“All right, spill.”
“Better not, it’s hot,” Denny said, eyes wide in jest. He turned the laptop around. “Check the email first.”
Josiah rolled his eyes at the bad joke and started to read.
It was oddly rewarding to see how Josiah’s gaze turned shrewd and his jaw ticced. He scoffed, then shook his head.
“That man’s a shithead. How did he even figure you out?”
“That’s the thing, we don’t know. We probably should, don’t you think? Melody said maybe he or someone of his went to the Hare and we just didn’t notice him?” He sipped his coffee. “Can you check with the kids?”
“Yeah, give me a minute.” Josiah lifted his phone to his ear. “Hey, Nelson. I’m putting you on speaker so hold on.” Jo placed the phone between them on the table. “Can you remember if Harrison Lane or anyone you’ve seen with him before has been to the bar since Denny and I got together?”
Nelson hummed. “No… I don’t think—actually wait a minute. I think he might’ve stopped by one evening really briefly.” He made another thoughtful noise. “Yeah, yeah it was a night when Alfie was there and he was at the door leaving when Lane was coming in, right? And I bet Lane heard Alfie saying something like you look happier now that you’re with Denny.”
Denny cursed under his breath.
“What’s wrong?” Nelson asked, sounding worried.
“Nothing, really. Harrison wants out because he can’t condone my lifestyle choices. He might try and take people with him,” Denny explained, then sighed. “Okay, thanks Nelson. We needed to know where the info came from just to know how to approach this.”
“Should I… I don’t know, pay more attention what I talk about at the door or something?”
“No, not at all. We’re not in hiding,” Josiah said in a tone calmer than Denny expected. “We’re all good. This shit happens. Like I’ve said a million times, you never stop coming out. Denny is just learning that at a later age.” He grinned at Denny.
Nelson chuckled. “Okay. Whatever you say. Talk to you later, guys.”
They said their goodbyes and Denny gently kicked Josiah’s feet under the table. “I’ll show you old….”
Josiah got serious after a brief smile. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to tell him he knows where the door is. Tomorrow morning. But today, we need to figure out what to say to the artists we have signed. Because he’s not going to be the only one feeling like this.”
Josiah frowned. “I wouldn’t expect people to care, but then you do have some country artists that are pretty big on religion, right?”
“Yes, and the Christian rock group, openminded as they are, might have to have a talk with their manager just in case. So, this is where I need your help.”
“Mine? Why?”
“Because this is our life now. You’re my partner. I don’t know when we shifted from friends to this, but it’s happening and whether or not we actually work out long term, then I’m still going to be bisexual.”
Josiah seemed thoughtful for a few seconds. “Yes, but you do understand that you could still… not do that?”
Now it was Denny’s time to frown. “Do what?”
“Come out. Deny it and keep it private? Or at least say you don’t know what Harrison thinks he’s talking about and then just never comment on it.”
Denny felt as if Josiah had slapped him, but he couldn’t understand why. Josiah must’ve seen something in his expression, because he reached his hand over the table towards Denny, but Denny pulled his back. His feet that had been tangled with Jo’s after the playful kick seemed to move to his side on their own accord.
“Denny—”
“I… uh… I think I need a moment,” he managed to utter. Then he pointed at the laptop as he got up. “Check the draft I opened. That’s… I’m going to go for a walk.”
He hadn’t taken his shoes off like he normally would because of the urgency he’d felt to make sure Josiah didn’t get too worried. That allowed him to walk out of the door into the too-hot summer day.
He didn’t know why he was having hard time breathing all of a sudden. His logical brain had shut down, and he walked toward the small park a block away from the house.
Somehow, he managed to get his phone out and textedSOSto Sammie. Then he collapsed on the bench closest to the road and leaned forward, realizing that was probably a good idea in his situation. His phone rang.
