Page 6 of Unbound
Jesse's eyes widened, but Rebecca was already tugging him away. "We're leaving. Pastor Caldwell called it for the night."
She pulled him toward the parking lot, his sign dragging awkwardly at his side. At the last moment, he looked back over his shoulder at me.
And there it was. That look. Not just fear or confusion—but longing. So raw and honest it stopped me in my tracks. A desperate, hungry look that didn't belong on the face of a true believer.
Well, fuck me sideways.
I watched them disappear into the night, Jesse's tense shoulders and Rebecca's proprietary grip telling their own story. I stood there longer than I should have in the open doorway, the rain soaking through my thin t-shirt, replaying that look in my mind.
"Are you communing with the rain gods, or can we go back inside?" Elijah's voice startled me. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed. "You're getting drenched."
"Did you see that?" I asked, pointing toward the now-empty parking lot.
"See what? The protesters finally leaving? Yeah, praise whatever deity you prefer."
I shook my head, following him back inside. "Not that. Him. The blonde one."
"The one whose girlfriend dragged him away like he was contaminated? Hard to miss." Elijah's voice was dry as he led me back to our friends.
They were still at the bar, now deep in debate about something. Phoenix spotted us first, raising their glass dramatically.
"The prodigal son returns! Did you scare the poor homophobe?"
"I may have... engaged with him a bit," I admitted, accepting the fresh beer Diana pushed toward me.
"'Engaged'?" Jamie raised her eyebrows, camera already up. "That's Adrian-speak for 'flirted shamelessly,' isn't it?"
I shrugged, grinning. "Maybe. He was cute, in that all-American, probably-has-a-flag-in-his-bedroom way."
"You're impossible," Sam muttered.
"You should have seen him," I continued, unable to get the image of Jesse's face out of my mind. "So buttoned-up. So... contained. Like if he allowed himself to feel anything, he might explode."
Phoenix's eyes lit up dangerously. "Oh my god, you're into him."
"I'm not into him," I protested, perhaps too quickly. "I just find his repression... fascinating."
"Uh-huh." Phoenix was grinning now, a mischievous spark in their eyes. "I bet you couldn't get him to loosen up."
Thompson shook his head. "Don't even start, Rivera. We don't mess with those people."
"I'm not suggesting we mess with him," Phoenix argued. "I'm suggesting Adrian could... save him." They batted their eyelashes innocently. "A little conversion therapy of our own."
"That's not funny," Elijah said sharply.
"I'm serious!" Phoenix insisted. "You didn't see this guy. He's textbook closet case. Probably praying away the gay every night."
I thought about Jesse's conflicted eyes, the way he'd lingered despite his obvious fear. "He's definitely struggling with something."
"So help him out," Phoenix suggested. "The Adrian Costas Gay Awakening Experience. Limited time offer."
"That's actually the worst idea I've ever heard," Diana said, but she was smiling. "And I've heard Phoenix suggest we do a swimsuit calendar fundraiser in February."
"Which was genius," Phoenix muttered.
I took a long drink, considering. The image of Jesse's backward glance wouldn't leave me.
"Oh god, he's actually thinking about doing it," Thompson groaned.
