Page 107 of Hollow Heart

“Now, I need to get ready for bed. It’s been a long day, and embarrassment takes a lot out of a person.”

“Noted. I’ll, uh... make us an appointment before I leave for the tour.”

He nods in response.

Twenty-four hours isn’ta long time. Not really. But it feels like eternity when you are waiting for test results.

Thank God for my drums, because it has been therapeutic as fuck to bang out my frustrations in rehearsal.

Felix accosts me the second break time hits, but I’m not in the mood.

Well, my cock is, but my brain is spiraling.

No news is good news, right?

Right?

I haven’t been tested since before Marci had Bobby. Though Marci and I were faithful to one another, and my bill of health was good then, it has been years.

I shouldn’t be so worried, so why am I worried?

“I can’t do this right now.” I move away from Felix to sit on the couch.

His accent slips. “Are you okay? Did I?—”

“No, it’s not you. It’s me... I...”

Felix plops down next to me, a look of concern coming over his fine features.

“Is this about... the kid?” he asks gingerly.

“Yes and no. It’s... we both went and got tested yesterday.”

Felix stares at me blankly. “For...”

“I caught him the other night making out with his friend-not boyfriend but probably will be his boyfriend at some point—and I told him he needed to be safe, and we should probably get him tested and?—”

“Oh, shit. Wow, that’s a lot. I’m sure he’s fine, though.”

“It’s not him I’m worried about,” I reply as I look into his eyes with worry.

Felix opens his mouth but no words come out. He blinks. “Are you? Worried you have something?”

The words crush me.

“No. But, you aren’t the first, uh... man, I’ve ever been with.”

The words are heavy in the air as Felix nods.

“Who else?” he asks cautiously.

“Issax. 1989.”

“How long did that, uh... last?” Felix’s voice is featherlight, careful.

“Not long. It was mostly just athingwe did once or twice, really, with my wife.”

“Oh.” Felix nods.

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