Page 58 of Hello Forever
“With school?” heasked.
“Nope. Actually, there’s something I’ve been needing to tell you for awhile.”
“Is that so?” There was a hint of amusement in his voice, and I didn’tunderstandwhy.
But I forged ahead. “Yeah, well. All those times you told me to break up with Amy so I didn’t sit home everyweekend?”
“Don’t tell me youdidit?”
I chuckled. “I couldn’t really break up with her, because we weren’t really a thing. I’m gay, Gil. I just never wanted to tell you. Oranyone.”
He snorted. “I know that, moron. Glad you finally decided toadmitit.”
“You…what?” Something swerved inside my chest, and not in a good way. I didn’t care what Gil knew about me, but I didn’t like to hear that I couldn’t fool people when Ineededto.
“Dude. Nobody waits around for their girlfriend for four years like that. Well, maybe some guys do. But at least they fuck her senseless when she comes to visit. I always knew you guys were just friends. I never saw you look at her like maybe you wanted to eat her fordinner.”
I sighed. “Fairenough.”
“I’ll just stop right there,” he said with achuckle.
“Why? There were othersigns?”
“Maybe,” he said, and I could hear his smile through the phone. “The cross country team used to run down our block shirtless, in those spandexshorts.”
I snorted. “Iremember.”
“Is Axel a long-distance runner? Because I think you have a thing for crosscountry.”
“God, Gil. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.” It was trippy to tell thetruth.
“Well,areyou?”
“He’s a basketball player,”Isaid.
“Close enough!” We both laughed. “I’m sorry to let the air out of your tires, Cax. But it’s a relief to hear you telling the truth. And finding what you’relookingfor.”
I didn’t know how to reply to that. Gil cared enough about me to say these things, and it made me feel like a shitty friend. “Regardless, it’s good to talk to you. How’s thenewjob?”
“Boring. I think I’m going to apply for law school. I hate WallStreet.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. Don’t feel too bad for me, though. The money is good. And I save it all, since I’m working too many hours to spend it. I’m at workrightnow.”
“At ten fifteen?” It was getting late. I wondered what had happenedtoAxel.
“Yeah. I’m about ready to head home. I just wanted to say hi before another weekwentby.”
“I’m really glad you did,” I said. “It’s beentoolong.”
“We’ll talk soon, okay? You can tell me more about this basketballplayer.”
“All right. But I have to ask you not to say anything to anyone we know. Myfather…”
“Still the world’s biggestasshole?”
“Yeah.”
