Guys on Top 02 - Guys on the Side (31 page)

Jake looked up from his wing. “So you’re really dating a guy?”

Angelo nodded. “I’m really dating a guy.”

“What’s his name?” Randy asked.

Angelo stared at Randy. He hadn’t expected that to be the next question. “Corey. His name is Corey.”

Randy nodded. “Is he good-looking?”

“Of course he is,” Jake said. “It’s Angelo, he wouldn’t date a troll. And why are you asking about his looks?”

“I was just curious!” Randy said. “What, I can’t ask if he’s good-looking?”

“You’re so focused on looks,” Jake said. “Which is weird, because...look at you. Why don’t you ask if he’s a nice guy?”

“I was
getting
to that,” Randy said. “Get off my case.”

“Angelo, is he a nice guy?” Jake asked. “Treat you good?”

“Uh...yeah. He’s great.”

“Good. Bring him out sometime. Speaking of going out, Randy, did you send in your money for that beer tasting thing next month?”

“I think so.”

“Well, make sure! There were only so many spots and I don’t want to go alone. You said you’d go.”

“Okay, I’ll check.”

“Hang on.” Angelo chuckled, raising his hands. “You guys are totally just taking it in stride that I’m dating a guy?”

Jake and Randy both looked at him. Randy shrugged. “Well...it’s surprising. But whatever. It’s your life. At least you’re dating. I’m on the world’s longest dry spell.”

“What the fuck did you think we were gonna say?” Jake asked.

“I...I don’t know.”

Jake’s jaw dropped and he pointed. “You thought we were gonna be assholes!”

“No, that’s not what I thought.”

“You did!” Jake shook his head. “Well, that’s insulting.”

“I didn’t mean to insult you,” Angelo said.

“Oh, hang on, Angelo,” Jake said. “Gotta run out to my car and get my fag-beating stick out of the trunk. Is that what you thought? That we were gonna go redneck on your ass?”

Randy snickered. “Fag-beating stick. That’s good.”

Jake cackled. “Fucking Angelo. Give a guy a PhD and he assumes everyone else is a cretin.”

“
Okay
, I get it.” Angelo laughed. “I’m sorry, I just saw my mom and she wigged out on me.”

Randy huffed. “Of course she did. She’s old school, like mine.”

Jake pointed at Angelo. “Babies. That’s what it’s about. They all want grandbabies. The way my mother hounds me you’d think I’d signed a contract at birth for the rights to my sperm. I told her, as soon as that cord was cut, I was my own man, and I’m not having any kids, so deal with it.”

“Fuck.” Randy checked his watch. “I gotta get back.”

“Yeah, we’ve been here a while.” Jake pointed at Angelo. “Waiting for you.”

“Give him a break,” Randy said. “He was getting yelled at by his mom.”

“Why don’t you guys go ahead,” Angelo said. “I’ll take care of the check, I’m still eating.”

“Are you sure?” Jake asked. “No, let me give you some cash.” He reached for his wallet.

“No, please. Let me get this. Go back to work, I got it.”

“Let him get the check, Jake, I gotta go, my boss is gonna kill me.”

“Okay.” Jake gave Angelo a hug. “See you soon. Looking forward to meeting Colin.”

“Corey!” Randy said.

“Sorry. Corey.”

“Okay, take care guys,” Angelo said.

He signaled for the check, then sat back down as he waited. He wasn’t actually hungry anymore, his stomach had been in knots ever since his mother’s surprise visit. But he smiled, staring at the pile of discarded wings on Jake’s plate, stripped down to the bone.

Okay. So that
had
gone well. Better than expected, for certain. This was probably going to be the way of things if he kept dating Corey. Ups and downs. People would disappoint him, and people would surprise him with their acceptance. For the first time, it occurred to him how very brave Corey must be.

He glanced over at Doug, who was still sitting nearby with his boss. Doug had greeted Angelo warmly. Angelo could see why Corey liked Doug so much, the guy had a benevolent, calming energy.

So okay. Worst case scenario, Angelo’s family would completely reject him. That would suck, but at least he still had friends who accepted him. And with Corey’s friends included, he was sure he’d get the support he needed. He’d always done things pretty much on his own, anyway. He had a good job that he loved. He’d be fine. This coming out thing had been more of a cluster-fuck than he’d naively anticipated, but it could have been worse, he supposed.

After paying the check, he left the pub. As he stepped out on the sidewalk, he ran right into his cousin, Tommy.

Angelo backed up, frowning. “Tommy. What are you doing here?”

