Page 9 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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I’m excited by the idea

of meeting someone who writes for a living.

I have so many questions.

Then Matt asks me,

“Don’t you think it’s odd

your two best friends haven’t met?”

Matt wants to hook up with Vass,

says the devil on my shoulder.

I’ve never told Matt

about the devil on my shoulder

because I worry

that he’ll think I’m crazy

or maybe even evil.

I force a smile and explain to Matt

for the umpteenth time:

“You’re a school friend.

Vass is a family friend.

Vass and I are like cousins.

What’s odd about that?

You haven’t introduced me

to any of your cousins.”

“I just thought it could be a laugh,”

says Matt, in a fake-casual voice,

“if the three of us hung out sometime.

I don’t have any other queer friends,

and you’ve got two. So...?”

Tell him about himself, says my devil.

“You don’t have any other queer friends,”

I say forcefully, through gritted teeth,

“because you’re afraid to come out.

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