Dan arrived home from the beach feeling as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. As he made his way up the walk to their apartment, he knew that the simple act of unburdening himself with Adam had done him good. Maybe this buddy thing would turn out to be a boon for both of them. He and Adam had made plans for that coming Friday, to go to dinner at Jimmy Mac’s, one of Adam’s favorite restaurants. He hoped that, on Friday, Mark would join them.
As he fitted his key into the lock of their front door, Dan was actually eager to see Mark.
His mood shifted the moment he opened the door.
The apartment was dark, the blinds drawn against the afternoon sun. Mark had the kind of music he hated blaring from the stereo. Was it Metallica this time?
The place reeked of cigarette smoke a
