Part 28 (1/2)

They stopped at once, and looked at each other. G.o.d, we need to get back in sync G.o.d, we need to get back in sync, Bro thought glumly. From Bradley's morose expression he must have thought the same.

Eddy stared at them, frowning, perplexed, and a bit suspicious. ”Um... okay....”

Bro sighed sadly. There really was no way out of this conversation-again. ”Come on. Let's go outside. I need to talk to you.”

Without waiting for Eddy to accept, Bro walked toward the back door. It wasn't until he walked outside to the large backyard with its trimmed lawn, tall trees, and winding footpath that he realized how late it really was. Stars shone in the black sky, but Bro saw no sign of the moon, and the back terrace lights didn't offer much illumination. A few small groups of people stood or sat nearby, but none farther out toward LeDroit Park.

Bro headed for the privacy offered by the park. He stopped under a tree, staring at the dark emptiness across from their little shelter of nature. No one was about, not even on the footpaths. A clamorous city was not far from their seclusion, but here all was still.

”You okay, brother?” Eddy asked, concerned. Only then did Bro notice the guy had indeed followed him out, as requested, or ordered, more like. ”Have I done something wrong?”

Bro needed a moment to collect his thoughts. He didn't want to end their friends.h.i.+p, but if Eddy insisted on pursuing this line of so-called a.s.sociation....

The silence dragged on, and Eddy fidgeted. ”What is it?” When Bro still didn't reply, he moved into Bro's line of sight, facing him. ”Talk to me.”

Looking straight into Eddy's eyes, Bro asked slowly and steadily, ”Did you ask me here tonight to... to make a pa.s.s at me?”

Eddy blinked hard and bit his lower lip. That told Bro tons. ”I....” He looked down, and then everywhere else but at Bro, until finally the dam broke. ”I'm sorry, Bro. It's true. I did ask you here so I could see if we-”

”There is no we, Eddy,” Bro cut in, reining in his temper. How could he get mad at his friend, who was caught in the throes of unrequited love? ”I'm with Lacey. She and I are meant to be. I love her.”

Eddy cleared his throat, still staring down at his feet, looking distinctly uncomfortable. ”But isn't she a little... you know, not manly? I mean, you're gay, and she's-”

”I may refer to her as she, but Lacey's not not a girl. She's a man. My man. I honestly don't know how to make this any clearer.” a girl. She's a man. My man. I honestly don't know how to make this any clearer.”

Eddy looked even more forlorn, and Bro was having a hard time staying angry at him for meddling and for this attempted frat-boy seduction routine. ”But you two have nothing in common,” Eddy argued. ”You're going in different directions. You think she's gonna stay in DC just for you if she gets all famous and s.h.i.+t? She's gonna travel, and you're having trouble not seeing her during the day as it is. What if she moves to another town, or another country, or abroad to Europe? That's where musicians like her get noticed. What are you going to do then? Follow her around while she gets to live her dream as a violinist, and you drop your dreams of a career in football in favor of all that? Come on, Bro. Be serious. That can't be good for either of you.”

Bro had to hold his head. His forehead was hot and he felt feverish. Why the f.u.c.k was this so d.a.m.n hard?

And why did his p.r.i.c.k of a friend have to start making sense? It wasn't like Bro had never asked those kinds of questions himself in the dark, lonely hours of the night when Lacey was at his side. Yeah, he did fear losing her, and there was no chance he would stand in the way of her dreams.

But what about my dreams? Bro sighed inwardly. Apart from Lacey, he didn't even know if he had any dreams. Football was fun-but as a career? Bro sighed inwardly. Apart from Lacey, he didn't even know if he had any dreams. Football was fun-but as a career?

Bro could be driven, he could be pa.s.sionate. He loved football, but to be a professional football player required extraordinary skill, and the career expectancy wasn't very long. There would be injuries. One busted knee or shoulder or whatever, and he would have to kiss that career good-bye. And in all likelihood, that could happen at a very young age, and then where would he be? What backup plan did he have to fall back on?

Not to mention the fact that he was gay. Openly gay football players had a hard time fitting in no matter how great their skills, stamina, and strength of will. Bro had already seen his share of hate for being gay. How much more would there be ahead of him if he wanted to be allowed to be who he was and live and work the way he desired? Hatred, bigotry, and discrimination ran so deep in society, it was daunting, and in sports it was doubly, even triply, so.

