Chapter 9 

 

Following an arduous day, Billy was ambling down the street. He was almost home from work when he saw a huge and very handsome man, get out of a Corvette Stingray and walk into the building where he lived. Billy had followed into the building shortly after and he heard the man go to Nick’s door. As he turned to ascend the final stairs, he heard Nick open the door, refer to the man as Eric and then saw Nick embrace him. It had looked harmless enough but no one ever came to visit Nick and the first person Billy had ever seen or at least been aware of, was a man he thought was almost as hot as Nick.

 

As the man named Eric disappeared inside, Billy lifted his hand and waved. His mouth was opening to say hello, barely altering the bright smile that Nick could so easily create. Unfortunately, Nick did not even see him because he did not look outside. He simply pushed the door closed as he stared at Eric from behind. Billy felt like he had been snubbed, even though he knew that was not the case. He sighed quietly at the way Nick could make him feel.

 

Billy entered his apartment and his mind went into overdrive. A very attractive guy was visiting Nick. The guy that was next-door was almost as big as Nick. It seemed Nick liked the guy enough to want to hug him. He randomly wondered if Nick and the guy were dating? Billy suddenly felt even more insecure. He was not big and strong and seriously muscular like the two men that were currently next-door. He was just some average guy from Kentucky that could never be enough for Nick. His frustration made him begin a dialogue out loud, as he stood looking at himself in front of the bathroom mirror.

 

“Why are you even thinking like this? You’ve told yourself a million times that Nick is straight. You know you have no chance with him but still you continue this fantasy and still you continue to be driven by these wasted emotions you feel toward him.”

 

Billy picked up the face cloth that had fallen into the basin. He rinsed it out with fresh water and then squeezed the water from it, wringing it out aggressively. He folded it and hung it back in its place. He looked back in the mirror.

 

“I can’t help it. I’ve never felt this way about anyone and I don’t even know why I do. Particularly when there’s nothing coming back from him to satisfy these feelings he creates in me.”

 

Looking down as he turned on the faucet, Billy began to wash his hands. He looked back at his face in the mirror and his expression was not one of a man who was happy with his reflection. He cupped his palms and filled them with cold water and then splashed his face, as if he were trying to wash everything away. His hands pressed to the top of the basin, his weight leaning firmly on them and he stared hard at himself in the mirror with an expression that appeared no less than helpless.

 

“You need to get on with your life. You need to start going out and trying to meet some new friends. You need to get out and get laid and start living life like a normal person. It’s unhealthy to see one guy walk into Nick’s apartment and then make comparisons between a stranger and yourself, as if you were prospective lovers competing for Nick’s affections. For all you know the guy could be Nick’s brother.”

 

Billy let out a growling scream of complete irritation and frustration, as he realized he was talking to himself out loud. He thought he probably sounded like a mad man who needed to be committed to an insane asylum. He walked to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. He thought he should eat but he felt no hunger while he was in the mood he was in. He decided he needed to talk and so he went to the living room, picked up the phone and called Honey in Cleveland.

 

“Of course she wouldn’t be home when I need to talk,” he yelled.

 

Billy chatted to Honey on a regular basis, at least three or four times a week. He still considered her his best friend in the world but his life was so different since arriving in Detroit. In Cleveland he had been social, he had some acquaintances he called friends but no matter what, he always had Honey, the only person he considered a real friend. However, ever since he laid eyes on Nick, apart from his job, he had become more the quiet homebody. He did not go out, he had no social life and he certainly had no friends.

 

Billy knew his screamed remark to his unanswered phone call was soaked in self-pity. He knew his situation was his own fault but with only Honey to talk with about his personal life and also how his desire for Nick was turning him into someone he did not recognize; calls to Honey and receiving her support always made him feel normal. He started to call her mobile but then thought if she was out somewhere and having a good time, she did not need to listen to his pathetic whining. He put the phone down, sat on the couch and turned on the television. He stared vacantly at the picture without sound.

 

It was twenty minutes later when his head turned in surprise, to the sound of someone knocking at his door. A silent hope pleaded that it could be Nick but he knew Nick had never come to see him. He stood and walked slowly, almost disinterestedly. The expression on his face was a look that made depression physical and the slump of his shoulders as well as the curve of his back, only added to the appearance of futility. All that changed however, as Billy opened the door. His eyes filled with a glistening brightness that had been absent for two days and in addition, a smile he had not smiled in three months, returned with familiar ease. His whole body lunged forward and shot out the door, as his arms wrapped around Honey, almost bowling her over in the process.

