Page 102 of Tumbling Hearts

He points to it, showcasing the classic shirtless pose of⁠—

“Jim Morrison? Really?” Ray gasps. “Maybe that’s why it’s on your wall. It’s not just because you like his music, but so you could ogle over him⁠—”

“Well, it wouldn’t be any different than you looking at those hoochie magazines you’d always keep in your room,” Mick counters.

Ray blushes. “Okay, okay. Fine. But, if not your friend, Fred, then is there anyone else you have a crush on? You already know about me and Gene, so I think it’s fair you tell me yours.”

“No one in particular.” Mick shrugs. “I have met guys I like, but… no one I’ve wanted to pursue further than kissing.”

“Does that mean you’re still a virgin?”

“Yeah, so?” Mick pouts. “It’ll happen when it happens, okay? I don’t wanna rush into it.”

“Okay, okay. Sorry,” Ray chuckles.

“I have gone out to meet people, though. There’s this gay bar in Detroit—Frank Gagen’s. Have you heard of it?”

“No, can’t say I have. Could you tell me about it?”

“Yeah, sure…”

They go on like that, connecting with each other in a way they never have before for the rest of the night. Ray can’t describe how happy he is to know that his brother is also queer. It means so much to him, to have someone in the family who understands.

Now if only society as a whole could be just as understanding…

December, 1976

These past few weeks have flown by for Gene. Thanksgiving with Toshiko was… interesting, to say the least. Toshiko absolutely loved his parents, and got along splendidly with his mother. Of course she asked Toshiko about any future plans—not specifically saying anything about kids, but hinting at it—and Toshiko simply said, “Oh, I can’t think of that right now, especially when I’m still working on my career as a singer.” Gene was thankful Toshiko knew how to navigate such a difficult topic, especially when he’d never discussed such things with her. And, frankly, I kinda don’t want to.

His own birthday came and went, too. Now he’s twenty-three, the same age as Ray. All of the Dusty Brooms celebrated with him at their house in Lake Orion, and so did Toshiko, still wanting to spend as much time with him as possible. While being with her is nice—she is his girlfriend, after all, and he enjoys her company—he can’t help but yearn for more time with Ray. Toshiko’s presence makes that difficult. It’s like when she visited during the summer all over again.

His mind has been so torn. He misses Ray. He misses the intimacy they shared together during the tour. But doing anything with Ray makes Gene a complete piece of shit for cheating on Toshiko. Look how things ended up with Ray and his own girlfriend. Toshiko doesn’t deserve that. She deserves someone who cares for her, who’ll put aside time for her, to show her compassion.

Gene wants to do good for her. But his desire for Ray burns a hole in his chest.

Weed helps dull the pain, though. Same with smack.

At the moment, Gene and the Dusty Brooms are in Los Angeles again. Maurice is home back in Michigan, as he’s not really needed for this short week-stay they have here. But Nicky came with them, preparing for his court date in a couple days. Apparently Carol is using this time while the Brooms are away to grab most of her stuff at their house. She might not be able to grab everything, but Gene hopes she can. She does have a whole week to do so, after all.

The Dusty Brooms are seated at a table with a large microphone hanging from above, and a DJ across from them—a radio interview. They haven’t done one since before the tour, and with all the news since, it’s about time they spill some info.

“Now, Ray, if I may ask,” the DJ says, “Could you give us some more insight on your break up with your girlfriend, Carol Knight? I’d like to hear it from you yourself, to clear up any rumors.”

Gene looks at Ray, watching him grimace. Gene’s heart beats faster, knowing he’s feeling the same sort of anxiety as his best friend. “We weren’t right for each other,” Ray says, looking down at the table. “We tried to make things work, I guess, but… I wasn’t feeling any sort of spark with her anymore. So, in the end, us separating was for the better.”

“Was there someone else involved? A mistress, perhaps?” the DJ asks curiously.

“Um…” He looks at Gene, asking with his eyes a question he doesn’t know the answer to. Of course they can’t admit that they have done anything together to the public. But they also never really had much of a chance to come up with some sort of lie to tell, either. “Well, you know how things are, being on the road,” Ray ends up telling the DJ. “There’s lots of groupies, lots of temptation. Sometimes when you’re buzzed, things can take a turn you don’t expect.”

That’s a vague enough answer, and good enough for Gene.

“Oh? Did you cheat on her with a groupie—is that what you’re saying?” the DJ asks, raising a brow.

“I don’t wish to say any more, if that’s alright,” Ray says. “Let’s just leave it there.”

“Alright, alright,” the DJ laughs, then moves on to the next question.

Later in the day, the Dusty Brooms head to Hollywood to record their segment for the New Years Rockin’ Eve TV program. They play one song, a number they don’t perform often but feel the lyrics work well for the occasion: ‘Nothin’ Can Hold Me Down’. Their only audience is the stage crew, Dennis, Toshiko, and even her manager Yasuhiro joins them. But there will be many, many more people watching at home when the program airs, so Gene wants to make sure this is a performance worth remembering. He strums the rock-’n’-roll rhythm, fast-paced and carefree, as the band accompanies him and Ray sings the verse. He always dances so wonderfully, shaking his hips to the beat, making Gene’s cheeks heat up. The heat rises even more as Ray walks closer to him for them to sing the chorus together, faces nearly touching: