Page 37 of My Saintly Demon

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Charles choseto drive us to a food truck somewhere in the middle of town. I wanted to unpack the Escalade before we went out so as not to draw any unwanted attention again, but Charles insisted we wouldn’t a second time. Something about lightning won’t strike twice and rather than argue, I nodded in agreement.

The food is amazing and we sit at a picnic table sharing a dish of chips and salsa, sipping our drinks. It’s a gorgeous summer day and being out here feels almost normal. Usually I don’t relax when I’m on earth, but with Charles I feel at ease. Just having him smile at me while his tongue darts out to lick salsa from the corner of his mouth makes this whole situation feel comfortable. Fated, maybe.

“How did you know this taco truck was here?”

He swallows his chip, and his green eyes glow.

“It was totally random.” He gestures with his hands almost smacking over his drink.” I was driving home from a conference and took a wrong turn. I found this place and stopped while I got myself turned around and back on course.”

“It was a lucky day for you then.”

His smile fades some, and he shakes his head. “Not really. That conference wasn’t a good one. It was the single event to drive me from the priesthood for good.” His previous cheerfulness disappears like the sun behind a storm cloud. “I’d been thinking of leaving by then, but after that weekend it was the push I needed.”

Crunching chips and feeling closer to him than anyone ever, I hazard to ask him what happened.

“Will you tell me why?”

Charles puffs a breath and eats another chip smothered in salsa.

“There was a group of us having dinner the first night in the hotel restaurant. Our server was a young man, early twenties, very attractive. He was wearing a few different coloured bracelets. He was utterly charming. Just a lovely person, right?” He pushes the remaining chips to me. “The meal was going well and the server, I think his name was Caleb actually, was just one of those people who made the experience better with his company. Anyway, near the end of dinner, when he asked if we’d like dessert, one of the other priests made a comment on how nice he was and that his girlfriend was one lucky lady.”

Charles presses his lips together, meeting my gaze.

“I’m sure you know where this is going.”

Nodding slowly, I reach across to take his hand.

“Long story short, Caleb casually said his boyfriend is indeed lucky and would he like a scoop of ice cream with his pie? And Dave… I’ve never been so disappointed in a single person’s actions in my life. The man was someone I trusted and almost came out to because I thought he was good. Like I could trust him with it, right? Because other than Matthew I had no one to talk to. I couldn’t tell anyone or risk being a pariah.”

Charles chews at his lip, clearly fighting to keep emotions in check and I’m sorry I asked him the question.

“You don’t have to explain, Charles. I understand.”

“The way he spoke to Caleb after that was so cruel and… I knew I didn’t want to be associated with it anymore. The secrets and thinly veiled hatred. I was just done.”

He exhales a long breath, regaining his composure.

“You know I never thought I’d say hell is better, but with things like this, there’s really no issue. Nobody cares who you choose to get down with. I suppose if I need to find one good thing from my past, it’s that I never had to deal with the labels of sexuality that you have. I’m sorry.”

Charles slurps the last of his drink with a shrug.

“Humans. Am I right?”

His sunshine smile returns and I’m relieved.

“So, we best get you some clothes for a few days, right? You can’t always take my underwear.”

He stands to leave and I snatch his wrist before he can walk away.

“Do you mean wear or take? Because I plan to take them as much as possible.”

He gulps and before he can reply, an elderly couple asks if we’re leaving and he gracefully offers our space before walking to his vehicle. I hurry to gather the trash of our meal and dispose before catching up with him.

“Get in before I get a hard on in front of all these families.”

Well, I think I just got my answer.

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