Open House — Chapter 07
An ultimatum brings three men into one room, but will the night end with a resolution or a new dynamic that changes the rules of engagement for Tim, Neil, and Dan forever?
Open House — Chapter 07
“Do you have a plan?” Tim asked, breaking the silence Dan had maintained since coming downstairs.
“A plan? Does this feel like a game to you, Tim? Some reality show where you pit us against each other to see who wins?”
“Are you planning on confronting him? Do you want to humiliate me in front of him? What’s the endgame here?”
“There is no endgame,” Dan said, his eyes never leaving Tim’s. “I’m not the one playing games.”
“It wasn’t a game,” Tim whispered, looking away, unable to meet Dan’s penetrating gaze.
“But it was something,” Dan spat. “You told me it was a feeling. Like something was missing before. What was missing? What am I missing?”
“I’m not in love with him, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” scoffed Dan. “For a minute there I—” He paused mid-sentence as they both saw headlights in front of the house and the sound of a car idling to a stop in the street. “It looks like Master Neil is here.”
“Dan. Don’t,” whined Tim.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Dan mocked back. “I’ll be a gracious host.”
Tim watched as Dan rose and went to the kitchen window, peering through the translucent sheers. From somewhere inside the house, he heard the incessant tick of a wall clock beat in time with the sound of Dan’s voice echoing in his head: I’m not the one playing games.
Tim had no clue what was about to happen. He rose and stood just behind Dan, watching as Neil got out of the car. A wave of regret washed over him; he should have pushed back, held his ground, kept this mess between the two of them. He could only imagine what Neil was thinking as he walked toward the front door.
Are you ready for more, Mister?