"Alec, I can explain…"
"You don't have to." He gestured at the mess surrounding them. "This is explanation enough."
"I'll help you clean it up."
"No, you need to leave. Now. Forever."
"Are you going back to Montana?"
He knew. Somehow, he knew.
Alec sighed with a smile. He shook his head slightly. "That's none of your business, Mac. You no longer live here…. or here," he added, pointing to his temple.
This made Mac chuckle, but his grin was lewd and spiteful. "Did you find a big mountain man to fuck you bow-legged?"
Alec did not reply. The comment didn't warrant a reply. But he did relish it for a moment… felt
he needed to. He was seeing the real Mac for the first time and he wanted to remember it. He'd seen the drugs, and the infidelity, but he'd never seen his true face—scornful, cruel, and indifferent.
And just like that his face changed, morphed back into the handsome, troubled man Alec
remembered. "I did love you," he said.
"Really? You have a funny way of showing it."
They stared for a long time. No words.
"Well, I guess I should go," Mac said, unable to tolerate the standoff any longer.
"I'm sure he's waiting for you."
He nodded, even grinned a little. As if the two of them now shared a secret he'd been keeping
for quite some time.
"One more thing," Alec said, extending his hand.
Mac dug into his pocket and produced the brownstone key. He shrugged. "I had a copy."
"And this is the only one?"
He nodded. "When can I pick up my stuff?"
"Never. Keep the money. It's more than enough to replace your belongings. I don't want to see you again... ever. I mean it."
Mac opened the door, offering Alec a humbled, acknowledging smile, and then closed it behind
him.
26
"I don't know… Fifteen thousand is a LOT of money," said Demarco.
"Yeah. Well, it was a big lesson to learn... and worth every damn penny."
It was late the following morning and Demarco was helping Alec clean up the brownstone. He
was dressed casually, in chinos and a sweater, but he had an apron on and pinkPlaytex Living