Tommy’s jaw was tense as he glared at Angelo. “Your mother said you’d be here.”

Sighing, Angelo rolled his eyes. “Come on. What the hell are you doing here? It’s enough already with this shit, Tommy.”

“Not even gonna ask how she is?” Tommy said.

“I know how she is,” Angelo said. “She’s upset.”

Tommy chuckled, a humorless sound. “Yeah. She’s upset. My mom called me. Now she’s upset too. Your mother went over there to my mom’s house because she was so upset and crying so hard she was hyperventilating!”

“What? Is she all right?”

“Physically? Yeah. She’s calmed down now. But now my mom’s all worked up, and because of you and your...fucking bullshit, it’s bringing all the shit she went through with Dad back again. She’s a fucking wreck!”

“Look, Tom. I get that this is all triggering your shit with your father. But don’t you think you’re overreacting? You’re projecting all of it onto me, and I’ve done nothing to you. You need to calm down. Maybe...maybe you need to talk to someone about this. A professional.”

“Ha!” Tommy shook his head. “Are you fuckin’ serious right now, Angelo?
You’re
trying to shrink
my
head? Like I’m the one with a fucking problem? I’m not the one breaking my family’s heart because I need to suck dick.”

Angelo scowled. “Okay. You know what? I’ve tolerated this from you for long enough. You’re out of line and you’re out of control. We’ve known each other since we were babies, Tommy. This isn’t you. You need to get it together.”

Tommy’s eyes narrowed at something past Angelo’s shoulder, so he turned around and saw Doug leaving the pub with his boss. Doug spotted Tommy and stopped dead.

“Oh, you gotta be kidding me,” Tommy said. “This guy again? What is he doing here? You sucking his cock, too?”

“Tommy shut the fuck up.”

Doug started walking away with his boss.

When Tommy made a move to go after him, Angelo stopped him with a hand on his chest. “What are you doing? Don’t you dare start anything, Tommy.”

“Don’t fucking touch me!” Tommy looked Angelo up and down. “You think you can put your hands on me?” He shoved Angelo, who stumbled, but caught himself.

Angelo was stunned. “Tommy cut the shit, you’re acting like a lunatic! I don’t even know who you are right now!”

“Rick,” Angelo heard Doug say. “I’ll meet you back there.”

Oh, no. Don’t get involved, Doug. Please.
Angelo was humiliated enough by his cousin, he didn’t need another ugly scene for Doug to witness.

Doug approached the two of them. “You all right, Angelo?”

“Aw,” Tommy said. “You come to protect your boyfriend? How sweet.”

Doug rolled his eyes. “Don’t you ever get tired of being a cliché? Leave your cousin alone, Tommy.”

Tommy took a step toward Doug. “My
cousin
and I were having a private conversation, asshole.”

Doug shook his head. “I saw you shove him. Whatever your beef is, don’t do that, man. Don’t let your anger get the better of you.”

“Fuck you, hippie,” Tommy said. “Look. I’m shoving him.” He pushed Angelo, slamming his palm into his chest. “What you gonna do about it?”

“Tommy!” Angelo shouted. “Jesus Christ, cut the shit. You need medication or something, you fucking asshole. Just go home. Walk away.”

Tommy pushed Angelo again.

Angelo stared at Tommy, his mouth open. “Don’t
push
me. You’re being a fucking infant! Grow up.”

“Don’t touch him again,” Doug said, stepping in front of Angelo.

“Doug it’s all right,” Angelo said.

“It’s not all right,” Doug said. “Physical violence is never
all right
.”

Doug’s words were diplomatic, but his tone was hard, threatening, and Angelo could see Tommy’s seams unraveling before him, fueled anew by Doug’s interference.

Angelo stepped forward. “Just go, Doug. I can handle him.”

“Handle me?” Tommy moved toward Angelo. “You’ll fucking
handle
me, Angelo? In your fucking dreams.”

Anger and frustration elevated Angelo’s heartrate, and he knew he had to end this or he’d lash out at Tommy—and with Tommy’s devolution into hysteria, Angelo needed to be the levelheaded one here. “Let’s go,” Angelo said to Doug. “Leave him here.”

Doug nodded. They turned and left Tommy on the sidewalk.

“Later,
cousin
. Have fun sucking dick!” Tommy shouted.

“Ignore him,” Doug said.

“I’m trying. He’s acting like a child, a schoolyard bully, it’s freaking me out.”

“He’s not right in the head, is he?”

“I thought he was,” Angelo said. “Known him since I was born. I don’t understand this.”

Doug sighed. “Sadly, this can do that to people. I’ve been there.”

