“Don’t hold back now.” He laughed, clearly unaware of what my brain was doing in my head at that moment.
I forced my thoughts to circle back to Felix and his weird change of attitude in the past week. “You know, come to think of it, something was very different about him this week. Usually he flames in, shits all over everyone’s good day and flounces back out, but this week, he was very quiet and didn’t seem to want to be seen. That’s not his thing.”
Marcus was looking at me strangely. “Are you…homophobic?”
“What?” Everything else in my brain evaporated.
“You’re using some pretty harsh language here, man. I mean flaming? Flouncing?”
Now I was confused. “Well, I mean…he’s gay and he pisses me off all the time with his over-the-top antics when I know he’s not really like that…”
“There’s nothing wrong with being gay.”
“Of course not—oh shit.” I gasped and put a hand over my mouth. “You really think I’m being a homophobe right now, don’t you?”
“I’m just expecting you to call him a fa—”
I slapped my hand over his mouth. “Don’t say it. Don’t. I’m not going to. Felix’s ostentatious flouncing and flaming bothers me because it makes everyone in the office think that all gay men act like that. And we don’t.”
I felt his jaw go slack behind my hand and his eyes grew wide.
My eyes were wide too. “Wait, Marcus. You didn’t realize I was gay?”
He shook his head in the negative and I dropped my hand from his mouth. “You are?”
I nodded.
“Oh, my God.” He went bright red with embarrassment. “Chase, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize… Holy crap my gaydar is broken.”
The laugh just slipped out, catching the attention of some of the people sitting nearby. I clapped a hand over my mouth and manage to calm down. “I didn’t realize you didn’t realize.” I patted his hand. “It’s fine. No harm no foul, here. But you can understand why I get mad at Felix?”
He laughed and nodded. “Yeah. I’m a former high school wide receiver and gay as the day is long. Him acting over the top about being gay can make some gay guys uncomfortable.”
“I’ve shared a cube with the guy for three years, and I’ve seen him act like his true self a few times. I often wonder what he gains from being so flamboyant as an act. I know some men are just naturally twinks, and with them it comes off way more honest, sincere, and natural. Noah and Uriah’s younger brother is a sweet, soft, flamboyant man who really just pulls you in with his charms and silly nature. And to see Felix trying so damn hard to be silly, charming, and sincerer by acting like a damn fool…it makes me mad.”
Marcus nodded. “I get that. I hate being pigeonholed for being gay.” He flopped his hand, making his wrist limp. “I can’t tell you how many times I was asked why I wasn’t wearing a dress.”
“You do not have the legs for it.” I deadpanned.
“Girlfriend you have no idea,” he answered, rolling his eyes.
We collapsed into gales of laughter and it really felt like a wall had come down between us. I’d been comfortable around him before, but now it felt like…
I cut the thought off.Enjoy the game, asshole.
“So, what do you do for work?”
He held up a finger as he finished chewing his bite of pretzel. “I’m a sound engineer, for now. I’ve been late this week because we kept having to re-engineer these four commercials. Turns out, someone had access to our server and was uploading new cuts without change orders. That’s all been sorted and we’re starting over on Monday.”
I hadn’t missed the statement early on in his explanation. “For now?”
He nodded. “I went to Boston Conservatory. I actually want to break into voice acting. Not just commercials, but I’d love to do cartoons and movies. Be the next voice of the Enterprise…uh, what are they on now? G? H?”
Swallowing hard, I pursed my lips. “Actually? The next in the canon is ‘S’.”
“Oh, no. Are you a Trekkie?”
“Trekker. Not as hardcore. I’m not going to sit here defendPlato’s Childrenas a marvelous piece of cinema because it has the first interracial kiss. The story was shit, and there were undertones of forced intercourse.”
