Page 91 of Out of the Storm

“I’m never letting you have whiskey again. You’re way too silly.”

“But I’m making you feel better, right?”

With a sigh and a smile, Jeff said, “Yeah, you are.”

He reached back and poked Gary in the side, causing him to yelp.

Gary scoffed and said, “No respect at all!”

And then they both lost themselves to a fit of laughter.

***

On Saturday, Jeff was listening to Gary endTell Me S’more, readying himself for Gary’s phone call. While waiting, he glanced over at the business card sitting near the corner of his desk, and hereluctantly picked it up to study it. Earlier that evening, he’d fished it out of his wallet with the intention of throwing it in the trash, but then Gary’s voice had come on the radio and...

Frowning, he stared at the woman’s name on the card. Dr. Martha Goldstein. Psychologist.

God, he really wanted to be better. For Gary. Ever since the beginning, their physical relationship seemed to have taken on the pattern of two steps forward, one step back, and no matter how content Garyclaimedhe was, Jeff knew that he wanted more. Because what boyfriend wouldn’t? Gary needed a real boyfriend. One who could be intimate with him. Sure, maybe mutual masturbation was atypeof intimacy, but they needed to move beyond it.

Heneededto move beyond it.

Still, Jeff wasn’t really sure how talking to some stranger would help.Couldhe even talk to a stranger? He hadn’t even shared the story with Gary. Yet. Christ, he wasn’t even sure he’deverbe able to share it with Gary.

Knowing Gary might be able topicturewhat had happened...

Jeff’s stomach soured, bile creeping up his throat. Fuck that. He’d never be able to stand the thought that Gary might see him that way.

Jeff startled from the sound of the phone ringing.

After a second ring, he picked up.

“Hey, Gare.”

“How’d you know it was me?” Gary teased.

“Yeah, you’re right, it could have been one of my many other boyfriends who call me this close to midnight.”

“I really need to cut my hours, huh?” Gary asked. “I’ve been thinking about ending the show at ten. What’s your opinion on it?”

“Do it.”

“Well, okay, I’ll let everyone know soon, then. Maybe tomorrow.” Gary sighed. “Ugh,tomorrow.”

“What?”

“Youngstown.”

“I’ll be with you,” Jeff reminded him.

“I know, but boy am I nervous.”

“Scared of what you might learn about him?”

“That’s part of it, yeah. I mean, he could have been a real monster.”

“What would that change?”

“Mmm... not much, maybe, but it’d be a crappy thing to learn, I think.”

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