The Telling Read Online Free PDF

moving
    before someone comes out to see why we’re just sitting here.”
    “They’d do that?”
    “You betcha! I’d like to think that we’re a big happy family and they’re all concerned.” He leaned in and
    smiled, hand leaving Michael’s knee to shift the car into reverse. “But I happen to know they’re just really, really
    nosy.”
    They’d made if a full two full blocks before Michael blurted, “So, how long have you been dating Angie?”
    “Do what?” Jay stomped the brakes at a stop sign, whipping his head around to stare open-mouthed at Michael.
    “How long have you been dating my sister?”
    “Dude, you’ve got it all wrong. What gave you the idea I was seeing Angie?”
    “I don’t know, the way you two acted earlier. And I’ve gotta tell ya that she and Mom talk about you—a
    lot.”
    Jay appeared thoughtful for moment, then threw his head back and laughed. An impatient horn sounded behind them and he turned his attention back to
    driving.
    Did Michael need to defend his sister’s honor?
    Still chuckling, Jay said, “Think about what you just said. Now, think about how you and Angie act when you’re together. And
    don’t lie to me; she’s told me all about you.”
    Looking back on the incident in the living room, Michael recalled his own memories of Angie. “She treats you like she treats me!”
    “Got it in one,” Jay said. “She’s a good friend. A
very
good friend, but that’s it. Besides,
    she’s not my type. I’m not into…” he paused mid-sentence and Michael wondered what he’d started to say.
    Finally he concluded with, “Redheads.”
    “So, you like blondes instead?” Talking women at least beat talking about war.
    “Maybe,” muttered Jay, intently focused on the road.
    “I see. Maybe that hot blonde that was sitting on the couch.” Michael managed to smile even while developing an instant and intense
    dislike for Emmie or Amy or whatever the hell her name was.
    “Depends on which one you meant.”
    Another stop sign, another eye-locking moment. “So…” Michael prodded.
    Jay sighed and turned away, heading them north toward the old main street area of town. “Not the couch, the loveseat.”
    The loveseat? But… “Terry?”
    “Yeah, Terry,” Jay confirmed. “Terry is my type, or was, rather. I found that, although I like blonds, I can do without
    self-righteous arrogance.” He pulled the car to a halt at the town’s one and only traffic light. “I’m gay. Is that
    a problem for you?”
    Michael clamped down on
Oh hell no!
and replied with “No” instead.
    Jay sighed, relaxing his stiff posture. “Good. And before you ask, yes, your sister knows. In fact, I think pretty much everyone does. I
    don’t advertise, but I’ve also never tried to hide who I am, either.”
    The conversation faded as the light changed. Before the silence grew uncomfortable Jay said, “Knowing your mom and sister I didn’t
    think you’d be a bigoted jerk about it, but you never know. I’ve met some pretty cool people in this town but I’ve also met
    some real assholes, ya know?”
    Yes, Michael did know what people could be like, especially to gays, blacks, or Hispanics in this town, and the fact that Jay had two out of three covered
    meant that life could get ugly for him around the wrong folks.
    That was precisely why Michael feared this bizarre attraction. Although unafraid of what people might say or do, he didn’t need the aggravation
    of being on the receiving end of the ugliness that the jerks could send his, or his family’s way. Still, he couldn’t deny the relief at
    finding out that, not only was Jay not Angie’s boyfriend, but that they swung the same way.
    Nothing could ever come of his wishful thinking since he didn’t intend to stick around. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen once
    life settled down again. Still, he needed hope that life could go on, and the loneliness lurking deep within recognized something it wanted in the