 

Billy stood holding Honey tightly, his arms squeezing her against him, his chin resting on her shoulder while he stared at the ugly, blank wall opposite his door. He was so excited and so happy but he was not thinking about anything other than the feelings in his heart and the rapid thoughts running through his mind. The words poured out of his mouth without pause, as he barely took a breath.

 

“What the fuck? What are you doing in Detroit? I just called you a while ago. I so needed to speak to you. How are you? You look so good. God it’s good to see you. I’ve missed you so much. How did you get here? I guess you probably drove that old Volkswagen of yours?”

 

“Billy!” Honey yelled.

 

Billy let her go and pulled away in shock, after she screamed at him.

 

“Billy, I can only answer one question at a time and you have to stop talking if you want the answers. I would also like to come in and further, there is another person here and standing to your left that I would like to introduce you to. So if you would kindly shut the fuck up just for a moment and let us through the door, we can begin with the formalities.

 

Billy looked at her, quite taken aback but then he grinned sheepishly and turned to see an attractive, auburn haired woman in her mid thirties, standing off to his side and looking at him with a wry smile.

 

“I’m sorry. Please come in,” he said and then stepped backwards to make space for them to enter. As soon as Billy closed the door he turned immediately and looked at Honey curiously.

 

“Billy, I’d like to introduce you to Ann, my girlfriend and lover,” she said, an amused and expectant look in her eyes.

 

Billy’s eye’s opened so widely Honey thought they were going to pop out of his head.

 

“What? I don’t suppose you want to repeat that for me one more time so I can be certain that I’m not in some induced and dreamed-filled coma?”

 

“I don’t think that’s necessary, Billy. You heard what I said perfectly clearly,” Honey replied.

 

Billy turned instantly to Ann and the smile on his face was genuine and happy but still surprised, before he said, “Ann, it’s more than a pleasure to meet you and any friend of Honey’s is a friend of mine. I hope we can be good friends but as a guest in my home, I wonder could you find it within your heart to please confirm for me that you are the most clever and devious woman alive?”

 

Ann laughed. It was a very amused and lively chuckle before she said in an accented voice that was very well spoken and rich in tone, “It’s good to meet you too, Billy. Honey speaks very highly of you and so I’m sure we can be friends but though I don’t know if your witty description of me can be confirmed, I can certainly confirm for you that Honey and I are now an item.”

 

“You dirty old dyke,” Billy said while laughing, as he looked back at Honey. “Who’d have guessed the sport of muff diving would have been to your taste,” he added, followed by another laugh.

 

Honey was about to chastise Billy for his lack of decorum in company but when Ann’s laughter joined his, she let it pass.

 

Billy ushered them deeper into the living room to seats. Honey and Ann sat closely beside each other on the couch and Billy smiled when he saw the comfort and the seeming form fit of the two women together. It gave him an unexpected, warm feeling to know there was a possibility his good friend Honey, had perhaps found love and its associated happiness. He was still shocked by the idea that Honey was in a lesbian relationship but he really did not care.

 

Billy asked, “Who wants coffee?

 

Honey turned and looked at Ann like she had forgotten something.

 

Ann queried, “I don’t suppose there’s any chance you would have tea in your home?”

 

Unfazed, Billy asked, “Black, green or herbal?”

 

Honey laughed and turned and said to Ann while rolling her eyes, “I suppose I should have guessed, he is a gay boy after all.”

 

“I’ll thank you to refer to me as a man and without the insinuation that I am some sort of stereotypical queen. I’m highly capable in a kitchen and I’m also thoughtful when it comes to the variant tastes of people on this planet. If your girlfriend doesn’t like coffee and wants tea, then I’d like to know that I’ll be prepared for such a situation; something, which I have no doubt you were not prepared for when you got out of bed with Ann on that first morning.”

 

Honey’s eyes flashed to Ann and then back to Billy. Her face flushed red and then she scowled with irritation at his accuracy, before she looked back at Ann and said, “I told you he was a smart assed little shit and we shouldn’t have bothered coming.”

