“I was really curious about how things work. Like, are gay relationships different from hetero relationships?”
“You’re asking the wrong guy, dude,” he said.
“How do you figure? You’re gay, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, but I’m a gold-star gay guy.”
“Gold star? ”
“A gold star gay guy has never been with a woman. Period. That’s why I can’t tell you the real difference between gay and hetero relationships.”
Normally, I would’ve already regretted this conversation, but not this time. I had the feeling that Austin could tell me what I needed to know one way or another.
“Okay,” I said, “let me rephrase that. Do you think gay and hetero relationships have anything in common.”
“Sort of. The gay guy relationships have just guys in them, but I would bet my life that at least one of the guys is stubborn as a mule.”
“Yes!!”
People around us turned to stare. Only then did I realize I’d raised both arms in the air. Oh my god, what the hell was I doing?
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Didn’t mean to get carried away. I just know how some guys can be.”
“And when two guys are involved, it only doubles the chance of one being hardheaded.”
“Amen.”
“But you haven’t told me your problem. I mean, yourfriend’sproblem.”
“It is my friend’s problem.”
He sipped his coffee, but his eyes never left me. And he didn’t seem to be checking me out, per se. He gave me a very light, “Suuuuure, whatever you say, Erik”look.
“Are you sure this isn’t your way of telling me you’ve noticed my subtle glances?”
He flitted his eyebrows at me, acting so hopeful.
“I’m sure,” I said. “My friend’s problem is that he’s been dating this guy for a while. They’re almost nothing alike, except they do have one major thing in common.”
“They love to ride the bologna pony, right?”
“Well, there’s that, but I’m saying one major thing has made them seriously competitive with one another.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And my friend loves this guy. Like for real love, not just lust. He never saw any of it coming, but he’s willing to go with the flow, see where love takes them.”
“Right.”
“And then he tells his boyfriend that he loves him, but the other guy won’t say it back. Wait, that’s not true. Hewillsay it back, but my friend has no idea if he means it or it’s one way to keep getting into my friend’s pants any time he wants to.”
“Ah, that old ploy.”
“Maybe it’s notthatbad, though. It’s more like my friend doesn’t know if his boyfriend wants or can even imagine a futuretogether. Worse, he won’t come out or even tell a small group of people who they really are.”
“That’s straight guys for you.”
I waited for him to sayno offense,but it didn’t come.
