Page 130 of Rhymes with Metaphor
They pulled into the car dealership.
“I’ve got you something small and practical, suitable for a budding young actor.”Reg pulled the access card out of his pocket.“There’s a parking pass for the loft’s garage to get you in and out.Now, stop staring at me and go and get your car.”
They drove back separately, Joel following Reg.Joel, in Reg’s opinion, was driving far too cautiously considering how young he was.In the garage, Reg directed Joel to his own parking space, which he’d arranged payment for.
In the loft afterwards, Joel was quiet.
“What’s wrong?”said Reg.“Was the car making odd noises?Do you have an issue with the colour?”
“I can’t believe you bought me a car.”
“The title’s in your name, cariad.Do what you like.Sell it or trade it in for something else if it doesn’t suit you.”
“It’s not that,” said Joel.“You’re acting like it’s no big deal.”
“Your car cost considerably less than tuition to Juilliard will, and I’ve already agreed to pay for that.”
“But that’s hypothetical,” said Joel.“IfI get accepted.The car is real.”
“It’s all real, Joel.Now, come on, let me take you out—in my car so you can have a drink for your birthday.”
Reg took him to a restaurant for dinner to celebrate and then to a wine bar.When they got home late that night, Joel said, “I have a present for you.”
“It’s your birthday, cariad.Not mine.”
“I know,” said Joel.“Go to bed, and I’ll join you.”
Reg waited an unaccountably long time in the bedroom, wondering what Joel was doing.But then he heard the sound of Joel’s feet climbing the stairs, then Joel switching off the light, followed by the soft sound of clothes being unfastened and then the rustle of the covers.And then Joel went down on Reg for the first time, thirsty and frantic, and Reg let him.He knew he oughtn’t to have, but it felt churlish to deny him on his birthday.
“Don’t try to take it all in,” said Reg.
“But I want to.”
“You’ll choke, cariad.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” said Joel, but he was struggling.
Eventually, Joel settled into it, surprising Reg anew by how eagerly he asked Reg for guidance and how readily he took direction.
He insisted on swallowing afterwards, though Reg told him, “You don’t have to for my sake, cariad.”
But Joel did.
“This is the best present you ever gave me,” said Joel, as though Reg was the one who had blown him.
“Poor little lost boy,” said Reg quietly, holding him.“What have I done to you?”
Joel found Reg’s hand and clasped it.“You’re only five years older than me now.”
“Our relationship is practically respectable,” said Reg.“And since I can now appear in public with you without being condemned, Would you like to come as my plus-one to a party?Ramsay, one of my former classmates, is throwing one for all the poets tomorrow.”
“It’s Silas’s party tomorrow,” said Joel.
“You’ll have a lot more fun at the poets’ party.And you could do worse than disappoint Silas.”
“You said you’d go with me to Silas’s,” said Joel.
“What time?”
