Page 10 of Various Intentions
“So is Bailey supposed to be a girl or a guy?” I asked one evening as we finished cleaning up from supper.
“Duh. Bailey’s a skinny, sparkly twink that can’t take no for an answer but loves me with all his heart.”
“Wow,” I said.
Vincent shook his head with resignation while Matteo chuckled.
“What?” Taylor said. “If straight guys can name cars and boats after girls, I can name my car after a sparkly twink, can’t I?”
“If you want to be as basic as a straight guy.”
Taylor snorted. “Huh. As if. I don’t think I have to worry about that.”
The doorbell rang and I muttered, “No, you probably don’t,” as I went to answer it.
Outside, in a puffy jacket similar to Taylor’s but strawberry red, stood a slight young man who wouldn’t have looked out of place on the cover of a men’s magazine. He looked familiar in a vague way.
“Is Nic Walker here?” Stress emanated off the man, and he didn’t attempt to smile, only gazed at me with imploring brown eyes. “I’m Juno’s boyfriend, Charles.”
That’s when everything slotted into place. I’d met Charles at Juno’s most recent gallery show, when I’d dressed Vincent like Tom Holland onLip Sync Battle.
“Oh right! Come inside.”
“Thank you. I’m really sorry to bother you.” He didn’t make any move to take his jacket off.
“Is everything all right?”
“I’m so sorry to bother you…”
“What’s going on, Charles?”
He sighed. “Juno’s locked me out, and you were the only person I could think of who might know how to talk to them? Calm them down, somehow?”
Charles’ very pretty face was drawn and his features tight. If Juno had indeed done what Charles said, I could see why. “They do tend to be dramatic.”
“They’ve never done this to me before. I don’t know what the problem is. I haven’t done anything that should make them mad—not on this level, anyway.”
“Fuck. This is another one of Juno’s mental health crises. They always start this way.” I reached into the closet and grabbed my coat.
“You don’t think they’d—?” Charles said, putting his fingers to his lips, his eyes going wide.
“I don’t think so. But I want to talk to them and make sure they’re okay.”
Charles’ features relaxed ever so slightly. “Thank you, Nic. Thank you!”
“Matteo, I have to go check on Juno. I don’t know what’s going on, but Charles is out of his depth at the moment.”
Matteo came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands with a dish towel, and regarded me with curiosity. “I’ve never heard that name before. Is it a friend of yours?”
Had I never mentioned Juno to Matteo? That seemed like…an oversight. I realized I hadn’t had any sort of contact with Juno since the exhibit.
“Yeah, they’re an artist—a painter. Quite flamboyant and eccentric. You’d like them.”
“I’d certainly like to meet them at some point.” Matteo nodded. “I’ll let Vincent know where you’ve gone.”
“Thanks. Charles, leave the keys to your car here. Vincent can drive it back when he’s able.” I didn’t want Charles driving in the agitated state he was in.
I put on my boots and zipped up my jacket, then followed Charles outside.
