Page 16 of Still Bruised
Ashley dabbed at her eyes. Foster watched as she turned her back to him and disappeared upstairs. After a few steadying breaths, he ambled back to their bedroom and fished out a couple of suitcases. The scent of sex filled the room as he packed some of his belongings.
The heavy weight that had been hanging on Foster’s shoulders for so long… evaporated with every item he packed. Once the suitcases were full, he was weightless.Free.Why had it taken him so long to see what was staring him right in the face?
He’d finally be free.
To be what, he didn’t know.
Yet.
3
The Tribeca neighborhood, New York City
One among a small crowd, Jude scrambled up the subway stairs and emerged onto the street, thankful to get away from the subterranean heat. Not that above ground was much better. At least the air was less musty and ripe outside versus the poorly ventilated subway station under his feet. June was usually a little less stifling, but the heat had risen quickly that summer and battered the city like it was already August.
Tightening his grip on his backpack, Jude paused beside a bodega at the corner to get his bearings. A couple of customers shopped the boxes of fresh produce out front while an employee was busy refilling them. He watched Jude closely, ready to pounce on a potential thief. Jude had no plans to swipe an overpriced orange. He just needed a second to remember which direction he was supposed to be traveling. While he came tothe city a lot, there were some areas he was less familiar with, especially in the fading light of day.
Latin pop played loudly from somewhere nearby, perhaps one of the apartments above the shop. After he crossed the street, his steps unexpectedly synced with the rhythm until it faded from earshot. He weaved his way through the crowded sidewalk, eyeing the occasional brick or cement façade in search of their numbers, counting them down in his head.
Cars streamed past on the street. Horns sounded, curses thrown. Folks congregated here and there, laughing or joking with their friends. Those sounds mixed with more music coming from cars and a cafe he passed.
The city was always loud, a living entity all on its own.
Jude fished out his phone and reread the text invite, confirming the address before slipping out of the throng of pedestrians. He eyed the front door of the older residential building. No doorman stood sentry. He pressed one of the buttons and was immediately buzzed through without question.
He jumped on an elevator headed for the twelfth floor. Jude bounced on his toes, his pulse quickening. He bit his lower lip, tapping his thigh with the fingers of his left hand. Lifting an arm, he took a whiff to make sure the long trek there—or his nerves—hadn’t ruined his shower.
The elevator door didn’t close, so he reached out and pressed the button to get it moving. Just before the doors finally closed, a man shoved himself through. He punched the 12 button, even though it was already lit and then turned to eye Jude.
“Man, is ithotout there,” the guy said, grinning at Jude. “Not much better in there, though.”
Jude nodded, silent, checking the guy out.
He was about Jude’s age, maybe a little older. A couple of gray hairs peeked out amid his close-cropped, black hair, but his face didn’t have nary a line on it. But then, melanin helped some folks hide their age better than others, so he didn’t bother guessing too hard. He lifted the bottom of his Yankee’s tee to wipe the sheen of sweat from his face and showed off a perfect set of cut abs.
Jude’s gaydar was screaming.
After the guy lowered his shirt, his gaze took Jude in from head to toe.
“You heading to the party, too?”
“Twelve C?” Jude asked. He doubted there were two parties happening on the same floor, but figured he’d check before he accidentally said something inappropriate.
“Yeah. You been to one here before?”
“Not here, but I met the guy hosting at another one the weekend before last. He invited me.”
The stranger smiled at him. One ofthosesmiles. The kind that screamed interest. “A friend of his invited me. I’ve never been to this one before, either.”
“Ah,” Jude said.
“You do these often?”
“Only been to two,” Jude said, his nerves getting the better of him. It was his first one flying solo.
The man smiled. “Wanna walk in together? I hate walking in alone.”
“Sure, but I’m supposed to meet up with our host once I get there,” Jude said.
