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“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”
“Well hello to you too.” Armie huffed out a laugh, climbed into his car and put his grocery bags on the passenger seat.
“Sorry...sorry. It’s just that... I read the article this morning.”
“Hang on, let me put you on hands-free so I can drive and talk. I need to get out of here.... Ok, can you still hear me, Tim?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I hoped you’d read it.”
“Hoped? Of course I read it. But Armie, man! Why am I just finding these things out now? You’re like a brother to me. More than. Oh, you know what mean, and ...”
“Talking of brothers, you heard about Viktor and Misty? Phewee! I had a feeling this’d happen once my dad was no longer around. She...”
“Don’t try and change the subject Armie. Where are you right now anyway?”
"Grocery store parking lot. I’ve just been papped. How about you?”
“In the car on the way to yet another guitar lesson. I swear my fingers are gonna fall off.”
“It’ll all be worth it baby.” Armie winced when ‘baby’ popped out just-like-that. He hoped Timmy hadn't heard it. “So... what did you think of the piece?”
There was a long pause and silence apart from Timmy’s heavy breathing, then, “I mean, I knew a lot of it already... but not the bit about the church pastor for fucks sake. I’m hurt that you couldn’t tell me. After everything. And I know that sounds like I’m making it all about me, and I’m really not, but I’m pissed off to tell you the truth.”
Armie sighed. “I get it. But I couldn’t tell anyone. Not even you. The words just wouldn't come out. Not until therapy last year, when I learned it wasn’t my fault.”
“Your fault? What the fuck? Armie, you were...” Tim lowered his voice to a whisper. “...abused!”
“But the thing is, sick as it was, he made me feel special. Wanted.” Armie took a deep breath. “I knew it was wrong and it made me so... uncomfortable and helpless but d’you know what? I liked the attention. Oh I don’t know... I’m still working through it all. Apparently its normal to feel conflicted about your abuser.” There was silence on the line. “Tim? You still there?”
“I’m still here.” A pause, and then in a cracked voice, “Hey Armie?”
“Yeah?”
“Ever wish we could just turn back time?”
Armie blinked back tears. “Every goddamn day. Do you know, those were the happiest weeks of my life. Nothing before or since has come close. I’m not sure it ever will. It was like a dream, wasn’t it?”
Tim sniffed then laughed. “Fuck. I’m gonna be a mess for my lesson now.”
“I’m sure you’ll be as fabulous as ever.”
“Fabulous, yeah right. Anyway, I’m here now. But promise me we can talk again tonight? No excuses this time.”
“I promise.”
“Good. Oh, and Armie?”
“Yeah?”
“I love it when you call me baby.”