The Telling Read Online Free PDF Page A

dishes filling the interior. Michael removed a fast food drink cup half-full of questionable
    semi-liquid from the passenger seat in order to get in. Gingerly placing the cup on the floor, he hoped that the ever-weakening bottom wouldn’t
    choose that moment to end its fight with the inevitable. He’d no desire to get up close and personal with whatever sloshed around inside.
    “Sorry about that,” Jay said, grin never dimming as he slid under the steering wheel. “The car’s a bit of a
    mess.” The light tone suggested he merely stated the obvious and wasn’t actually apologizing for any shortcomings.
    Michael managed to squeeze his bags into the already-filled-to-capacity area in the back and attempted, unsuccessfully, to adjust the seat to allow more
    room for his legs. A quick glance into the back revealed a football helmet and a backpack, along with a few hundred additional items, wedged behind his
    seat.
    “Do you play?” Michael asked, focusing on the helmet as a way to break the tension of being alone with his sister’s
    boyfriend, said boyfriend making him feel things he didn’t know how to deal with. Why? Why did he have to find this particular man attractive?
    “Play what?” A cheeky grin and waggling eyebrows said just how Jay chose to interpret the question.
    “Football,” Michael clarified, blushing hotly. Was Jay flirting with him? “Do you play football?” he asked again,
    immediately feeling stupid for asking. Of course he played football, Angie had mentioned attending his games often enough in her letters.
    “Whatever gave you that idea?” Jay’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed. “Now why would I be carrying
    around a football helmet if I didn’t play?”
    “Ummm…maybe because you have everything thing else in here but the kitchen sink?”
    “Damn!” Jay exclaimed, fastening his seatbelt and motioning Michael to do the same. “I knew I forgot something! Remind me to
    go by the hardware store and pick one up while we’re out, okay?”
    “We have a hardware store now?”
    “Well, actually, no. But there’s one over in Hanley.”
    Michael snorted. It figured. Nothing ever happened in this one-horse town and probably never would. If he had his way it wouldn’t matter one way
    or another, he’d be long gone. Wherever he wound up would have to be one hell of a lot more progressive.
    Jay cleared his throat and Michael glanced over to find an amused smile and piercing eyes sparkling with humor. “Something on your
    mind?”
    Fatigue took its toll, releasing the tight hold Michael usually kept on his tongue. “I don’t know,” he said.
    “It’s just all that’s happened in the last few years, coming home…” He let the thought trail off when
    pity wiped away Jay’s smile. Oh shit. He knew. Well, of course Jay knew if Angie did. She never could keep a secret and would have happily told
    anyone who would listen about what happened to her brother “over there”.
    Michael turned away. Why hadn’t he chosen a different path after graduation? He could have gone to trade school, become a welder or carpenter or
    something. But no, he wanted to see the world, earn money for college and, most importantly, escape from the man who was no longer in his mom’s
    life anyway. Oh yeah, and escaping the inevitable marriage to his former girlfriend. Mustn’t forget that.
    A soft, “Hey,” drew his attention, and a warm hand landed on his knee. “Whatever it is, it’ll be all right.
    You’re finally home. You can do whatever you want to now.” The warmth and understanding appeared genuine, and Michael decided then and
    there that he liked Angie’s latest flame. It was possible that Jay didn’t know what he’d been through, maybe it was just a
    guess; understandable given the media coverage of late. Michael offered up a half-hearted smile.
    Jay’s eyes turned to the living room window and Michael followed his gaze. A curtain fluttered. “We’d better get