Page 13 of Curtain Call
Colin: Only 3 to go – sorry pal, but ur about to get beat.
Riley: Oh yeah? The yarn with the knitting needles is above your head to the left next to a colander filled with yarn.
Riley has his camera ready because he wants to capture Colin’s expression. And on cue, Colin turns around. Brows furrowed. Mouth opened. Riley takes the snap.
“I’m still the champ, admit it,” Riley says while stepping up to Colin’s side.
“I’ll do no such thing,” Colin’s palms clam up, “how do you always find them so fast?”
“You always look down and to the right. You go around the tree always thinking the objects will be hidden and tricky.”
“So.”
“You do know this scavenger hunt is for little kids.”
“Shut up,” Colin grins at him while squinting his eyes.
“Follow me,” Riley grabs Colin by the hand and pulls him back down the same hallway.
The holding of Riley’s hand was natural. It charged Colin’s skin and he vibrated. He didn’t know if Riley meant for this to happen or if it was just a reaction to show him something out of excitement. Colin didn’t care. He got to hold Riley’s hand for a minute. Even if he was being dragged down a hallway and up a ramp to the next level in the museum.
When they reached the top of the ramp, there was another tight hallway leading to the right. It was a reproduction of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s study from his house that was across the street from the museum. Riley would love to tour it but it’s currently closed for renovations. Maybe another trip. The maroon rug and cream wallpaper were so elegant yet cozy at the same time.
“Oh shit,” Riley dropped Colin’s hand before wiping his own on his jeans. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Colin’s mouth curled up on the edges. “I didn’t mind.”
Colin didn’t mind it because he has been wanting to do that for a long time. Any form of physical touch from Riley means that he’s been forgiven, and they can move forward. He was hoping they could move on together but Riley is in New York. Howwouldthat work? Howcouldthat work?
“Really?”
Riley’s eyes were wide and a crease appeared between his brows, not sure what to think. They had been best friends for a long time and if they ever went there, and it didn’t work, he could lose Colin forever and he wasn’t sure he could handle that. He lost him for the past few years and it about killed him. Not having him there to call or text when things were going on. He also didn’t know if Colin was even gay.
“Colin,” Riley starts.
“Wow, you called me by my name,” Colin teases. “This must be serious.”
“I don’t know how to ask you this, so I’m just going to say it…are you gay?”
“You know I don’t like labels,” Colin was staring at his shoes.
Riley took Colin’s chin between the side of his finger and thumb and looked at him. Eye to eye.
“I need to know what’s going on,” Riley started. “We haven’t talked for years. I show up on vacation yesterday, I threw up on your shoes, and now today we are acting as if nothing happened. So please, what is going on? I am getting too many mixed signals that I feel like some dough being tossed around in my mom’s kitchen counter mixer.”
Colin knew what he wanted to say but didn’t know where to begin. They walked shoulder to shoulder through the rooms filled with artifacts, giving Colin a chance to get his thoughts together and take a few deep breaths.
“I’m not anything.”
“Here we go,” Riley rolled his eyes out of annoyance before glaring over at Colin who was about the same height.
“It’s true. Let me explain.”
“Please do, because my head is starting to spin.”
“I’ve been with girls, but never all the way. I was never turned on. But I’m not sexually turned on by guys either. At first, I thought I was broken-“
Colin held his hand up to stop an interruption from Riley as Riley’s mouth opened to respond.
