Page 46 of Waves
I openly laughed. “Oh, no, he’s definitely into that. He’s just not that interested in... you know...” I finished my sentence with a crude gesture.
“Anal?”
“Mary, other people are eating their lunch!”
“What?” she cackled with her cup poised in the air. “So, he’s a side. No big deal.”
“What does that even mean? And how would you even know?”
“I read an article,” Mary said with a quick shrug. She refilled her cup from the samovar and took another long gulp.
“Sure, you did,” I laughed. “I’m sure you only look at the articles.”
“First of all, this was an article from a legitimate news outlet that popped up on my feed. Second, you know I think my cousin is closeted and I stay informed so I can be supportive of him because no one else in the family sure as hell will. And third, don’t be salty with me for knowing something about gay men you don’t. You need to educate yourself.”
“Fine,” I said while I crossed my arms. “Share your secrets with me, oh wise one.”
“It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Some guys are not into that kind of sex with other guys, so they’re not tops or bottoms. Doesn’t make ’em any less gay.”
I hummed and fiddled with my empty teacup while processing all that. Learn something new every day, I supposed.
“You going to dump him?”
I almost knocked my cup off its plate. “What? No. Why would I?”
Mary laughed so hard she coughed. “You’ve left guys for less—a lot less, actually. Remember that one guy in college you dropped like a hot potato after he cut his hair?”
I rolled my eyes again, even though I clearly remembered how vain I had been in my youth. Yet another reason why I went through boyfriends so rapidly back then. “Like I said, this one is different.”
Mary scooted her chair closer while she listened intently with her arms folded on the table.
“I know I haven’t really known Kai for long, and that he’s not like anyone I’ve ever dated before, but things just work with him. I don’t know how else to explain it, Mar. All I keep thinking is maybe this is it. Maybe this is how a relationship is supposed to feel. And maybe the reason every other one fizzled early or ended horribly was because I wasn’t with him. He’s the one I’ve been looking for all along.”
Mary remained silent while she stared at me. Then she leaned back into her chair and she fanned herself. “Holy shit, Ezra. I’m glad I wasn’t holding anything because I would’ve dropped it.”
“I know, it’s crazy, right?” I agreed with a smile. Until I met Kai, I never would’ve bought into the hype of soulmates. Maybe he really is mine.
“Not so much crazy as wicked out of character. I mean, I like Kai—I do—but...” Mary stopped and licked her lips, dodging her eyes away while in thought. “I don’t want to see you get hurt, again.”
“I know. You’re a good friend.”
“That and, I’m just not so sure Eric can knock this one out.”
“I still can’t believe he did that,” I chuckled. “He must be so mortified now.”
“What? No way. He only did what we’ve all wanted to.”
“He was so drunk that day I can’t even believe he remembers doing it, never mind why he bothered.”
“Dude, Eric really likes you. I’ve told you this.”
“Uh-huh,” I said with a voice that suggested I don’t wholly agree. Such a new idea still hadn’t taken hold.
“No bullshit, you know what he said to me after you guys left? That he wished he did that months ago, but he didn’t want you mad at him for getting involved.”
“You’re so full of shit your eyes are brown.”
“It’s true! Eric doesn’t like Thom, and he refuses to speak to Andy again until he agrees to stop bringing him around. He thinks you’ve been a better friend to us than any of them ever have been. That’s why Andy and Cathy weren’t at the barbecue.”