinted slightly. “I sure hope you do because the things I see at the hospital are not pretty. Especially men are extremely careless because they think they can do anything just because none of them will ever get pregnant.”

“Mom, we’re using condoms, and water-based lube, and this is incredibly embarrassing,” rasped Rob with his face burning up. Ethan seemed to share his sentiment, as he hid his face in Rob’s arm.

Mom rolled her eyes. “Good. So now you know how I felt, put on the spot in front of Ethan’s parents. You can go. We’ll talk details later. And I won’t be forgetting about those breakfasts.” She got up from the armchair and walked off to the kitchen.

Robert took in a raspy breath, melting into the couch. “I love you?” he said loudly enough so his mom could hear.

Ethan exhaled and collapsed to the sofa like a puppet without strings.

Chapter 18

Ethan sat on a blanket and watched Robert with a dreamy smile. A week in Rob’s house had passed in the blink of an eye, and with graduation less than two months away, he’d never felt as peaceful. They were becoming the ‘it-couple’ at school, but he couldn’t care less, too engaged in his squirrel project and finding new places on Rob’s body that he hadn’t kissed yet. The idea of topping Rob also kept swirling in his mind, but it just never seemed to be the right moment for it. Oh well, they had time.

In his new workshop in Rob’s basement Ethan found the peace to finish his elk project as well. Robert was so supportive it was almost making Ethan feel like a parasite, because he still hadn’t found a part-time job. When Ethan showed Rob the finished
Of Mice and Elk
, Rob showered him with so many compliments, it had Ethan’s inner weasel doing backflips. Not only did Rob cheer Ethan on, but he also proposed taking proper photos of the finished thing, and it was a godsend. If Ethan were to take photos himself they would be nothing as professional as what Rob could do with the practice he had working on his food blog.

It had been Rob’s idea to do the photo shoot in the woods around town, and they came to the place they’d found earlier, where the trees weren’t growing too close together, but there were plenty of bushes and little hills for a captivating scenery. Robert kept telling Ethan that he would manipulate the pictures to give them an eerie feel, but that did not mean he wouldn’t be careful with the photos themselves. In fact, he brought two lamps, equipped with those weird white umbrellas that, according to Rob, were there to make the light softer. He had considered getting hold of liquid nitrogen to create fog, but he eventually decided against it because it would be too much fuss. It could be photoshopped on, he said, making Ethan even more enamored with him.

And there Ethan was—sitting on a blanket with the post-winter chill barely there and a large picnic basket next to him—watching Rob assume acrobatic positions all over the elk’s head.

“Oh yeah, stay like that.” Ethan laughed when Rob got into a position in which Ethan could see the top of his ass peeking out above his jeans. The comment got him a low groan, but Robert didn’t even turn back, too focused on the task at hand. Ethan had brought along something special he had made for Rob as a thank you for all his help and protection. He could only hope Rob would like it. For now though, he sniggered when Robert rolled to his stomach, with his face dead serious, as if he were hunting that elk, not photographing it.

“You don’t know how much I appreciate this. It’s gonna look so professional on my new website.” Ethan lay down on the blanket, his heart swelling with pride that he had such an amazing boyfriend. Good-looking, kind, talented, a great cook, and an artist as well. He wanted to be sure Rob knew how much Ethan appreciated him, but he wasn’t yet sure how to do that exactly. He was working on it though. Maybe some small commitment ceremony or something? It all sounded so cheesy in his mind.

Robert got to his knees and looked back at Ethan with a small smile. He shuffled closer to the head, and Ethan realized he had to be taking photos of the key in the little door in the animal’s neck. “I’m enjoying myself. If it can help you get more customers, all the better.”

“This is going to be my showpiece, you know, something that will bring potential customers to my site for the ‘wow’ factor. Then, they will hopefully be excited to see what else I have and buy some of the smaller pieces. But I’ll also send out the photos to galleries. They might be actually able to afford it. If I sold it I’d have money to start renting in Seattle.”

Robert stalled for a moment, but then gently opened the tiny door and peeked inside. Earlier that day, he had made a miniature photographic lamp, using a small flashlight and white cloth, and he was now positioning it inside the head. “That would be great for your career.”

