Chad's attention came back to Alec. "Yeah, I remember. You said that you used to be me fifteen years earlier. You said it in the hallway outside the bathroom that night."
Alec smiled, a little bemused. "That's right. I did. I had forgotten."
"Well, it was good talking to you. I'm glad things worked out."
"Me too. Thanks. When we're in DC we'll be sure to pop in."
"Drinks on me."
"I'll hold you to it."
"Bye."
"Take care."
Demarco took the phone back from Chad with a wink. "So, how didthatgo?" he asked Alec.
"He's a good kid, D. Just doing what men his age should be doing."
"The air is pretty thin up on Beulah Mountain, isn't it?"
Alec ignored him. "Anything else new?"
"No. Just missing you."
"I'll get him there soon enough. Just hold down the fort. And go enjoy someone dark and mysterious."
"Honey, I do that every other night. It's my job."
"I mean for fun... not work."
"Yeah, I got you."
Demarco's phone vibrated and he saw the notification of a text from Reed pop up.
"Speaking of which. I'm being summoned for a gig right now."
"I'll let you go."
"Talk to you tomorrow. Bye En—Tyler."
Alec held the phone out so that Demarco could see them both. He waved back and disconnected.
The text was short. His presence was needed at a party on Embassy Row. The password was Platinum.
He slid his glass away and tucked the fifty underneath it. Chad caught the action from afar and mouthedThank You. Demarco nodded at him and headed for the door.
Six iconic notes on horns blared to thunderous applause and then repeated.Big SpenderfromSweet Charity. Demarco could still hear the men singing half a block away.
2
Embassy Row was near enough to walk, and Demarco embraced the frigid February air to clear his head. He had been reflecting a lot lately on his choices in life, especially having seen Alec take such strides to change his own. Not that he had regrets at all for his choices—quite the contrary. He enjoyed it for the most part... and the pay was great.
He had often entertained the notion of having a family though... and at this stage in his life, fatherhood and some semblance of a household seemed to grow more unachievable each day. Sure, he could be a single parent and knew other Chandelier employees that were. But it wasn't the fantasy he had envisioned, nor would his occupation be conducive when participating in everyday things... parent-teacher conferences, PTA meetings, and the like.
Growing up in the Bible-belt, he had been conditioned somewhat to think the concept impossible, which is partially why the fantasy had lingered. But now, in this day and age of young gay families—not just adopting, but alsomakingchildren of their very own—his high-pay/low-profile career was a bit of a paradox... providing the means, but unable to detach the accompanying stigma.
And he didn't want to be a single parent. He wanted someone to share that joy with... but, as always, his profession had been anti-magnetic when it came to attracting a permanent partner.
