Like it was yesterday.Scared and unsure of who he was and if his parents would still love him. He even remembered what clothes he wore.
“I told her that I was sorry for disappointing her and Daddy, but that I liked boys and that day I kissed one.”
“But Grace was fine with it, right?”
“It wasn’t as easy as I’m makin’ out. Mama thought I should go to church more. Daddy tried to get me to play football. Said it would make me more manly.”
“Oh, brother.”
“Yeah.” Adam rolled onto his stomach and hugged the pillow. “They meant well. But when both of them realized I wasn’t changing, that I couldn’t, their main concern became my health.” His face heated.
“What happened?”
“You’ve met my mother; she’s a practical woman. When I told her I was dating men, she bought me three boxes of condoms ‘as a starter kit,’ she said, and told me to never have sex without one.”
Breaking out in a whoop of laughter, Rico shifted closer. “How long did it take you to go through those boxes?” He kissed Adam’s shoulder. “I bet if I was there with you, we would’ve used them up real quick.”
“Uh, I don’t remember.” He’d wanted to find out more about Rico but instead had ended up talking about himself. “You hungry? Wanna get something to eat? I’m starving—haven’t eaten since last night when I came off shift.”
Forehead scrunched in confusion, Rico ran a hand through his hair. “Uh, sure. There aren’t many places open now except the bar down the street I go to sometimes. They make a good burger.”
“Sounds good. I’ll get dressed.”
He left Rico on the bed and hurried over to the sofa, next to which his clothes lay strewn on the floor from earlier in the evening. He slipped on his jeans and T-shirt, but Rico remained sitting, an odd look on his face.
“What’s wrong? If you don’t want to go out, I guess we can stay in, but I’d kind of like to get some fresh air. We didn’t have any calls, and three days stuck inside that firehouse can make a guy crazy.”
“No, no, it’s good.” The curious expression on Rico’s face cleared, and he once again became his handsome, smiling self. “I noticed that since we came back from Texas, you started talking with more of an accent.” He jumped out of bed and brushed a kiss on Adam’s lips as he passed by on his way to the bathroom. “I think it’s sexy. Makes me feel like I’m with a real cowboy.”
Surprised by Rico’s sweet talk, Adam remained standing in the center of the room and touched his tingling lips.
So damned screwed.
As promised, Rico got dressed and ready inside of ten minutes. They headed out into the still, cool night.
“Best time of year in the city. No more cold air, but not sticky and humid like Florida.” Rico leaned his head back and closed his eyes, his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans. “I love it.”
“Yeah, Texas gets miserably hot too. I’ve never been to Florida, but the beaches look nice.”
They passed other couples on the street as they walked down the block, and Adam wondered if any were like him and Rico: lonely people connected by purely physical needs, unwilling or unable to let go and get closer.
“Here it is.” Rico stopped in front of a building with an old-fashioned winking cocktail glass sign hanging above their heads and the name “Leary’s” in gold on the window. “We can eat at the bar.”
“Sounds good.” He passed by Rico holding the door open and entered the typical neighborhood pub with its wide wooden bar on one side and a few scattered tables along the opposite side wall. A dart board, foosball table, and a small dance floor, big enough for two couples at most, made up the rear of the bar. Eighties music piped out through the speakers mounted on the walls. Adam instantly liked the place and slid onto the padded barstool next to Rico, waiting for the bartender, who was chatting with another man, to come their way and serve them.
“They have great beer on tap, and like I said, good burgers and club sandwiches.”
“Rico, how are you?”
“Hey, Dale, how’s it going?” Watching Rico and Dale greet each other and shake hands, Adam wondered if they’d ever slept together, then mentally slapped himself. He had to stop imagining Rico in bed with every man he talked to. “This is Adam. We’re looking for something to eat and two beers. What’s good in the kitchen tonight?”
“Well, the nachos are always primo, as are the burgers. We also have a barbecue brisket sandwich that people have been liking. What kind of beer can I get you, Adam?”
“You have Bud on tap? I’ll take that with a burger, medium.”
“Sure do. How about you, Rico? The usual?” Dale flashed a smile, and once again Adam resented their familiarity.
“Yeah, I’ll take a Sam Adams and a burger as well. Busy night?”
