Page 4 of Wedge

I nod again, taking a swig of club soda.

“Stephen,” he says. “Caleb’s friend.”

As though I would have forgotten already. I look up into his kind brown eyes and feel my gut unclench and butterflies erupt. A few grays in his dark brown hair, some lines crinkling the corners of his eyes… I could just fall into them.

Then I feel like an idiot. I lift furniture and refrigerators all day. My body is hard and strong, and no one should be able to get an advantage over me again. And what do I do? Freeze up. Need a rescuer. Pathetic.

“I’m gonna head home,” I bite out. “Later.”

“Sure you’re okay?” he calls after me.

I just wave over my shoulder and keep going. Through the sweat and the strobes and the bodies, toward the door and the cool dark outside.

3

STEPHEN

Adrian marches toward the door like he can’t get away fast enough. The crowd parts for him and closes again behind him, and for a few seconds all I can see is that angel with the flaming sword, wings spread, shrinking toward the exit. Then the door swings open on a slice of cool night air and swallows him.

I don’t think it was because of me? I hope it wasn’t. That slimy asshole who tried to put his hands on him… My fists are still curled at my sides, and my pulse is still revved up. Four years in the Corps taught me to keep my temper on a leash. It’s straining now. I’d like to pound the guy.

And I called Adrian fragile. Fragile. The man watched the exits, said no out loud when a stranger reached for him, and when he’d had enough, he left instead of staying to be polite. Guarded isn’t fragile. Somebody taught him that the hard way, and I of all people, should know the difference.

And… what the hell is that about?

Jesus, Stephen, I chide myself. See a pretty guy and go all caveman? I have never felt attracted to a man before. Hell, I barely felt attracted to most of the women I’ve been with, and I almost proposed. Touring with Gavin, I never bothered to date. Not enough time in one place, and my hand was good enough company. No emotions to deal with that way. So what the hell was that?

The song has changed again. The dance floor has already closed over the spot where we stood, like nothing happened.

“Adrian leave?” Caleb asks, bouncing up in front of me, flushed and sparkling with sweat.

“Yeah,” I say slowly. “I think someone spooked him.”

“Ah, damn.” His face falls, just for a moment. “I shoulda stuck closer to him. Guy really doesn’t like strangers touching him.”

“I gathered,” I reply, nodding. “There’s a story there.”

Caleb shifts on his feet, and for once the tempest goes still. “Yeah, not my story to tell, though.”

“Fair.” I’m still staring at the door like it’ll give me another glimpse if I just stare long enough. “I think I’ll head home, too.”

Caleb bounces in front of me. The boy vibrates. “Okay. Hope you had fun?”

I turn to him with a smile, and I’m surprised to find it’s real. “Yeah. I did. Thanks for dragging this old man out with you youngsters.”

“Jeez, Stephen, you are not old. You are a fine hunk of man meat, so stop that.”

“Man… meat?”

“It’s a compliment, go with it!” he laughs, then throws his arms around my neck. “Good night, Stevie, thanks for being a good sport.”

I ruffle his shaggy hair and return the hug. He smells like body glitter and vanilla vape, and he squeezes hard enough to surprise me for a guy his size.

The drive home is a blur of dark streets and green lights. The hallway of my apartment building smells like carpet cleaner and somebody else’s late dinner. It’s quiet when I let myself in. No dog, no lamp left on, no one waiting. The fridge hums. The faucet drips. Before tonight, I would have called that peaceful.

I shower off the club, the sweat and fog and sugar, and I stand under the water longer than I need to. Then I lie on top of the covers in the dark with the sliding door cracked to the June night, restless, my skin still humming from the bass like I’m standing next to a speaker that isn’t there. I tell myself I’m just tired. I don’t believe me.

I turn on a movie I’ve used in the past. The woman on the screen is moaning with each thrust of the guy’s hips and I stroke my cock in time with him. I try to imagine it’s my cock drilling her, being swallowed up by a hot wet channel.