Page 112 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“That would be convenient for you, wouldn’t it?Then he’d be out of your way—you’ve wanted him out of the way since you met him.He doesn’t want his own place.He wants to stay with me.”
“He’s a teenager, Reg.He doesn’t know anything.He has no sense of perspective and no idea what he wants.”
“He does know what he wants.And I’m the only person in his life who’s bothered to ask him, instead of deciding for him, like you’re doing now and Juliet’s always done.Don’t pretend your outrage is for Joel’s benefit.You don’t give a shit about him.Tell me what this is really about, Martin.Does it bother you that I’m with someone else?Someone you know and can’t pretend isn’t imaginary?”Reg waited, watching Martin intently for his reaction, for any trace of jealousy.
“I’m protecting Juliet,” said Martin.
“So,” said Reg, feeling his heart hardening, “all you care about is how this affects your relationship with Juliet.Well, I’ll tell you: It doesn’t.It’s got nothing to do with either of you.”
“It does.Because Juliet loves him, and I love her.You don’t give a fuck about Joel.He’s just some toy boy to you.”
“He’s a human being who I care about,” said Reg.“Nothing you say or do will change that.How would you react to someone telling you to leave Juliet alone?”
“That’s different.For one thing, Juliet and I are the same age.”
“And for another, you’re a man and she’s a woman.”
“That’s got nothing to do with it.”
“Because you’re completely comfortable with that side of things now, are you?”
“I’ll put it on the table now,” said Martin.“Stop seeing Joel, or we’re through.Right?”
“All right,” said Reg.
“All right what?”
“You borrowed my diamond cufflinks last year, along with my grey silk tie.I expect them to be returned.”Reg drained his coffee and set his empty cup down.“It was nice knowing you.”He walked out before Martin could stop spluttering.
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Until now, Reg andMartin had had only two major fallings out.The first was when they were both seven years old and Reg had accused Martin of cheating at Subbuteo, something Martin had vehemently denied.Things had escalated, and they’d ended up thumping each other until they exhausted themselves and retreated to their respective homes.That grudge had lasted an afternoon and ended when Martin’s father took them both out for ice cream.
“You can’t fightandhave ice cream,” Martin reasoned.
And though Reg wanted to stick his Cadbury Flake up Martin’s nose, it would have been a waste of a Cadbury Flake, so he’d let things lie.
Their second, more serious falling out happened when they were sixteen.They had helped themselves to Reg’s father’s liquor cabinet one evening and gotten drunk.Reg had been in love with Martin for years, but he’d never let on until that night, when Reg had looked at Martin and, overwhelmed with longing, he’d given Martin a kiss so sloppy, he’d missed his mouth by a mile.
And Martin had wiped his face with his sleeve and said, “That was uncalled-for.”And he’d left and hadn’t spoken to Reg for a month.The incident was never mentioned, but things between them had never been the same.Reg suspected the incident had contributed to Martin’s decision to go to a different university for his undergraduate degree.
After a year of radio silence, Reg had decided that although Martin couldn’t give Reg what he wanted, Reg’s life was better when Martin was a part of it.So, Reg had extended the olive branch, and he and Martin had reconnected, and gradually, tentatively, their friendship had been restored, though it was never again what it had been before that kiss.
When Reg got home, he found Joel on the settee reading a book.A sudden rush of feeling overwhelmed him.
“What happened?”said Joel.
“I told him where to go.And he went.”
“You gave up your best friend?”
“For something better,” said Reg.
Joel put the book on the coffee table and went to Reg, and Reg hugged him tight.He didn’t want to let go.
Over dinner, Reg said, “We really shouldn’t be spending so much time alone.”
“Why not?”
