Delia glanced at her boyfriend, doing quad stretches now. “Let’s give him another minute.” She motioned for them to go into Mac’s bedroom. “So how’s it going living with Gideon? Is he still afraid of catching your gay germs or whatever?”
“It’s going well.” Mac blushed, thinking about their conversation a few days ago. On the surface, things seemed like normal, but Mac noticed little things, like how Gideon put on a T-shirt after he got out of the shower and how he didn’t go near the sun porch or mention Mac’s pile of shit again. At least they were both weirded out by the talk.
“You guys seem to be a good match.”
“What does that mean?”
“As roommates.”
“Right.”
Mac took an extra second to think of him, but then pushed it out of his mind.He’s straight and your roommate.He had to tell himself that several times over. But then Gideon would lick his lips while reading on the couch or brush past him in the kitchen, and Mac would basically need a cold shower. He needed a night out at a gay club more than ever. He needed the distraction. He reached into his pocket and squeezed his four-leaf clover keychain for some good luck tonight. It was a tradition that never got old.
“Ready?” Mac clapped his hands and headed to the front door. Delia and Seth followed.
Before Mac could open it, Gideon beat him to the punch. He swept inside, surprised at the crowd waiting for him when he arrived.
“Hi,” Gideon said to the three of them. “Are you guys going out?”
“We are, but it’s to a gay club,” Delia said.
“You, too?” Gideon asked Seth.
“I’m being a supportive boyfriend.”
“I’ll come, too.”
Mac and Delia traded confused looks.
“You heard me when I said ‘gay club,’ right?” Delia asked him.
Gideon nodded.
“So it’s a club for gay guys. And a supportive boyfriend.”
“Are you banning me from going?” Gideon asked, totally unfazed by Delia’s salient points.
“No. Of course not. The more, the merrier.”
“Great.” Gideon went into his room to change. Mac and Delia communicated telepathically with more looks and arched eyebrows and nervous laughter.
“He probably doesn’t want to be alone,” Delia whispered. She mouthedBeth.
“I can stay and hang out with him,” Seth said.
“No need.” Gideon yanked his door open. He wore a black button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves and jeans. Mac had a feeling the guys at Cherry Stem would take to his “straight-acting” appearance. He was finding himself susceptible.
“And you guys are awful whisperers. I want to go. It’s a great place to meet girls.”
“What?” Mac asked.
“Gay bars are filled with straight girls. Every girl I dated loved going to them. They don’t have a worry in the world about being hit on by guys. Their defenses are down. And there are no lines for the bathroom.”
“You’re annoying them in the place where they don’t want to be annoyed,” Delia said. “A gay bar is a sanctuary where a girl can dance in peace.”
“It’soursanctuary,” Mac said. “You are a guest. But it’s our safe space.”
“Everybody’s safe and sound!” Gideon grabbed his coat from the closet. He passed Mac his own. “But when the music is pumping and the drinks are flowing and they’re surrounded by guys who want nothing to do with them, these girls will want somebody to swoop in and show them a good time.”
