Page 70 of Totally Played
“That’s the Big Dipper,” he says, and I try to follow where he’s pointing, but I have zero clue about astrology, if that’s what it’s called.
“Cool. Do you know any others?”
“Yeah, see over there, where that super bright star is shining?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, that’s part of Perseus and Andromeda. See, they were lovers. Andromeda was going to be sacrificed to a sea monster, and Perseus rescued her on his flying horse.”
“A Pegasus?”
“Yeah, that thing. He flew down, killed the monster, and they were married, and to like celebrate their love and reward them, they were immortalized in the stars to live side by side, forever.”
“That’s a pretty shitty reward.” I laugh, and he lowers his arm and turns his head to face me.
“How is it?”
“They fight off a sea monster, fall in love, get married, and instead of getting to live their lives together with their Pegasus, they’re turned into stars that get to shine side by side. Stars don’t even have arms, they can’t even hold hands, or kiss, or do any of the things they probably would have chosen to do if anyone asked them. I bet no one asked them.
He shakes his head. “So you’d give up eternity in the stars with the person you loved?”
“Yeah, I would give up eternity tortured by being so close to the one I love that I can see them but not touch them. I’d give that up in a heartbeat to be able to hold them, kiss them, experience all the human things with them, even if only for a short while.”
“I like the way you think.”
“I like the way you smell. What is that?”
He shrugs.
“It’s actually three things: deodorant, cologne, and body spray. I didn’t want to smell like an airplane when I saw you.
“Well, whatever they are, they’re delicious.”
“Calvin, is that you or is it Tony?” a woman’s voice asks, and I turn my head to find Brittany Fox, an ex of mine, walking with a guy about the same age toward us. I climb to my feet and brush off the back of my pants. Like seriously, what are the odds of running into anyone I know out here?
“Brit, hey, yeah, it’s me, Calvin. What are you doing here?”
“I live here now. I got a job at the hospital, and moved out here last spring.”
“How are you?” I ask, and she gives me a hug, kissing my cheek before introducing her friend.
“I’m good. This is Charles. Charles, this is Calvin. He and I go way back.”
“Hey, man, you’re one of the baseball players, right?” he asks, and I smile and nod, then look back, happy to find Ash right there behind me. I reach back and grab his hand.
“This is Ash,” I say, pulling him to my side. “He’s my boyfriend. Ash, this is Brit. She and I dated a long time ago.”
“Hi, Ash, lovely to meet you,” she says, shaking his hand warmly. Charles is looking at me a little funny but doesn’t say anything, and to be honest, it felt really good to introduce Ash as my boyfriend. Not weird at all. Nothing like thinking about finding a name for what I am now. I laugh and then shake my head when I gain quizzical looks from them all.
“Sorry, I just had a funny thought. Actually, we should be going. We have a reservation,” I say, hugging her again with one arm, not willing to release Ash’s hand now that I have it in mine.
“We’ll be going to the game tomorrow, so we might see you there. Oh, and good luck, I hope you thrash your brother.”
“Ha, me, too,” I reply, and we continue on our way for a few yards when Ash squeezes my hand.
“So are you going to tell me what was so funny back there?” he asks.
“I was just thinking I had worked myself into a frenzy trying to uncover what label fit me, and it just hit me then.”
