Chapter 1-3
606 Words
In bed, the day over with, Billy listened to his new Collective Soul tape, staring at the phone on his chest.
Xavier had given him his number this afternoon and Billy had learned those seven digits like they were the code to disarming a Saddam Hussein nuclear bomb. But he hadn’t dialed them yet.
He heard Francis’s loud steps in the hall, his cast hitting the hardwood floor. The neighbors downstairs must have loved that. Seconds later, Francis poked his face in the door. “So you’re gonna be all right without me here for the weekend?” He smirked. “I know how much you love to listen to me piss and moan.”
Billy chuckled. “You look great, by the way.”
Francis wore his good black button-up shirt and was clean shaven. He was an attractive guy with a great body, but Billy had given up on fantasizing about Francis a week after moving in with him. Francis was madly in love with his girlfriend Julia, a fantastic young woman Billy admired. And now the two love birds were going away for the weekend, leaving him with an empty apartment for the first time in months. It would be amazing. He’d rent a whole bunch of Keanu Reeves movies and call a pizza. “I think I’ll survive,” he said.
“All right…well, page Julia if there’s anything.” Francis stared at him a little longer. “Why are you lying with the phone on your chest?”
“Because I’m about to call somebody.” Billy sat up a little. “A guy.”
“Yeah? Like…a real guy?” Francis leaned his shoulder on the door. He’d never actually entered Billy’s bedroom. “Wow. Good for you. Finally.”
Billy picked up the receiver. “I’m gonna call him right now so—”
“Right. Right.” Francis moved back. “Well, looks like you might have quite the weekend.” He took another step back, his cast dragging across the floor boards, but then stopped and gave Billy a worried look. “You’ll—you’ll be careful, right? I mean…you’ll take all the precautionary measures. Remember AIDS.”
“Francis, I’m a gay man. I don’t have to remember AIDS. Those four letters follow me around like a shadow.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Francis limped away. “See you Monday. Try to have fun, then.”
Determined not to change his mind, Billy punched the numbers on the dial pad and waited, listening to the rings. Then, on the sixth one, a woman picked up. “Yes,” she said, in a drowsy voice.
Billy shot up in bed, against the head board. “Uh, is Xavier there, please?”
“Who’s this?”
“A—a friend from work.”
She sighed sharply, as though she was displeased, and then screamed Xavier’s name. Billy waited, barely breathing, his whole body leaning into the phone. What would he say?
“Hello?” Xavier’s voice was even deeper on the phone.
“Hi…it’s Billy,” Billy babbled. “From the garage. I, uh, I was wondering if you—well, first of all, how are you?”
“I’m okay, you?”
“Great. Fine.” Billy twirled the phone cord. “How long have you been working at the garage?” he blurted out, not knowing how to start.
“Not long.”
“And do you like it there?”
“Not really.”
Billy could feel sweat pooling under his arms. “Did I maybe call you at a bad time?”
Xavier was quiet for a moment. “No,” he finally said. “I was waiting for you to call.” He paused. “I was hoping you would.”
Billy’s body temperature rose. “Are you doing anything tomorrow night?” he asked, all in one breath. “We could have a drink and maybe go to McKenny’s?”
“Yeah…sure.” Xavier sounded strange. Uncertain.
But Billy decided it was worth a risk. “I can’t wait to see you again,” he said, taking a chance. Then he waited, barely breathing. If Xavier was straight, this was his opportunity to make himself clear. The line was quiet for a moment and Billy’s hopes sunk.
Then Xavier broke the silence. “What, you didn’t get enough of watching me all week?” There was a smile in his smooth voice.
“You noticed me?” Billy’s cheeks were hot and he knew he was glowing like a party lantern.
“Yeah, Billy…I noticed you.” Xavier was serious again. “I’ll see you tomorrow…okay?”
After Xavier hung up, Billy stared at the phone and let out the breath he’d been withholding.
He was hooked.
- Writer