 

“Actually, she said that you were the sweetest guy she had ever met and she hoped you never changed,” Ann said, turning to look at Billy.

 

“Traitor,” Honey scoffed.

 

“Oh I really like you, you can come and visit me with or without Honey,” he said as his eyes flashed between them.

 

“Billy, I don’t dislike coffee, I’ve just always preferred tea,” Ann said.

 

Billy asked, “I don’t suppose it would have anything to do with the very well spoken, British accent?”

 

“Well you’re close if you consider blood lines but in actual fact I’m from Australia,” Ann enlightened.

 

Billy asked sarcastically, with a highly forced intonation and raucous emphasis, “Krikey, Mate, so where’s the extreme Steve Irwin type accent?”

 

Honey instantly felt extremely embarrassed by Billy’s excessive Australian accent being directed toward Ann. If it had been toward anyone else, Honey would not have cared but because it was Ann, she was offended.

 

Ann gave a small laugh of expected recognition. “Well Billy, I was raised and educated well. What you’re talking about is known as Strine, which is the extreme and in my personal opinion, rather lazy form of speech many Australians use when speaking English. In many cases the locals regard it affectionately but I was never particularly a fan of it and so I made a conscious decision to speak with a little more eloquence. Actually, I think it’s a bit of a shame that English speaking people the world over, don’t make more of a conscious effort to remove the local drawl and speak more proficiently.”

 

“Take that,” Honey said, as if Ann’s statement had been a slap across his face and Billy scowled at her before returning his focus to Ann.

 

Ann’s words had been nothing more than personal opinion. She had not been offended at all by Billy’s imitation of Australians. She was used to it and she was also used to people being surprised by her voice. In fact, Ann was slightly bothered that Honey had inferred to the contrary by saying “take that” but rather than energize the issue, she chose to let it slide.

 

On the other side of the coin, Billy reacted to Honey’s words and he felt like he had been put in his place and like he had been insensitive. He back peddled instantly but rationally.

 

“I guess that’s true. It would certainly make for clearer communication between us all,” he said and then turned immediately to Honey.

 

“I really like her,” he said and Honey smiled pleasurably at him before he turned back to Ann.

 

Billy asked, “So what was your preference, Ann?”

 

“Standard tea, strong with a touch of milk and sugar, thank you. I also really like you, too,” she added, smiling genuinely at Billy.

 

Soon after Billy returned from the kitchen. Once everyone had their respective beverage on the table before them and they were all completely comfortable and at ease, Billy thought it was time to learn a lot more about what had actually been going on in Cleveland for the past three months. He was also more than slightly ticked off that Honey had kept all of this a secret from him.

 

“So I have some questions,” Billy said.

 

Honey asked, “About what?”

 

Billy replied, “First I’d like to know when the two of you met?”

 

“Two weeks after you abandoned me without a second thought, leaving me to perish in heartbreak and loss,” Honey exaggerated.

 

“Oh fuck off Honey and spare me the geriatric melodramatics,” he replied.

 

“Excuse me? Geriatric? I’ll thank you to show a little respect for your elders,” Honey said, reacting exactly as Billy knew that she would.

 

Billy said, “Respect is earned and not given, now quit griping and avoiding out of guilt and answer my question.”

 

Honey asked, “Why would I be guilty?”

 

“Why? Well Honey, most likely that would be because you have been engaged in a lesbian relationship with this wonderful woman for nearly three months. In that time, you’ve spoken to me a minimum of three times a week and you’ve made no effort whatsoever, to discuss the matter with the person who is supposedly your best friend. Quite frankly, I’d like to know why? I would also like to hear where you both met, how you met and if Ann is known in Australia for her low expectations?”

 

 Billy’s final remark was completed with a mischievous smirk from ear to ear.

 

Honey knew Billy’s remark was a joke but she was still a little irritated with him for using her, as a way to get a laugh from Ann. Not that she was not completely used to it, particularly when she used him in the same way. They knew each other so well and were both accustomed to appropriate button pushing to achieve desired responses.

 

“Just keep it up Billy and I’ll come over there and bitch slap that girlie grin off your face,” Honey said smugly while knowing all too well, the reaction she was about to receive.

