Colin’s mouth twisted, and he shrugged. “Nate’s all set up to do a Zoom meeting with that attorney and his producer… or would-be producer.” He shot a sidelong glance at Joshua. “And, of course, he’s over the moon about it.”
“As well heshouldbe.”
“Yeah, well, I’mnotall gung ho about it, and I guess I didn’t hide it very well.”
Joshua grunted his understanding and nodded.
“He thinks I’m worried that his play’s gonna flop,” Colin told him.
“When the truth is you’re more worried itwon’t.”
“Make me sound like a completeasshole,why don’t you,” Colin muttered.
“Colin, I didn’t mean it that way,” Joshua told him. He wrapped both arms around Colin’s arm and hugged it against his body. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry.”
“I mean, it’s only natural that you’d feel some concern given how you…”
“Stop,” Colin blurted out. “Stop, Josh.”
“Stopwhat?”
“Youknowwhat!”
“Stop shrinking?”
“For the moment, yes.”
Joshua grimaced and peered at Colin through one squinted eye.
“No?” Colin asked, a small smile creeping across his face.
Joshua released Colin’s arm and leaned against the couch, staring at the ceiling. “It’s hard for me to stop being a psychologist when Iam, in fact…,” he shot Colin an apologetic look, “… apsychologist.”
Colin snickered, then grabbed Joshua’s arm and tugged him closer. “Fine. Be a psychologist. Just don’t act like one for a while.”
“You mean don’ttalklike one.”
“I DO mean that.”
Joshua sighed and stared once again at the ceiling. “I’ll do my best.” He turned his head and kissed Colin’s arm. “I wonder how long it’ll take before he gets an opening night.”
Colin shrugged. “No clue.”
“I wonder how involved he’ll be.”
“In what?”
“Oh, things like set design, lighting, stage management. Stuff like that.”
“I suspect a lot. He’d almosthaveto be, wouldn’t he?” Colin paused and wrapped both arms around Joshua. “Honey, I’m sorry if I’ve been a jackass.”
“You’re never a jackass.”
“Never?”
“Well…,” he drawled out, batting his eyes, “…seldom.”
