role model or father figure.” Gabe was trying to hold back more laughter.
“God help me.”
“Speaking of, how much trouble is Dylan in?”
“Lots and lots. I know he’s snuck in girls in the past, but I’ve never managed to catch him. I mean, he’s basically a good kid, but he is, I am sad to say, a bit of a player, and it is far too easy for me to picture him showing up with his Flavor of the Week and saying ‘Dad, we have something to tell you.’”
“I can understand how that would be a reasonable worry.” Dylan had certainly looked like he would never have trouble getting company, and even the smartest of teenagers could be a bit dumb about certain things.
“I’m sure it would qualify as some sort of sick galactic karmic joke, but it also qualifies as a nightmare.”
“You’d probably handle it better than your parents did.”
“My parents looked at me and actually said ‘But, honey, we were sure you were gay.’” The drinks arrived while Gabe was choking with laughter. “That was how I came out. I’m gay, and you’re going to be grandparents. Surprise.” James gave a camp flip of the wrist.
“Better than my coming out.”
“Do tell.”
Gabe seldom talked about how he’d come out, but conversation with James came so easily. “When I was sixteen, my mother found my Playgirls, and as eldest and only son in a big Mexican Catholic family, that just didn’t work. She spent ten minutes screaming and crying in two different languages and still thinks I’m going to hell.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Could have been worse, I guess. They didn’t throw me out. My cousins kicked my ass when word got around.” Gabe lifted the glass of white wine he’d ordered and took a moment to look at the world through its light golden hue. “But I suppose there’s something to be said for living exceedingly well as a form of petty, petty revenge.”
T HE JET was humming and waiting to taxi when an e-mail from Frank popped up on Gabe’s phone.
“Gabriel Juarez, CFO of TechPrim Industries, was seen lunching with his partner, James Mazon, a UCB professor, at the exclusive Les Papilles dining room.” :D —F&N
Gabe hit reply.
I hate you all. —G
J AMES YANKED the phone out of his pocket, ready to hit the ignore button on whomever it was. He was running late to set up for an evening symposium, though he didn’t see how it was his fault when someone else filled out the wrong paperwork and then submitted it at the absolute last second.
Gabe’s name was on the little screen, and James’s thumb hovered over ignore for only half a second before he answered it while still power walking across campus as quickly as possible.
“Hello?”
“Hey there.” Gabe’s words were bright, loud, and slurred.
James held the phone away from his ear. “Gabe?”
“Yep!”
“Are you still in Prague?”
“Yes, I am!”
“What time is it?”
“I don’t know.” There was the sound of a dull thump . “This clock says two.”
“In the morning?”
“I don’t know. It’s dark out.” Gabe’s giggle was high and strained.
“Are you drunk?” James knew it was an obvious question. Gabe sounded absolutely wasted, but he wanted to hear Gabe’s reply.
“No…. Maybe. I missed you. I wanted to hear your voice.”
A warm feeling filled James at the idea that he was missed, but it didn’t change the fact that he was running late. “That’s very sweet, but I was supposed to be up the hill five minutes ago.”
Gabe hummed. “I’d like to see you up.” His voice was suddenly low and smooth.
James froze, nearly tripping over his feet. “Could you please repeat that?”
“I want to see you up, and hard, and naked.” Gabe started to mumble on the last few words.
“Wow.” James wasn’t sure how to reply. His brain seemed to be attempting a forced shutdown. He fought it. “Okay. That’s nice for the ego and all, but I have a funny feeling you are completely wasted.”
“You
“God help me.”
“Speaking of, how much trouble is Dylan in?”
“Lots and lots. I know he’s snuck in girls in the past, but I’ve never managed to catch him. I mean, he’s basically a good kid, but he is, I am sad to say, a bit of a player, and it is far too easy for me to picture him showing up with his Flavor of the Week and saying ‘Dad, we have something to tell you.’”
“I can understand how that would be a reasonable worry.” Dylan had certainly looked like he would never have trouble getting company, and even the smartest of teenagers could be a bit dumb about certain things.
“I’m sure it would qualify as some sort of sick galactic karmic joke, but it also qualifies as a nightmare.”
“You’d probably handle it better than your parents did.”
“My parents looked at me and actually said ‘But, honey, we were sure you were gay.’” The drinks arrived while Gabe was choking with laughter. “That was how I came out. I’m gay, and you’re going to be grandparents. Surprise.” James gave a camp flip of the wrist.
“Better than my coming out.”
“Do tell.”
Gabe seldom talked about how he’d come out, but conversation with James came so easily. “When I was sixteen, my mother found my Playgirls, and as eldest and only son in a big Mexican Catholic family, that just didn’t work. She spent ten minutes screaming and crying in two different languages and still thinks I’m going to hell.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Could have been worse, I guess. They didn’t throw me out. My cousins kicked my ass when word got around.” Gabe lifted the glass of white wine he’d ordered and took a moment to look at the world through its light golden hue. “But I suppose there’s something to be said for living exceedingly well as a form of petty, petty revenge.”
T HE JET was humming and waiting to taxi when an e-mail from Frank popped up on Gabe’s phone.
“Gabriel Juarez, CFO of TechPrim Industries, was seen lunching with his partner, James Mazon, a UCB professor, at the exclusive Les Papilles dining room.” :D —F&N
Gabe hit reply.
I hate you all. —G
J AMES YANKED the phone out of his pocket, ready to hit the ignore button on whomever it was. He was running late to set up for an evening symposium, though he didn’t see how it was his fault when someone else filled out the wrong paperwork and then submitted it at the absolute last second.
Gabe’s name was on the little screen, and James’s thumb hovered over ignore for only half a second before he answered it while still power walking across campus as quickly as possible.
“Hello?”
“Hey there.” Gabe’s words were bright, loud, and slurred.
James held the phone away from his ear. “Gabe?”
“Yep!”
“Are you still in Prague?”
“Yes, I am!”
“What time is it?”
“I don’t know.” There was the sound of a dull thump . “This clock says two.”
“In the morning?”
“I don’t know. It’s dark out.” Gabe’s giggle was high and strained.
“Are you drunk?” James knew it was an obvious question. Gabe sounded absolutely wasted, but he wanted to hear Gabe’s reply.
“No…. Maybe. I missed you. I wanted to hear your voice.”
A warm feeling filled James at the idea that he was missed, but it didn’t change the fact that he was running late. “That’s very sweet, but I was supposed to be up the hill five minutes ago.”
Gabe hummed. “I’d like to see you up.” His voice was suddenly low and smooth.
James froze, nearly tripping over his feet. “Could you please repeat that?”
“I want to see you up, and hard, and naked.” Gabe started to mumble on the last few words.
“Wow.” James wasn’t sure how to reply. His brain seemed to be attempting a forced shutdown. He fought it. “Okay. That’s nice for the ego and all, but I have a funny feeling you are completely wasted.”
“You
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