ZenithRising Read Online Free PDF Page B

who are we talking about?”
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “Excuse me? Do you really
think I didn’t know? We were practically inseparable in tenth grade.”
    He gave his head a quick shake. “You believe I’m a
homosexual? How in the world did you come to that conclusion?”
    She squinted harder as though it would help her see the
truth. “You never denied what those boys said about you. Not even to me. You
certainly weren’t anything like all the other boys I knew. You were sweet and
thoughtful and we talked about feelings and philosophy and you even enjoyed
shopping with me. I figured it’s why we got along so well. And you never once got
goofy over any of my girlfriends and some of them were really cute. And I know
you’ve never been married. I read your bio.”
    She watched a whole gamut of emotions pass over his
face—curiosity, disbelief, comprehension, consideration and finally sincerity.
    “Maggie, I have a very close friend who is openly gay and he
actually does fit the stereotype you’re describing so I’ll refrain from giving
you a lecture about prejudging people and the dangers of making assumptions.
But I swear, I have never lusted after a member of my own sex. And the only
reason I never got ‘goofy’ over your friends was none of them were as cute or
smart or fun as you. Besides, I knew none of them would ever give me a second
look. I was a scrawny kid with too many insecurities to mention. It never
occurred to me to declare myself to be more manly than I appeared.”
    He ran his hand through his hair and frowned as though he
were searching for the words that would convince her to believe him. “Look, the
deal we had gave me the opportunity to spend time with the prettiest girl in
class and hold her close once in a while, even if it was just pretend. At
fifteen that was more than I could hope for. You held the pretend flag between
us like it was your security blanket and I took you at your word that you
didn’t want a relationship with any guy. It never occurred to me to trespass
and risk the good thing I had with you.”
    She gave in to the dinner roll’s seductive invitation as a
way to think about what he had just said. He was right about her making a big,
and apparently faulty, assumption about his sexual preference but it didn’t
explain everything. “After you left, you never answered my calls or letters. I
figured you had found new friends and forgot all about me.”
    He snorted. “I wanted to forget about you, believe
me. By the time I moved, our little deal had turned into torture. All you
wanted was my friendship and I couldn’t settle for that anymore. Then, in the
first long letter you wrote, you went on and on about some guy you’d met and,
well, it was the last straw for me.”
    “I feel so foolish. Usually it’s the boy who takes longer to
mature. But I wasn’t anywhere close to where you were back then. I was
completely honest about not wanting a relationship. It was another couple years
before I gave up my virginity. I don’t think I was ready even then. Just so you
know, I don’t even remember what guy I was talking about in that letter. I just
thought of you as a girlfriend who’d be interested in such nonsense.”
    Rather than continue to defend his masculinity or justify
his cutting her out of his life, he squeezed her hand and said, “Enough about
what was or wasn’t. Fate separated us for eighteen years. I believe there’s got
to be a good reason she brought us back together now. I’m glad we corrected the
misunderstandings. And I’m glad we’re agreed about having plenty of chemistry.
But, at the risk of you thinking I’m not a completely heterosexual man, I’m
going to suggest we fight the chemistry a while longer and get to know each
other as adults.”
    She smiled with her whole face and he visibly relaxed. “I
think that would be wonderful.”
    “Good. So put the notebook away and enjoy the rest of your
dinner.”
    The meal truly was an