Crazy Love

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Billy ran up the stairs to his front door, and clutching the three plastic bags full of clothes he’d bought at the thrift store this afternoon, jiggled the key in the old lock. He opened the door and slammed it shut behind him. He was meeting Xavier at McKenny’s in an hour, but hadn’t taken his shower and changed yet.

“Hey, Francis!” he shouted, already heading for his bedroom. Francis and he had taken up the habit of announcing their presence loudly to each other in the last weeks, so as to avoid embarrassing situations. “I’m home and going to change and then I’m going out again!”

But on his way to his room, Billy heard an unfamiliar male voice in the kitchen, and stopped dead in his tracks. Who was that?

“We’re in the kitchen,” Francis yelled. “Come say hello, Billy.”

Curious, Billy set the bags down by his bedroom doorway and walked to the kitchen. He paused in the door, surprised to see a good-looking guy sitting at the table with Francis.

The man sized him up with one deep look and gave Billy a dazzling smile. “Oh, here is the Billy you were telling me about,” he said. He wore a navy-blue T-shirt with the words Physio is Easio printed across his broad chest.

“Billy, this is Kyle.” Francis winked at him. “Kyle, meet my very, very gay roommate, Billy.”

Billy’s mouth dropped open and he gave Francis a sharp look. “Really? That’s how you’re gonna introduce me to people? Two verys before the gay?” He hoped the guy, Kyle, couldn’t see the blush in his cheeks from where he sat.

Kyle stood—he was tall, but not as tall as Xavier—and reached his hand out to him. “Awkward, but adorable moment,” he said smoothly.

Billy shook Kyle’s strong hand. “Uh, well, nice to meet you.”

“Kyle is my new company appointed and free physiotherapist,” Francis said, sitting between them with a smirk. “He’s also as gay as Richard Simmons.”

Kyle snorted and shook his head, his eyes lingering on Billy’s face. “All those things are true. Except I do hope I have better hair than Richard.” He laughed and picked up the empty cup on the table. “I’ll be helping Francis with his recovery, so you might see me around. Hope you don’t mind…very very gay Billy.”

No one had ever flirted so openly with him before. It was kind of weird, but kind of nice, too. “Okay…” Billy didn’t know what else to say.

“Well, thanks for the tea, Francis, and I’ll see you in a few days.” Kyle pushed his chair up and walked towards Billy in the door. “Excuse me,” he said, passing Billy slowly and brushing up against his chest. “Bye,” he whispered, his steel-gray eyes steady on Billy’s face.

“Bye,” Billy blurted out, flustered and a little uncomfortable. God, this guy sure came on strong. Wasn’t sure he enjoyed that.

When Kyle had walked away, and there was the sound of the front door being shut, Francis looked at Billy and bounced his eyebrows. “What do you think about that? I found you a gay guy. Me. I did that. Huh? Isn’t that cool?” Francis stared at him expectantly. “So? What do you think of Kurt?”

“Kyle.”

“Right. Whatever. What do you think? You’d do him, right?”

Billy rolled his eyes and walked away. “He looks like a Ken doll and he’s way too old for me, but thanks for trying.”

“Well, at least he isn’t straight!”

Inside his bedroom, Billy dumped all his clothes on his bedspread. What would he wear tonight?

He heard Francis’s cast knocking against the floor and seconds later, Francis stood in his doorway. “You went shopping again? Man, you have more clothes than Julia does.”

“What else am I supposed to spend my money on?” Billy shot Francis a look over his shoulder. “I don’t drink—well, hardly—and I don’t smoke and I never go anywhere. So I shop. That’s my thing.”

“What’s a matter with you? Seeing a real gay man up close got you thinking about all the s*x you’re missing out on?”

Sometimes, Francis was so intuitive, it was uncanny. Billy’s shoulders stiffened and he shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Look, Billy, a year ago, I thought all gay guys had amazing s*x lives and screwed like bunnies all the time, but now, I see, that gay or straight, people get into ruts and need a little push in the right direction.”

“And you think trying to set me up with that mannequin Kyle is going to help?” Billy turned around and crossed his arms over his chest. “Physio is easio? I’m not into that. And I have a date tonight.”

“Maybe you should start being into that. Because, as far as I can see, you’re surrounded by straight guys and I don’t think that’s healthy for you.” Francis stared at him. “And you told me yourself that Xavier is seeing some girl. So I don’t think tonight’s a date, right?”

* * * *

Later that evening, in the quiet street, Billy leaned back against the passenger door of his car, and watched Xavier’s face. Xavier was silent and looking away from him. Something had come over him in the last seconds.

A few minutes ago, after hours of playing pool, they’d left McKenny’s and had walked together, talking and laughing, oblivious to the people they’d passed on the sidewalk. Then they’d realized they were both parked on the same street, away from the action of the Main. Their cars were on each end of the street.

Now Xavier was staring at the moon again. What was he thinking of?

Billy was dying to know. “A penny for your thoughts?” he said softly.

“Huh?” Xavier looked at him with a vague expression.

“I had a great time tonight,” Billy said, still holding himself to stop from touching Xavier’s bare arm. It had been a long evening of keeping his hands to himself and he was worn down from the fight.

“I had a great time, too.” Xavier’s dark eyes were incredible under the street lamp’s glow. “That old man Grubber McKenny is like a character out of a movie or something. Is he for real?” Xavier snorted a laugh. “He’s like Captain Ahab in that book…I don’t remember the name—”

“You read Moby d**k? Wow.”

“Well, I think it may have been the abridged version.” Xavier c****d his head a little and smiled.

His smile took Billy’s breath away. He wanted Xavier to hold him, to touch his hair and whisper something in his ear. It didn’t even matter what the words were. Instead, he chewed on his lip and made himself look away. “So you’re seeing Megan again tomorrow, huh?” he asked, wanting to show Xavier he didn’t care. That they were buddies.

“Billy—”

“Are you dating her?” Billy uncrossed his arms and tried to keep his voice steady.

Xavier stared at him, right into the heart of him. “Billy.” He stepped down the sidewalk, moving so close to Billy, his heart almost stopped. “I’m scared of how I feel about you,” Xavier whispered. “Of how much you make me feel.”

Billy looked around them—the street was still empty. He took a step closer to Xavier. Couldn’t think anymore. Had to kiss him.

But Xavier leaned away and a shadow moved over his features. He jumped up on the sidewalk and took a few steps back. “Call me when you get home,” he said, walking away in long strides. “I wanted to kiss you, Billy, but I chickened out. I’m sorry!”

“Xavier!” Billy shouted, chills running down his spine.

Xavier spun around and threw his hands up. “What?”

“Nothing.” Billy laughed. “Just wanted to see your face again.”

Xavier stared at him with eyes all ablaze. “Call me, Billy. Just call me and please, don’t stop chasing me.”