Sean took another sip. “I do what I have to do, Jeri. Do you comprehend from your little ranch somewhere in Maryland how dangerous the fight is? Do you have people call you horrific names when you’re out for dinner, or have you had debris thrown at you when you march in a Pride parade? Do you even march in Pride parades?
“Have you been chased by a group of men who revile the fact that you breathe the same air they do? Have you had someonewho identifies as straight try to rape you in the locker room of your gym? Have you had a man hold you down while another man tried to force you to suck his cock?” The flexing in his jaw and the quickening of his breath were a telltale sign that he was about to explode with anger or have a hysterical cry.
Unease rolled through me as I listened to him. Everything he said would be a nightmare if it happened to anyone. “Did any of that happen to you?”
“Maybe or maybe not, but it’s not aboutme. It’s about all of us. It’s about every kid who is afraid to tell their parents they’re gay because they don’t have anywhere else to go. It’s about every boy or girl who got teased in school because they were too feminine or not feminine enough. It’s about every trans woman who was arrested or beaten for using the ladies’ room. It’s about every trans guy who was raped outside a club because a group of bros wanted to show him that he wasn’t as much of a man as they were. It’s about every little boy who got in trouble for wearing his mother’s heels or makeup, and it’s about everyone who lives in the closet out of fear of what living their truth would destroy.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see tears streaming down his face as I flipped the bacon, finally realizing how passionate he was about fighting for equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community. For fighting formyrights as a veteran who might be denied coverage if the current administration has its way and cuts VA benefits to gay and trans vets. As a gay man whose right to marry could be taken away if conservatives get their wish, I prayed Sean and people like him kept up the fight.
I put down the fork and walked closer to where Sean was sitting with his empty drink. “I’m sorry. I got so caught up in taking care of my horses or my mom that I didn’t pay attention to what was happening in the community. So many people are facing the possibility of having more of their rights takenaway.” Hearing Sean lay it out like that made me feel selfish for basically abandoning my comrades in the struggle.
“We can’t forget the loss of women’s autonomy over their bodies. There’s enough to fight for, Jeri, but your fight is no less important. If we don’t fight for what should be ours, it’s as if we don’t care enough about it.” Sean reached up and dried his eyes with his fingertips.
I took another drink of my water and pulled the bottle of vodka from the freezer, opening it and sliding it in front of him. Turning to the stove, I scooped the bacon from the pan and spread it on a plate with paper towels.
“So, why do you think they’re coming after you now? You’ve been doing your job for a while. What do you think caught their attention?” I’d just met the man, so I had no idea if anything had changed in his life or in his approach regarding his job that would bring the attention of a hate group his way.
“There’s a chance we can turn the tide of some anti-trans legislation that’s been on the news a lot recently. I’ve been calling in favors from those I’ve helped in the past, and I get the impression some of them may not like that I chose this particular bill to fight for, but it’s important to our community. They don’t think when they ask favors that I’ll come back to collect on them.”
Law of the jungle, I guess. Eat or be eaten? I had experience with that bullshit, and I could tell Sean was an old hand at it.
He glanced up at me, his expression serious. “The guy in my trunk was my former assistant, Byron Haight. We used to fuck on occasion, and he knew my kinks. He tried to sell my dirty laundry to the media, and I fired him for it. It’s no coincidence he ended up in the trunk of my car. According to Compton, his neck was broken before my car blew. The cops are trying to identify people who were with him at Café Berlin recently.” Seanpoured himself another hefty shot of vodka and downed it in one gulp.
I needed to get some food inside him before he got black-out drunk or we’d never get anywhere. I didn’t take the bottle from him though. That seemed judgmental and not my job.
I grabbed the fresh loaf of bread from the counter and went to the cabinet to get plates. “How often did you fuck your assistant. Are you a dedicated top?”
When the fuck did that become my business?I must have hit my head, too, when I took Sean to the ground in DC.
Sean picked up the bottle and poured half a glass, staring at me. “I’ll ask again, does this bother you?” It was almost like a challenge, but I wasn’t taking the bait.
“No. You want some more ice?”
He nodded, so I took his glass and added some cubes before I pushed it to him and picked up the knife to slice the tomatoes as he stewed on whatever was bothering him. I watched him from the corner of my eye, seeing him staring at me as I spread the tomatoes on a plate and sprinkled salt over them.
“What’s on your mind, Sean?” I washed the bib lettuce and spread it on a dish towel to dry.
“Why are you so fucking nice?” Sean wasn’t slurring his words, nor was he wobbling on the stool.
“I don’t know if people would agree with you about me being nice. I’m trying to do a job here so I can take care of my mother and the farm. I like you, Sean. I don’t want to see you harmed in any way. It seems I’ve grown attached to you.” I was fucking rambling, unsure of what to say or how to say it.
“Attached to me? Why the fuck would you grow attached tome? You seem to despise everything I do, don’t you?”
I shook my head. “Maybe I’m not sure about your methods, but I agree with the end game you’re pursuing. My experiences are different from yours, but I can see your point about someoneneeding to stand up for those who don’t have a voice, Sean. Let me make sure you’re safe so you can persevere. It’s the least I can do.”
“Why? Why is it the least you can do?”
I took a deep breath. “I already told you I’m gay but admitting it is new. It’s the least I can do because while I was fightingforthis country, you were fighting forme.” Tears stung my eyes, but I’d never been more sincere. I was out of the military, but the goddamn war against my community was far from over.
It was time for me to take a stand of some kind. Keeping Sean safe was something I could do.
Chapter Nine
Sean
I stared at Jericho, seeing that he was upset, and it was my fault for schooling him on some of the harsh realities that people like us faced every day. I went a little overboard with the guilt trip, which wasn’t his to bear alone. He was just living his life, and I’d been a prick.
“I’m sorry, Jeri. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. We all have shit that bogs us down. The fight is big enough for all of us. Now, how do we find out who the hell was trying to kill me today?”
