Page 21 of Sapphire Sunset

“You only answer the phone like a douche when something’swrong.”

“I didn’t answer like a douche.”

“’Sup? What are we, fratbros?” Donnie asked.

“Heeeeeeeeeeyyyyyy,queen!”Logan squealed in the most effeminate voice he could manage. Itdidn’t come naturally, but he’d enjoyed enough drag shows over the years tomanage a pretty good impersonation.

“What is wrong with you?” Donnie asked.

“Nothing’s wrong with me. Why are you asking me ifsomething’s wrong?”

“Luther called and said you were all messed up at the gym.”

“Why is the manager of my gym calling you in San Diego?”Logan asked.

“Um, maybe because he’s my old friend, and because Iintroduced you to him and took you to that gym to get you signed up.”Oldfriendswas Donnie’s code for someone he’d had sex with on camera backwhen Donnie was one of gay America’s favorite porn stars. Having retired out ofperforming at the ripe old age of twenty-six, Donnie now made a pretty decentliving behind the camera working for Parker Hunter, a studio that specializedin guys who looked like they should be playing college football doing all thethings to each other’s bodies Logan had wanted to do to Connor’s the nightbefore. There was no real Parker Hunter. Like the impossibly good-looking modelsit employed, the name was meant to invoke all the unattainable and beautifuland mostly straight guys its customers probably lusted after in high school andcollege.

“Whatever,” Logan said. “I’m fine.”

“Luther doesn’t agree. He asked me if you had a methproblem.”

“And you told him no, right?” Donnie didn’t answer. “Right?”

“I told him I’d investigate.”

“Donnie, Friendship 101. When someone asks if your basicallystraight-edge best friend is hooked on meth, you tell them no. You don’t offerto investigate.”

“You’re not straight edge. You’re an uptight control freak.There’s a difference. If you were straight edge, I wouldn’t be friends with you.But we’re tops, so controlling and uptight is kind of our job.”

“Thank you for your Ted Talk on Gay Tops in America.”

“Seriously, though, what’s wrong?” Donnie asked.

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Luther disagrees,” Donnie said.

“Luther and I have exchanged three words in the six monthsI’ve been going to that gym.”

“He’s worried about you.”

“He should have asked me himself then.”

“He said it was like there were four different versions ofyou working out at once, and they were all fighting with each other.”

“Well, that’s fuckin’ vivid,” Logan snapped. “Luther shouldclose the gym and take up poetry.”

“Luther’s gym is cheap as shit and clean. You really havelost your mind. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“What’s wrong is that you’re reacting to shit Luther saidabout someone he doesn’t know.”

“Well, now I’m reacting to you being an ass. Oh, and by theway, on the subject ofFriendship 101, I got a top in the other roomright now who can’t get it hard even though he’s been jerking off to hisfavorite porn for two hours. And in the other room, I got a bottom who’sthreatening to walk out because he says we always pair him with models whoaren’t into him. Never mind that sixty percent of our models are gay-for-paybecause that’s what our customers love. And in the midst of all this, I still foundthe time to call my best friend because the guy who runs his gym says he’s beenacting funny.”

Donnie’s lecture did the trick. They usually did. But onlyon certain topics. Following your heart, building confidence. The benefits ofwalking lunges versus goblet squats. The management of a small porn company.These were the areas where Donnie usually inspired him. Donnie’s thoughts onmusic were best left undiscussed, especially considering Logan almost knockedhim on his ass after he claimed Blink-182 were “the Beatles of theirgeneration.”

But in this instance, he was right.

Logan was seriously messed up. He wilted into one of thedeck chairs that sat in front of the trailer.

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