Moments in Time 02 - Moment Of Truth Read Online Free PDF Page B

was serving up drinks with a flourish. I had no trouble at all imagining him charming customers.
    All the cocktails had goofy names that related to Oz. Ruby Slippers, Glinda’s Wand, Flying Monkey, Oil Can. I’d quizzed him every night for a week. I knew he had it all memorized—he just needed to see if he could perform under pressure.
    I invited Jason over. Another warm body to try out the drinks. Plus I had the feeling he was lonely. He jumped at the chance to come to our house, which made me glad I’d asked him. No one should spend their summer feeling lonely. I was grateful I wasn’t. Besides, I thought it was possible he’d hook up with Bryan.
    Bryan had a lull between gigs and had been lolling around the house for days. I’d only noticed one morning when a guy slunk out of his room and left the house. Other than that he’d either been alone or he’d taken to dating ninjas. With Bryan the latter wasn’t out of the question, but I still thought he might give Jason a shot. They were both tattooed musicians.
    That should have been enough for them to at least get a conversation going. God knows they were both attractive enough. Bryan with his pouty Jared Leto look and Jason a dead ringer for Adam Levine. Maggie was going to be beside herself with two gorgeous guys so close but yet so gay.
    Jason walked home from work with me the night Tanner was going to do his practice run. He seemed nervous, asking if he should go home and change first, then wanting to know who was going to be there.
    “So did you live with your boyfriend at school too?” he asked.
    “Yeah, we were roommates for seven months before we got involved.”
    “Oh wow. I assumed you were a couple first, then decided to live together.”
    “Nope. I didn’t even know he was bi. He thought I was straight too. Then everything just… clicked.”
    Jason nodded. “That’s cool. It’s good he was able to get you the job too. They’re not easy to come by.”
    “Yeah. And I was desperate to earn as much money as possible.”
    Jason’s eyebrow rose. “For school?”
    I felt embarrassed admitting the reason. “When I came out to my mom, she disowned me. No contact. No more tuition dollars. So the more
    I earn this summer the better. Thank God it’s my last year, but let’s face it, a bachelor’s degree in social work isn’t exactly going to land me a job that pays big bucks. I’m gonna have loans coming out of my ass for the next few decades.”
    Jason nodded. “I hear you. Same thing happened to me, only it was my freshman year. I’ve been on my own for the past two years.”
    I’d never met anyone else who’d been kicked out. “Do you still talk to them?”
    “Me? The family disgrace? No. They can’t have that. My father is a Conservative rabbi. I’m the shameful outcast. There’s nothing to talk about. As he sees it, he has no son anymore.”
    “I’m sorry. That sucks.”
    He shrugged. “Your mom sounds a lot like him. Let me guess, Catholic?”
    I nodded. We walked in silence. He knew what it was like. The humiliation and judgment. The rejection. “Do you have brothers or sisters?”
    “Only sisters, and they’re all the do-as-you’re-told type. Not one of them stood by me. It was more ‘Why are you doing this to us? Can’t you just be normal?’” Jason scrubbed his hand through his hair. “I don’t do normal. What you see is what you get.”
    “Normal’s overrated in my book. You’re much better off. Hey, this is our place.” I headed up the sand-and-gravel driveway, but Jason paused.
    “You sure it’s okay you’re bringing me? I don’t want to be a fifth wheel or anything.”
    I laughed and grabbed his arm, pulling him up onto the deck. “You’ll be fine. Trust me.” I held open the door, motioning him in. “Welcome to the Nut House.”

Chapter Nine
    I INTRODUCED Jason to Maggie, Dex, and Bryan who were hanging out in the front room. I wondered where Wendy was. Last I’d heard she was planning to catch