Bro sighed again. He felt tired. It was almost midnight, and he longed to hold Lacey in his arms. He didn't need any answers, then. She was answer enough for him.

”Bro, did you hear me?” Eddy asked, his voice at once shaken and insistent.

”Yeah, I heard you, man.” He locked gazes with Eddy, stern and decisive. ”But that's not gonna change my mind. I'm with Lacey. And as far as my career plans go, well, they're my business, and no concern of yours.”

Eddy looked hurt. ”I was just trying to point out how different you guys are. In the long run, commonalities are better for a relations.h.i.+p-”

”Yeah, I know that, okay? I know.” Bro stifled a growl. ”But the knowledge doesn't affect my feelings for Lacey.” He exhaled. ”Yeah, maybe she and I will go our separate ways one of these days. But that day isn't here yet. And I love her. I'm not gonna push her away just because we might might break up one day down the line. That's just stupid.” break up one day down the line. That's just stupid.”

Eddy nodded slowly, worrying his lower lip. ”I guess you don't wanna be my friend anymore.”

”That's up to you, man. If you keep doing this....” Bro shook his head, hands raking through his hair angrily. ”I get it that you're into me. But it's a crush, right? There are plenty of other guys out-”

”You want Lacey. I want you.” Eddy sounded more adamant now, even stubborn.

Bro didn't know if he was angry or sad. ”You don't even know me-”

Eddy chuckled at that. ”I do know you, Bro. We've got a h.e.l.l of a lot in common. We hang out together all the time. We run, exercise, talk, even eat alike. We could be good together. I think you know that too, and that's why you're declaring your love for Lacey so loudly. A part of you wants-”

”Don't even think of finis.h.i.+ng that sentence!” Bro ground out, resisting the urge to grab the guy by the collar, lift him up, and shake him till his teeth rattled. ”I've tried being nice and understanding, but you-”

Eddy kissed him. A firm press of lips. .h.i.t Bro right smack in the mouth, and then a tiny flick of tongue followed, coaxing Bro to open up.

Bro yanked back and shoved Eddy off hard with both hands on the guy's chest, making him stumble back a step or two. ”What the f.u.c.k, man?”

But Eddy was looking over Bro's shoulder, a wealth of emotions on his face.

Bro felt the hairs on his nape stand as he turned around and saw three people he loved standing on the terrace steps. With his arms crossed over his chest, Bradley looked calm even though he was frowning, but Audrey had her hands on her hips, and she was seething mad.

Only Lacey looked blank, just staring, blinking.

But the moment their eyes met, it was as if a switch was flipped on in Lacey, and she came to life. She walked over to them, glancing between Bro and Eddy.

When she stopped, just short of touching distance, Bro opened his mouth to speak.

But Lacey got there first, addressing Eddy. ”Hi.”

Swallowing hard, Eddy fidgeted in place. ”H-hi....”

”You do know that was my boyfriend you just kissed, right?” Her voice was neutral.

Eddy's lips thinned as he tried to control his emotions. ”Yeah. I know.”

Bro observed Lacey, who for some reason looked older tonight, more tired and weary, and definitely sadder than before. She couldn't think he would ever...? Could she?

Lacey smiled ruefully. ”Look, Eddy. Unrequited love's a b.i.t.c.h, and-”

Eddy snorted out a disdainful, broken laugh. ”How would you know?”

Lacey let out a breath, looking down. ”Because for years I've loved my father, and he does not love me back. In truth, he hates me-”

”He hates you 'cause he's nothing more than a drunken, violent, h.o.m.ophobic a.s.shole who hits his defenseless queer son,” Bro cut in, furious.

The shock was evident in Eddy's face for a moment. ”He... hits you...?” Then shame and guilt replaced the surprise, and he lowered his head. ”I'm sorry, Lacey.” His shoulders slumped, and he looked about as defeated and dejected as a whipped dog in the rain.

But Lacey touched his arm gently. ”It's all right.” Then she harrumphed. ”Well, it's not all right, obviously. Me being hit by my dad is hardly the same thing as you loving Bro.”

”I'm not....” Eddy looked about ready to deny it, but it was as if the words refused to come out. He let out a breath, and the broken, pained look returned. ”I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.”