I'm Your Man by Timothy James Beck Page A

arranged an orgy for us.”
    â€œYeah? What would Jeremy do? Film it for your Web site?”
    Adam laughed and said, “I’m here on business, so Jeremy didn’t come. Seriously, wanna get together?”
    â€œSure, that sounds great,” I said, hoping this wasn’t going to be Adam’s opportunity to offer me advice about Daniel. Adam and Jeremy were the poster couple for marital bliss.
    â€œHmm, either you’re the worst actor around, or you’ve had one hell of a day, because your tone tells me that it’d be anything but great.”
    â€œPay no attention to my moodiness. I’ll snap out of it.”
    â€œMaybe it’s something in the stars.”
    â€œPlease,” I implored, “no astrological references.”
    Adam laughed, knowing what my relationship with Lillith was like. “Actually, I’m in Manhattan to accompany one of my clients to a stone and gem convention. I thought maybe you’d want to go, considering it might give you an edge with Lillith.”
    â€œThe National Gemological Society meeting?”
    â€œYeah!” Adam exclaimed. “At the Hilton in Midtown. How did you know that? Are you already going?”
    â€œNo, but I read about it. It might be interesting.”
    â€œIf you’re open tomorrow, why don’t you meet me there?”
    â€œSure,” I replied. “What’s a good time for you?”
    â€œI should be there all morning,” Adam answered. “If you can make it, why don’t we meet in the lobby around eight?”
    I agreed, and after we hung up, I thought about how much I’d missed him. Since I was sure that Jeremy had heard all the details about the breakup from Daniel and shared them with Adam, maybe we wouldn’t have to talk about it. Regardless, like I’d told Gretchen, Adam was one of the friends I didn’t intend to lose in the divorce.

CHAPTER 4
    T he next morning, I entered the Hilton and saw Adam strategically seated so that he could see the lobby doors. He was working on his laptop and seemed oblivious to the admiring glances cast his way. His fingers traced his firm jaw, while his blue eyes remained riveted to his computer screen. Not only did Adam teach computer courses at the University of Wisconsin, but he also ran his own Internet consulting business out of his home in Eau Claire.
    Although we’d grown up in the same hometown, we hadn’t become friends until the previous year. Adam often joked about how he’d come to New York to “find himself.” Instead, he found several new clients and friends, and fell in love with Daniel’s ex-boyfriend. Although he and Jeremy lived in Eau Claire, Adam flew to New York at least once a month to maintain ties with his East Coast clients. We would often get together to work out, go out for dinner to talk, or meet Gretchen for drinks so we could all complain about our business lives. I always insisted that we go out. Adam maintained a room in Martin’s apartment in Daniel’s town house, and I’d never chosen to hang out with Martin, even during the best of times in my relationship with Daniel.
    Adam glanced up as I approached him, snapped his computer shut, and stood to give me a quick hug. “I’m glad you could make it. Have you eaten?”
    â€œNo. I was hoping I could join you.”
    We made small talk over breakfast in the hotel café. Jeremy was doing well. Adam was working like a dog, as if he knew another way. His mother was organizing her PFLAG chapter’s march in the Madison Gay Pride Parade. He’d seen Sheila the day before, and she’d updated him about her wedding plans and the ongoing assaults from gossip columnist Lola Listeria.
    Adam was at the convention to meet one of his clients, Bonnie Seaforth-Wilkes. I’d met her before, at functions that Daniel and I had attended, since she was not only an executive producer of Secret Splendor, but one of her