Will clears his throat and shakes his head. “Sure. I mean, it’s usually the other way around.”
“What do you mean?”
He shifts uneasily. “Narrow holes are… they’re fine if… shit. Never mind. I’m not used to…”
“Talking with a gay man and making gay jokes?” Owen whispers.
“Yeah, that’s it. I’m rusty, but maybe I never really had such conversations.”
“Well, as someone who mostly hung out with gay men—and the occasional lesbian—I’m willing to guide you through the process.”
“So it’s a process now?”
“It sure is.” He lowers his voice again. “Have you watched gay cinema?”
“Hmm, don’t think so. Is there even such a thing?”
Owen is dumbstruck, but he doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it. This is a small town in Missouri,and the closest cinema is more than an hour’s drive—and it’s unlikely to present gay content. “There are some important movies you should watch.Cruising. Midnight Cowboy. Parting Glances—though that one’s super sad. We can watch some together. Do you have a VCR?”
“I do. Can we find those things at Blockbuster, or do we need somewhere more niche?”
“Blockbuster’s fine, just don’t expect those films to be at the front of the store.”
“Okay. Sounds like a plan.” Will smiles, but that smile immediately fades and turns into a frosty expression.
Owen frowns, wondering if he had said something wrong.
“Hello, gentlemen.” Nate comes over from behind Owen. He’s wearing his uniform, his hands on his hips. “How’s your evening going?”
“Going great,” Owen says. “Are you going to work?”
“Nah, I just finished an hour ago. We found another dead junkie in Grandin.”
“Oh, that’s terrible. Where’s Grandin?”
“Northwest from here. Not far. He used to be a schoolteacher from what I’ve heard. Ain’t nobody safe from that stuff.”
Owen nods. “True. Hmm, are you here with someone?” He doesn’t want to invite Nate to join, but he doesn’t want to be impolite.
“I’m here on my lonesome, but since I have this guy here...” He places his hand on Will’s shoulder. “Rememberyou promised to help me out with that leak in my kitchen?”
“What?”
“The leak. You promised you’d come help me fix it.” Nate tells Owen, “Will is great with his hands, but his memory isn’t all that.”
“I remember,” Will says stiffly. There’s something in his eyes that makes Owen wary.
“Well, that leak is driving me crazy, so how about you come over to help me fix it?”
Will turns to look at Nate, tension in his jaw. “Tomorrow.”
“I have a late shift tomorrow, and I have a feeling that another day will make the leak worse.Muchworse.” He flashes a smile. “But hey, I can just wait until you finish dinner. No worries.”
Something about the way he says it feels fake. Owen remembers the conversation they had the first time they drove to Eminence. Nate had warned him about hanging out with Will, yet here he is, asking the same man for help.
Something doesn’t add up.
“I wake up early,” Will says, looking at his plate. “Best to do it now. I’m not that hungry.”
