Page 29 of New Year

“They have my respect, too.”

“Garbage Nachos,” Laughlin said from inside the truck. “Hey, Nat, great to see you.”

“Hey, and thanks.” Grateful to have food as an excuse to disengage from the conversation, Nat accepted the paper tray of food and a plastic fork, and then turned to find a spot at one of the picnic tables to enjoy the colorful mess in his hands.

He loved the idea of the Garbage Nachos. It was simply a mix of everything they offered on any given day. The base was both the traditional corn chip and tater tots, plus every single topping. He spotted pulled pork and ground beef beneath the sea of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and black olives. It made the fork necessary and consumption extremely messy.

But good lord, it was delicious. He found a seat that allowed his back to face one of the pavilion’s support beams, so no one could sneak up behind him. It gave him a good view to people watch while he ate. To just…exist in public without fearing attack. To be a normal person for a little while.

Nat had just tossed his trash and was contemplating a soda from one of the various vending machines when his phone rang. He was so unused to being called that he actually jumped, heart pounding a little bit harder.

“Dumbass,” he muttered to himself as he pulled his cell out of his pocket. He only had a handful of contacts, so the unknown number didn’t surprise him. It was a Reynolds exchange, though, and not Austin’s.

Austin could have bought a burner phone just to fuck with you. Don’t answer it.

He declined the call and waited. The voice message notification pinged.

Is it a telemarketer? Is it a threat? Just delete it, idiot!

Nat glanced around, but no one was paying any attention to the little drama playing out in his head. He hated how scared he was to listen to a message. But he couldn’t keep living in fear. Coming out tonight was precisely about finding his courage again. Being in the world, rather than existing adjacent to it.

He played the message.

“Natty Dog! It’s Angelo. How the fuck are you, guy? You dropped off the face of the planet, but I ran into Sasha today, and she told me she’d seen you and gave me your number. Call me back so I know you’re doing okay. Please? Seriously, please call me.”

Hot relief rumbled through Nat’s chest so hard and fast his hands shook. It wasn’t Austin calling to threaten him. It was a friend who truly gave a damn about Nat, even after Nat essentially ghosted him for two months after the fundraiser.

He saved the contact, found a quieter spot by the perimeter fence, and called back.

“Hey, Nat, you’re alive!” Angelo said, answering before the second ring. His warm voice was everything Nat had used to love hearing, purring to him after sex, or just over a lunchtime phone call. “I am so fucking happy to hear your voice again.”

Nat laughed. “You haven’t heard it yet.”

“I did when I left my message. You changed the greeting from your old number.”

“Sometimes change is good.”

“I hear that. But sometimes too much change at once can be incredibly stressful. I’m going out on a limb and guessing you’ve had too much?”

Nat closed his eyes and leaned against the smooth, cement wall. “Honestly, Angelo? My life has been a mess for a while, the explosion kind of made it all worse, and I just…” He remembered himself and that he shouldn’t be dumping his shit on his ex. Even if he considered said ex to be a friend. “It’s been a lot, but I’m getting out from under it.”

“I’m glad. I won’t lie, Nat, I’ve been really worried about you. I know we weren’t together for very long and—wait, you’re in a safe place to talk, right?”

“I’m safe.” And he adored his friend for asking. It was something Zack would do, and his insides warmed pleasantly at the mental image of Zack smiling at him this morning over their breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. He absolutely felt safe in Zack’s home. He trusted Zack and Chase not to screw him over.

And Nat didn’t deal his trust out lightly.

“Okay, good,” Angelo said. “Honestly, I’ve been worried about you since we ran into each other at that convenience store. Can I do anything?”

Fuck no, dude, I dumped you to keep you safe.

“Thank you for asking, I mean it, but I’m okay. I have a new job and a safe place to stay.”

“Good. You deserve all that.”

“Thanks. How are you and Bryan doing? Are you guys still together?”

Around the time of the fundraiser, Nat had found out Angelo was actually dating Bryan Gillespie, who was supposed to have been just his roommate. Nat wasn’t sure how that had all shaken out, but whatever made them happy.

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