really liked her a lot, so I thought…. Well, it was a mistake.”
“And that’s why you’re getting divorced.”
“I just couldn’t lie to her anymore. Or to myself.” He laughed without humor. “My parents still don’t know why we split. They think I’m just a failure as a husband—not also a failure as a heterosexual.”
Colby grinned. “But this gives you a fabulous opportunity to be a flaming success as a homosexual!”
William was certain he’d be bad at that too, so he changed the subject. “Let me show you what’s left of the old shops.”
They spent nearly two hours ambling around the grounds, peeking into various structures. They found the remains of what was once a nice garden with a fountain—William wondered whether the patients had been allowed to stroll there—and they admired the fancy woodwork on the director’s house. They ended up dusty and sweaty, and William was pretty certain his usually pale face was sporting a good sunburn.
Colby looked at his watch regretfully. “I gotta head home. Promised Grandpa I’d make dinner tonight.”
“Want something cold to drink first?”
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
The apartment seemed mercifully cool, especially with the fan blowing and glasses of ice water in their hands. Colby wiped a sheen of perspiration off his forehead. “You’re gonna roast here when summer really hits.” A rare expression of worry crossed his face. “You are staying, aren’t you?”
“At least until fall. I have to finish my dissertation and I don’t have anywhere else to go. Dr. Ochoa’s going to try to add me to his grant for the next academic year, and then I’d probably have a big enough stipend for a place to live, especially if I can teach a class or two.”
“Oh. Well, that gives us a few months at least. And you get to be my new project!”
“Project?”
“Four months from closeted to fabulous! We’ve already made a good start at it today.” Colby gestured toward the laptop, which was enough to make William blush slightly. At least the sunburn probably hid it this time.
“You want me to watch more online porn?” asked William.
“That can be your homework. Drop by the store tomorrow to pick up some more romance novels—that’s extra credit. But I think we’re going to need to branch out a little more.”
Mild alarm fluttered in William’s stomach. “How?”
“You need to meet some real-life men.” Colby nodded. “We’ll go to a bar.”
William pictured disco balls, go-go boys, and lots of glitter. “I don’t think—”
“Don’t worry. I know just the place. Let’s see… I have next Wednesday off, so we can go Tuesday night. Come pick me up at the store at six and we can have dinner somewhere first.” Colby set his empty glass on the table. “Gonna spring me from this place, warden?”
They walked side by side to the gate, Colby wheeling his bicycle and humming to himself. He waited for William to unfasten the lock, but before getting on his bike, Colby grabbed William’s hair and tugged his head down for a kiss. It was a very quick one, without a hint of tongue, but it made William’s lips tingle and his dick remember it had been cheated earlier in the day. “Thanks for the tour,” said Colby.
“Thanks for the lesson.”
“Anytime, Will. Anytime at all.” Colby hopped on the bike and headed down the gravel road. Before he rounded the first curve he turned slightly and waved.
William stood at the open gate for a long time, fingers at his lips.
W ILLIAM worked very hard that evening. He finished up another sizable chunk of analyses and, when he came up with some results that puzzled him, spent some time wrestling with his statistics textbook. But the text proved less than helpful, so in the end he wrote a summary of what he’d done so far, along with a list of follow-up questions, and sent it all off to Dr. Ochoa. The man was a stats whiz, which was one of the main reasons William had asked
“And that’s why you’re getting divorced.”
“I just couldn’t lie to her anymore. Or to myself.” He laughed without humor. “My parents still don’t know why we split. They think I’m just a failure as a husband—not also a failure as a heterosexual.”
Colby grinned. “But this gives you a fabulous opportunity to be a flaming success as a homosexual!”
William was certain he’d be bad at that too, so he changed the subject. “Let me show you what’s left of the old shops.”
They spent nearly two hours ambling around the grounds, peeking into various structures. They found the remains of what was once a nice garden with a fountain—William wondered whether the patients had been allowed to stroll there—and they admired the fancy woodwork on the director’s house. They ended up dusty and sweaty, and William was pretty certain his usually pale face was sporting a good sunburn.
Colby looked at his watch regretfully. “I gotta head home. Promised Grandpa I’d make dinner tonight.”
“Want something cold to drink first?”
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
The apartment seemed mercifully cool, especially with the fan blowing and glasses of ice water in their hands. Colby wiped a sheen of perspiration off his forehead. “You’re gonna roast here when summer really hits.” A rare expression of worry crossed his face. “You are staying, aren’t you?”
“At least until fall. I have to finish my dissertation and I don’t have anywhere else to go. Dr. Ochoa’s going to try to add me to his grant for the next academic year, and then I’d probably have a big enough stipend for a place to live, especially if I can teach a class or two.”
“Oh. Well, that gives us a few months at least. And you get to be my new project!”
“Project?”
“Four months from closeted to fabulous! We’ve already made a good start at it today.” Colby gestured toward the laptop, which was enough to make William blush slightly. At least the sunburn probably hid it this time.
“You want me to watch more online porn?” asked William.
“That can be your homework. Drop by the store tomorrow to pick up some more romance novels—that’s extra credit. But I think we’re going to need to branch out a little more.”
Mild alarm fluttered in William’s stomach. “How?”
“You need to meet some real-life men.” Colby nodded. “We’ll go to a bar.”
William pictured disco balls, go-go boys, and lots of glitter. “I don’t think—”
“Don’t worry. I know just the place. Let’s see… I have next Wednesday off, so we can go Tuesday night. Come pick me up at the store at six and we can have dinner somewhere first.” Colby set his empty glass on the table. “Gonna spring me from this place, warden?”
They walked side by side to the gate, Colby wheeling his bicycle and humming to himself. He waited for William to unfasten the lock, but before getting on his bike, Colby grabbed William’s hair and tugged his head down for a kiss. It was a very quick one, without a hint of tongue, but it made William’s lips tingle and his dick remember it had been cheated earlier in the day. “Thanks for the tour,” said Colby.
“Thanks for the lesson.”
“Anytime, Will. Anytime at all.” Colby hopped on the bike and headed down the gravel road. Before he rounded the first curve he turned slightly and waved.
William stood at the open gate for a long time, fingers at his lips.
W ILLIAM worked very hard that evening. He finished up another sizable chunk of analyses and, when he came up with some results that puzzled him, spent some time wrestling with his statistics textbook. But the text proved less than helpful, so in the end he wrote a summary of what he’d done so far, along with a list of follow-up questions, and sent it all off to Dr. Ochoa. The man was a stats whiz, which was one of the main reasons William had asked
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