 

“Girlie grin? Fuck you Honey, you old hag,” he shot back.

 

Ann sat watching and listening, her eyes darting back and forth like she was watching a tennis match. “Excuse me,” she said interrupting the friends chiding banter and both Honey and Billy turned synchronously and looked at her, their eyes questioning.

 

“This is just a suggestion and though this is highly comical and most entertaining, perhaps if you forewent the verbal jousting, a conversation that would enlighten everyone to all the answers and information required, could ensue.”

 

“God I just love her,” Billy said.

 

“Trust me, Billy, she’s not hard to love,” Honey said.

 

“I suspect not,” he replied.

 

Ann asked bewildered, “Have the two of you ever completed a conversation without distraction or diversion?”

 

“Probably not,” Honey said, laughing.

 

“Definitely not,” Billy added, laughing as well.

 

Ann rolled her eyes and said, “Perhaps I could get the ball rolling and also attempt to keep everything on track.” She then continued, “Well Billy, it happened in this way. I had just received my green card to be a permanent resident in the United States. I’m a Doctor and I have a great position at the Cleveland Clinic.”

 

Billy interrupted with a question he already knew the answer to, “On Euclid Avenue?”

 

“Yes.” Ann confirmed. “As a consequence, a group of colleagues invited me to a party to celebrate my residency status and so I was whisked off to an unknown house for dinner, drinks and some social interaction. I’d been very busy with work and so it was nothing less than a relaxing vacation, even if only for a couple of hours on one night. At the same time, one of my colleagues is a friend of Honey’s and as she was concerned about her because she was about to perish from heartbreak, she invited Honey to get out of the house and come to the party.”

 

Honey’s smile vanished as Ann used her own words lightly against her within the story and Billy snorted and choked back a laugh at her reaction.

 

“I’d been very taken by the stunning blonde whom I didn’t know and had not been formally introduced to. I also had not been able to take my eyes off her all night. She reminded me so much of Michelle Pfeifer, whom I think is beautiful. After imbibing a substantial amount of Dutch courage, I finally crossed the room and spoke in a manner, which was not only uncustomary for me but shall we say, not very ladylike in polite company. To my absolute astonishment however, the gorgeous blonde with honey eyes and a body with curves to model a coastline on, simply looked me straight in the eyes and said; ‘Well, I’ve never done this before but I’m game if you are” and before we had finished the drinks that followed, I was thanking my hosts for the party, thanking the guests for their support and congratulations and then I was ushering Honey out the door to get her home to her place. She wanted to go home to her own bed and I saw no point in quibbling.”

 

“God I love the way she speaks,” Billy said.

 

“Stay on track, Billy,” Ann directed, “you can ask a question now.”

 

Billy asked snidely to get on Honey’s nerves, “Did she back out at the last minute?”

 

“Be kind Billy and no she didn’t and nor did she lie back in a selfish expectation of pleasure. Let’s just say that Honey and I slow danced, both leading and/or following as was required and we watched the sunrise together. Oh and yes, we drank coffee on that one and only one morning together. It was wonderful and neither of us has looked back since.”

 

Ann turned and looked at Honey, their eyes meeting and communicating with an intoxicating depth of emotion, which was stirred by the stories’ revival. Billy looked between them and though it made him happy to see these two women who were so obviously, deeply in love, he felt his heart ache as his own emotions regarding Nick, were forced unexpectedly back to the surface. He was not jealous or even envious but he wondered if perhaps one day, he too, would find a lover who would look at him like that.

 

Billy blinked and pulled himself out of his descent and he turned his attention back to Honey and said, “Well, if I may sever your lovebird eyes from Ann’s for a moment, there is still one question that you haven’t answered, Miss No Holds Barred?”

 

Honey felt a sense of nostalgia from the meaning behind Billy’s words, which contained no negative allusions. She smiled at the reference to the choice she had made to step outside the box and engage with Ann on their first night. He sounded so like the Billy she had known in Cleveland, however, not considering what he was actually going to ask, she replied with curious amusement, “Enlighten me, Billy?”

 

Billy questioned, “Why did you keep this a secret from me?”

 

Honey’s eyes flicked swiftly to Ann’s and then back to Billy’s. “I don’t know, Billy,” she lied. “I love you, trust you and am willing to tell you anything about my life but for some reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I’m truly sorry, Billy,” she said.