Angelo looked at Doug. “This?”

Doug smiled at him. “I think you know what I mean. You and Corey. Not everyone’s going to be rational about it, Angelo. I’m sorry, but that’s a fact of gay life. People you’ve known all your life will shock you. But
you
stayed calm, that’s what’s important.”

As they moved on down the road, Tommy came up from behind and shoved Angelo one more time.

Angelo stumbled, falling to the ground and landing hard on his knees.

“That’s for upsetting my mother, Angelo. In case I didn’t make clear why I came here.”

“I
told
you not to
touch
him,” Doug growled.

Angelo turned around just in time to see Tommy shove Doug hard, sending him into the side of the building.

The sound Doug’s head made when it hit the wall made bile rise in Angelo’s throat.

“Tommy!” Angelo got to his feet as Doug slumped onto the ground. “What the fuck did you do?”

Angelo ran to Doug, turning him over onto his back. Doug’s eyes were closed, blood gushing from his nose and a cut on his cheekbone. “Oh fuck.” Angelo gasped, wiping blood off of Doug’s mouth. “Oh fuck. Doug? Doug!”

“He came at me!” Tommy said. “Fuck. Is he okay?”

Angelo glared up at him. “He’s unconscious you fucking animal! Call for help!”

Tommy’s chin trembled as he stepped back. “I didn’t mean to hurt him that bad.”

“Fuck! Doug, wake up.” Angelo held his head, blood seeping onto his hand. “Doug. Doug, you okay? Wake up.”

“I didn’t meant to hurt him that bad.”

“I told you to call for help!” Angelo looked back at Tommy, who stood uselessly on the sidewalk as he stared down at Doug, his face panic-stricken.

“Fuck, Tommy, what did you do? What did you fucking do?” Angelo’s hands trembled as he rested Doug’s head gently on the ground, then pulled out his phone.

“Do you need the police?”

Angelo looked up at the hostess from the restaurant, who’d come outside, and was staring down at Doug.

“Yes.” Angelo said. “Police for
him
.” He pointed at Tommy. “I’ll call an ambulance.”

The hostess ran back inside.

“Angelo,” Tommy said. “You can’t tell the cops, I didn’t mean to—”

“Hurt him that bad?
Look
at him, Tommy!”

Ignoring his cousin now, Angelo called for an ambulance, giving them the address.

A small crowd gathered around them, but Angelo kept his eyes on Doug, kneeling beside him, not letting anyone near him.

When the ambulance arrived, Angelo was vaguely aware that Tommy had fled at some point. But that wasn’t his concern right now. He needed to make sure Doug got to the hospital. And that he’d be all right.

And he needed to call Corey—and tell him that Angelo’s family bullshit had just broken his best friend.

****

Angelo was pacing nervously in the hospital waiting room when he saw Corey come storming in, jaw tight as he approached. “Where is he?”

“They’re giving him a scan,” Angelo said. “You can’t see him yet, but they’re gonna let us know.”

“Is he awake?”

“I don’t know. He was still unconscious when they brought him in.”

Ignoring Angelo, Corey stormed up to the nurse’s reception desk. Angelo sat down, letting out a shuddered breath. He knew they’d tell Corey the same thing they’d told him, but didn’t try to stop him, knowing how upset and helpless he must feel. Just like Angelo.

Fuck. This is so fucked up
.

Angelo felt like crying for the first time since his father died, but he held it in. Corey would need him. Corey and...

“Where’s Stewart?” Angelo asked as Corey returned, pacing in front of his chair.

“He’s on his way,” Corey said. “What the fuck happened, Angelo?”

“I told you on the phone.”

“I stopped listening after you said Doug was being rushed to the hospital. Your fucking cousin did this?”

“Yes, Tommy shoved him into a wall. We’d just left Flannigan’s Pub, and—”

“Stewart!” Corey called out.

Angelo looked up and saw Stewart walking toward them, disheveled in work boots and a stained white tee shirt. He walked right up to Corey, ignoring Angelo, his blue eyes tight with panic. “Where is he?”

“Getting a scan,” Corey said. “They’re gonna let us know.”

“I want to see him now.” Stewart tried to push past Corey, but Corey grabbed him around the shoulders.

“Just wait,” Corey said, his tone soothing. “They’ll be out soon, okay? Just hang on. He’ll be okay. I’m here.”

Stewart stopped trying to push past, but his shoulders were stiff under Corey’s touch. His head turned and he spotted Angelo, eyes narrowing.

Oh, fuck.
This
does not look good.