“Have you…” Ethan wasn’t sure how to start this conversation, but he had been pondering on it for the last weeks, since he started eating the amazing food Rob prepared, seeing him so passionately updating his website, and interacting with his ‘fans’ on social media. Ethan had sneakily looked into some of the stats of Rob’s blog,
The Secret Foodie
, and discovered that he had over two thousand likes on Facebook. “How are the ads on your site going?”

Robert shrugged. “They’re good. I don’t need to get another job as long as I keep it up,” he said with a small smile, maneuvering the lens to catch the inner side of the elk from a particular angle.

“Maybe you wouldn’t even have to go to college.” Ethan laughed, but meant every word. His heart rate sped up as he imagined the possibility of a life with Robert, living together in Seattle, both engaging in their passions, having leisurely breakfasts in bed, and always being there for each other.

Robert chuckled. “I don’t earn
that
much. And health insurance won’t pay itself,” he said from where he was lying in the pale grass.

Ethan huffed loudly and rolled over to his back, looking at Rob upside down. Always so practical. “If you put more work into it, maybe it would grow faster,” he suggested, but Rob only shook his head and made a few more photos.

“So nice. I would buy that if I owned a gallery.”

“You just say that ‘cause you love me.” Ethan smiled, even though he knew his elk was amazing. He loved teasing Rob.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” said Rob, making Ethan sit up at once and throw a little rock at him, but a little smile never left his face.

“How can you say that!”

“I can’t let your head get too big. Your tiny weasel body wouldn’t be able to handle it,” said Rob, grinning back at him as he slowly withdrew and closed the tiny door.

“I compare my work to others, and I think I really have a shot. Loads of people are loving my stuff online. I sold a pair of earrings just yesterday.”

“The ones you made out of tails?” asked Robert, slowly approaching the blanket and switching off the lamps on his way.

“Yes, with the black stone. I worked till two in the morning to finish those. You were asleep when I sneaked in.” Ethan’s smile widened. Living with Robert was like a never ending sleepover. With sex. God, the sex was amazing. Rob was always so curious about Ethan’s body and eager to explore. He definitely wasn’t just a dick and ass kind of guy, and being with him, Ethan discovered that his whole body could sometimes feel like a big erogenous zone.

“I felt you coming in.” Robert smiled and raised the camera to his face, adjusting the focus with the lens, which was now directed at Ethan.

“I felt you
coming
.” Ethan looked straight into the lens and touched his top lip with the tip of his tongue. He noticed Robert swallow just before making a photo.

“Okay, now let’s take a picture that I can actually show to my mom,” chuckled Rob as he came closer.

“Oh yeah? Was that one going to your spank bank?” Ethan snorted, but kneeled by the basket to look like a good boy.

Robert let out a quiet growl but moved closer, pressing the shutter release over and over, as if trying to find the best angle. “
You
are my spank bank.”

Ethan couldn’t help breath catching in his throat and blood rushing to his face. “Or am I your
spunk
bank?” he whispered as his gaze strayed to Robert’s big hands. Whenever he looked at the veins on Rob’s forearms, on how thick those hands were compared to his own, he couldn’t help but think about them holding him down, picking him up. Robert’s strength turned him on so much.

Robert groaned, hiding his flush behind the camera. “Yeah, that didn’t come out right...”

Ethan licked his lips and pushed his hair out of his face. “You have condoms in that basket?” He pulled up the wicker lid.

“No. Let’s forget about the spank bank. Smile at me,” asked Robert, slowly kneeling down at the edge of the blanket.

“I wouldn’t take the quarterback for such a keen photographer.” Ethan sat down and gave a wide smile. “I thought you were completely different just a few months ago.”

Robert’s shoulders slouched, and he put down the camera with a quiet sigh. His brows were low over his eyes as he looked at Ethan. So handsome. Ethan wanted to kiss him. “Don’t laugh, but I don’t like football all that much.”

Those words came as such a surprise that Ethan cocked his head to the side and frowned. “What do you mean? You work so hard to be good at it.” Ethan delved his hand into the basket, curious what glorious deliciousness Rob had prepared for the outing.

Robert sat cross-legged opposite him and shrugged. “If I get a scholarship, I won’t be in as much debt after college.”

Ethan watched him, dumbstruck, with a box of strawberries in his hand. “Huh? You wouldn’t do it otherwise?”

