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.The welcome party tonight had been Philip s idea too.Thadwasn t worried about Josh making a good impression on his uncle, butthat he had was a relief.After dropping off an armful of dishes, Thad returned from thekitchen to an empty sunroom.He could hear Philip laughing in theentryway, bidding farewell to the last of their guests.Matthew and thecaterer were nowhere in sight and had apparently already been paid andsent home.Thad collected the last of the dishes from around thesunroom.When he returned, Philip was behind the bar. Join me for anightcap, nephew?Thad smiled. You know I hate to see you drink alone.Sure, I lltake a light one.After the drinks were made, Philip took a seat in a comfortablechair overlooking the garden, now illuminated by the lights around thefountain.Thad took the cocktail from his uncle and sat in a matchingchair beside him. That went well, don t you think? Philip asked. Yeah.Thanks again for putting together such a nice party.Whatdid you think of him?Philip took a drink and turned to Thad. I liked him, and can seewhy you re so attracted to him.He s even better-looking than you said,60 Michael Rupuredand unlike many good-looking gay men, not at all full of himself.Iapprove.Thad watched the water dropping from tier to tier on the fountain. I m glad you like him.The more I m around him, the more I likehim. I can understand why.He s very nice.I can tell he likes youtoo.Thad sighed. I hope so.When I was telling him good-bye, therewas a moment I thought he might kiss me.It was hard letting him leavewithout kissing him good-bye when what I really wanted was to draghim upstairs to my bedroom.Philip sipped his cocktail. I think maybe Josh is a littleoverwhelmed by our fair city.Coming from a college town likeLexington, he s bound to feel a bit like a kid in a candy store.Thad frowned. Yeah, and I m black licorice in a room full ofchocolate candy bars. I d chastise you for being melodramatic, but it touches my heartthat you re at least a little like me. Philip smiled. Be patient.Goodthings come to he who waits. I sure hope you re right.I can be patient, but I worry about himfalling for someone else. UNTIL THANKSGIVING 61" 14 "THE rest of the week flew by.Josh s in-box overflowed with projectswaiting for his input, enough to make him take work at home to keepfrom falling behind.He didn t mind; it wasn t like he had anything elseto do.He looked forward to Friday.Greg Tucker, whom he d met atPhilip s get-together, had called, inviting Josh to join him and someother guys for cocktails after work at the Fireplace, a bar across thestreet from the West Park.Josh couldn t remember Greg and hopedhe d recognize the face when they met up.After work on Friday, Josh rushed home.He wanted to changeclothes, and because drinking really wasn t his thing, smoke a joint.Hewas doing just that on the balcony when he recognized Greg and acouple of the other guys from the party going into the Fireplace.Hestubbed out the joint, returned it to his stash, and brushed his teethbefore heading out.Bare picture windows on two walls did little to light the interior.It took him a moment to adjust to the smoky dark bar.Music videosplayed on televisions mounted near the ceiling on either end of theroom.A lone bartender was encircled by a bar, surrounded by patronshe seemed to know.Josh found Greg and his friends at a window tableoverlooking Twenty-Second Street.Greg thin, pale, and topped with a curly mop of mousy brownhair stood to greet him. Hey! Glad you could make it.I m sure youremember Ed and Michael from Philip s party.Josh shook Greg s hand. Of course! Good to see you guys again.Thanks so much for asking me to come along.62 Michael Rupured Good to see you again, Josh.I m Ed Pierson. Ed was tall andvery tan with a mustache that more than compensated for the lack ofhair on his head. Nice to meet you. Josh shook his hand and noticed anexpensive-looking watch and several equally pricey rings.Michael was the looker of the three short, with an ethnic look.Italian, or maybe Greek.Josh could barely keep from staring. S up? Michael DeLuca here.What can I get you to drink? Uh& make mine bourbon and Coke, Josh stammered.FiguringMichael had enough to remember, he didn t mention the chunk of limehe normally enjoyed with his cocktail of choice.Josh took a seat next to Greg and across from Ed.Michaelreturned, set four drinks down on the table, and then went back to thebar.He returned moments later with four shots of somethingchartreuse.Sitting next to Josh, he grabbed one of the shot glasses andraised it in a toast. To new friends!Greg and Ed grabbed a shot, clinked glasses, and waited for Joshto lift the fourth.Josh picked up the last remaining shot, clinked glasseswith the three men, then sniffed the chartreuse concoction gingerlybefore tossing it down.Josh made a face and shook his head. Whoa! Not sure I ve everhad a green drink before. Lightweight! It s called a Green Eye, Michael proclaimed. Getting you drunk is going to be easier than I thought.Josh laughed,  Yeah, I m not much of a drinker.Ed switched the shot glass for the cocktail he was drinking. We ll fix that! Michael, Greg, and I are seasoned vets.We ll show youthe ropes.Josh sipped on his bourbon and Coke and listened to the threefriends talk.Michael was the ringleader.Easy-going Greg went alongwith whatever Michael and Ed wanted.Ed was harder to read, andseemed to be looking at him whenever Josh looked his way. UNTIL THANKSGIVING 63Several drinks later, Greg excused himself, only to return with yetanother round of drinks for everyone and four more shots.This time theshot glasses contained something red. Time for a Red-Headed Slut, Greg said, raising one of theshots.Josh had barely made a dent in his first cocktail.The shot hadgone straight to his head.He took the second shot, and after clinkingglasses, surreptitiously dumped it into one of the nearly empty glasseson the table.Then he promptly handed the glass and several others tothe barback collecting unused glasses, empty bottles, and full ashtrays.The three friends were clearly just warming up.Josh excusedhimself to go to the bathroom.Announcing he had the same need, Edgot up to follow.They stood side by side, relieving themselves in a trough largeenough to accommodate half a dozen men [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]