Page 65 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“Why should I be?”
“Because I’m so much younger than you.Is that why you’re not bringing me?”
“You wouldn’t want to spend a dreary evening listening to reminiscences of things you weren’t there for.”
“It won’t bother me if I’m with you.”
“I want you all to myself,” said Reg.“And Barty doesn’t know you from Adam.Your presence would put a damper on the evening.He’d have to censor himself.Read some Shakespeare.I shall return anon.”
Joel hugged Reg goodbye at the door as though he were going off to war, and it made Reg reluctant to leave.They hadn’t been apart for a single day in weeks, and he couldn’t imagine anything he wanted more than to spend another evening in Joel’s company.But, aside from Martin, Barty was the only friend from his childhood who was still in his life, and Reg hadn’t seen him in over a year, and he felt a personal obligation to see him again.He pocketed his cigarettes before he left.Joel didn’t like them, and Reg wanted to enjoy the freedom to smoke without judgment.
In a return to form, Reg and Barty smoked and drank and reminisced.They had known each other since they were six, but their lives were changing.Barty was engaged, and most of their friends had finished school and were in serious relationships.Reg felt like he was standing on a dock, watching the ships leave the harbour.
“How’s Martin?”said Barty.
“Gotten himself involved with a psychologist.”
“Examining him at length, is she?”said Barty.
They laughed.
“What about you, Reg?You seem eminently pleased with yourself.Has someone caught your fancy at last?”
Reg shifted uncomfortably.“Not in particular.”
“The eternal bachelor.”Barty raised his glass.
As Reg drank, he realized something: He had no need to hide his relationship with Joel.He’d had to be so discreet when he was dating Flip that he’d developed a habit of deflecting questions that hit too close to the belt.But Joel had been willing—eager, even—to meet Barty as Reg’s lover.Still, Reg felt a certain reticence, a superstition, perhaps, that whatever was developing between Joel and himself might be spoilt by exposure to a third party.So, he continued to say nothing as they drank.
Reg returned before midnight, and Joel met him at the front door, seizing him in a hug.
“What’s wrong?”said Reg.
“I thought you wouldn’t come back,” said Joel.
“You thought I’d go back to Canada without you?”
“I thought something happened to you.”
“I was only gone a few hours.What have you been up to?”
“Reading,” said Joel.
It turned out Joel had discovered Reg’s stash of gay erotica.
“I don’t mind if you’ve started ahead of me,” said Reg.
“I haven’t,” said Joel.
It didn’t take much probing to get Joel to admit he didn’t masturbate, claiming he’d neither learned how nor felt the need to—particularly now he was with Reg.
“We’ll have to rectify that sometime,” said Reg as they lay in bed afterwards, Joel’s head resting on his chest.
––––––––
The second time Reghad to leave Joel behind was when he went to meet his father in London.
Reg gave Joel some money.“Consider this a late payment for your modelling work.Have some fun without me.I’ll be back tonight.”