 

The truth was at that moment, Honey decided she did not want to take the chance on hurting Billy or perhaps even embarrassing him in front of Ann.

 

Billy looked at her and he wondered if perhaps she had been experiencing insecurity about entering a lesbian relationship and therefore, if she were fearful of how people would react. Hiding or remaining quiet about the issue was not surprising. He thought that even born homosexuals occasionally took time to face up to their sexuality and feel free. It was not uncommon and it would certainly be understandable if it were the case. Billy decided to let it go.

 

“Don’t worry about it, Honey. It doesn’t matter because you’re here with me and you’ve brought this utterly entertaining woman with you, so let’s move on,” he said.

 

“I’d like that and thank you, Billy.”

 

Billy asked, “For what?”

 

“For forgiving me and for accepting Ann and making everything seem like nothing has changed between us,” Honey said.

 

“From my side of things, nothing has changed between us and never will. There is one thing on my mind, though. You know I can be a bit of a worrier, so can you confirm for me that everything is all right with you and that there’s no unhappy reasons for why you’re in Detroit?”

 

Honey replied, “Yes my friend, everything is perfectly fine. We’re here to visit you and it’s the main reason why we took time off work and drove to Michigan. I wanted to make sure that everything was okay with you and to see how things were going. Oh and I also was curious as to whether there were any new chapters to the tale of the archangel Nick and the mortal who was trying to turn him from divinity to homosexuality?”

 

Billy roared with laughter but at the same time, just from the thought of Nick, his hand unconsciously swept the long strands of black hair that fell down across his forehead, before he said, “What was the last thing I told you?”

 

“Oh it was simply riveting. You gave Nick his mail and he said thank you,” Honey joked.

 

“Fuck off and don’t be cruel. I told you that I’m incapable of stopping the way he makes me feel and act,” Billy replied.

 

Honey looked at Billy compassionately and said, “I know, Darlin’, I was just playing with you. I’m sorry. So has anything changed?”

 

Feeling self-conscious and wanting to make things seem better than they were, Billy said with extreme glibness, as he looked at Honey superciliously, “I’ve been naked with him and we’ve showered together and I’ve also cooked him a meal,”

 

“Now I seriously do apologize. I was thinking that you were just chasing rainbows and lost behind rose colored glasses,” she said.

 

Honey’s tone of voice filled Billy with regret and he said, “I hate the way you can make something so fucked sound so nice. Now you’ve made me feel guilty. It wasn’t what you were thinking. I just made it sound that way. Nick was hurt and I had to look after him for about two hours.”

 

Ann questioned with concern, “Is he okay?”

 

“As far as I know he is,” Billy replied.

 

Honey asked, “What do you mean as far as you know?”

 

“Well it was the night before last and I haven’t seen him since,” Billy explained.

 

Indignantly, Honey said, “You mean he hasn’t bothered to try and see you or say thank you for your help?”

 

“Not that I know of,” Billy answered.

 

Honey queried as she looked at Ann and rolled her eyes, “Oh for goodness sake, Billy? Have you tried to see him?”

 

“Twice yesterday between the two times I went out but each time he wasn’t home,” he replied.

 

“Well to give the man the benefit of the doubt, maybe he’s in a hospital. I think you better tell me the whole story,” Honey said, feeling as if she was missing a large piece of the puzzle.

 

“He isn’t in hospital. I caught a glimpse of him as I was coming home. He has a really hot, huge guy named Eric in there with him right now,” Billy said and his eyes lost a little of their vibrancy from the thought.

 

“Oh Billy. I hate seeing you like this. Come on, tell us the whole story,” Honey said and the look in her eyes was one of concern.

 

Billy sighed at the thought of reliving it all again for the hundredth time. He had thought of little else for the past two days. It had been so wonderful but so terrible and so hot but so fruitless.

 

“Well it was a dark and stormy night…”

 

“Billy,” Honey yelled impatiently with a parental tone.

 

“Actually Honey, it was a cloudy though warm and comfortable night and I was walking home from eating dinner at a restaurant on my own. I was almost at the gate when I saw Nick pull up to the curb and get out of his car.”

 

To be continued...