Robert sighed and shuffled closer to open the basket. Inside were little packets of cotton, clear jars, and plastic containers with food. Since coming to live with Rob, Ethan had started to eat far too much, and he needed to watch his calorie intake. But it wouldn’t be at this meal. “I’m not all that competitive. Don’t get me wrong, I like sports, and fitness, and all that, but I’d rather just do running, or play football with friends. For fun, not for the scores.”

Ethan cocked his head to the side, unsure what to say, so he decided on a joke. “I wouldn’t date you if you weren’t a quarterback. School royalty and all that.”

Robert smiled at him, and his body relaxed. “So it does have some perks.” He reached into the basket and started pulling out all the little portions of food. A ‘sample menu’, he called it.

“I bet all the closeted gay boys are now hitting on you.” Ethan gently punched Rob’s arm, which was so freaking firm he wanted to lick it. “You’re just not telling me.” The truth was that as much as he joked about it, a part of him did wonder if an out-Rob wouldn’t get tempted by some other pretty face. One that wouldn’t cause him so much trouble. The way Rob stilled for a split second was answer enough.

“Oh.” Ethan swallowed, unsure what to say. “They can dream, right?” He laughed nervously, opening one of the boxes to get his hands busy. It contained chestnut-sized white balls, drizzled with a red sauce. They smelled so sweet his mouth went moist the moment the scent hit him.

“Obviously. You’re far too much trouble for me to have time for anyone else,” chuckled Robert, leaning forward. He caught a strand of Ethan’s hair and pushed it behind his ear.

Ethan took a deep breath. Rob always found a way to calm his insecurities. It reminded Ethan that Rob was in fact a weasel like him. That in turn prompted something else altogether. “I’ve got something for you.” He reached for the large travel bag he’d brought his present in.

Robert grinned, leaving the basket for now as he looked down at Ethan’s lap, his eyes sparkling with interest.

Ethan unzipped the bag and pulled out the large box wrapped in simple brown paper. “A little thank you for all your help.” He said and passed it to Rob.

Robert accepted the gift, glancing at Ethan with those sweet, bright eyes. He was so handsome it hurt. “I like helping you,” he said but started gently unwrapping the paper. Each time one layer was off, Ethan felt his heartbeat pick up. Would Rob even enjoy the present?

His anxiety peaked the moment Robert pulled back the lid and froze, his face relaxing into an expression that was hard to read. He pulled out the white weasel Ethan had dressed in a tiny version of Rob’s green and yellow letter jacket. There was even a miniature football attached to the weasel’s paw. When he was planning this, weeks ago, he wanted it to be something Rob would remember him by when they parted, but now, Ethan hoped they never would.

Robert adjusted on the blanket, gently cradling the piece of taxidermy in his large palm, and stroked the fur on its bare belly. He then touched the ball, the forehead, and his mouth slowly stretched into a smile.

“You like it?” Ethan got closer, eager to hear more about his creation.

Robert slowly looked up, and the sun made his eyes look almost transparent. Only then it seemed that the cogs in his joints oiled up, and he nodded. “It’s... really amazing. Wow. I’ve never got anything like this.”

Ethan couldn’t help but start laughing. “I can’t imagine anyone ever stuffed a weasel for you.”

“No, never.” Robert’s eyes twinkled, and he made a move toward Ethan, but then suddenly seemed to remember about the taxidermy and placed it back in the box with utmost care. As if it were the most precious item he’d ever touched.

“Now you’re gonna have something to decorate that empty room of yours.” Though since Ethan had moved in, there had been a significant increase in decoration.

“I’m gonna make a display shelf for it,” declared Rob, and it didn’t sound like a joke at all, especially with the gentle way he moved his fingers over the side of the box.

“Oh, yeah? Maybe you should feed it as well?” Ethan passed Robert a tiny box with sunflower seeds.

“You think he should have lunch with us?” Robert got to his knees and leaned over to press his lips against Ethan’s.

Ethan slid his fingers to Rob’s nape to hold the kiss for a little longer. “Yes, he likes his food, you know.”

Robert’s mouth spread into a smile against Ethan’s lips, and he pulled back. “Who wouldn’t? But those are too big for him,” he said, taking a peek into the basket, only to pull out another box and pick up a small knife with his other hand.