Page 38 of Iridescent Lust

“Huh,” he said. “You never bring me to distant galaxies.”

“You complain about the lack of Wi-Fi.”

“No Wi-Fi?” He gasped. “Send me back to Hell.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I was starting to understand how I fit into this equation. If Stonewall didn’t like these field trips, why shouldn’t Theo go on them with another person? Stonewall’s words from the other night finally made sense.

I put a finger to my lips and made a hushing noise. Rolling over, I pointed up at the flying creatures. They looked almost like manta rays swimming across the sky. As they bobbed up and down, streaks of fire followed, and as they wove about one another, it made a beautiful and elegant pattern.

“Wow,” Stonewall said. He finished patting out the fire and took a seat on the other side of Theo. I had to admit I was being hyper vigilant in their mannerisms. Even with his suit on, the moment he sat down and rested a hand on Theo’s knee, I could see the man behind the mask emerge.

Before the insecurities of being the third wheel could set in, Theo rested a hand on my shoulder, rubbing it slowly. This dynamic would take more explaining than any of my one-night stands. But as we admired the scenery, something about it felt right. Simple. Tender. I thought I could get used to this.

“Careful, Alejandro. He lures you in with romantic dates to faraway places and before you know it, he’s leaving dishes in the sink.”

“Oh, hells no. You’re going to be scrubbing those before bedtime.”

“Good luck,” he added. “I’ve been trying for years.”

“I could leave you both here.”

“Should we discuss the trail of laundry?” Julian continued.

“You know, leave you both… in another galaxy.” Theo’s threats weren’t deterring.

“What other bad habits should I be aware of?”

“That’s it. I’m going back to Hell.”

“Blanket hog,” Julian laughed.

“It took one sleepover for me to learn that one.”

“This isn’t fun anymore!” Theo cried out before hiding his face in his hands. He could protest all he wanted. There was no hiding the grin on his face. He might be a bear of a man, but he was giddy having his husband and… whatever I was, teasing him.

Julian reached across Theo, patting me on the stomach. “We’ll start a support group. It’ll be in a pillow fort and all the blankets you can ask for. I’ll bring wine.”

“I’m seeing a divorce lawyer tomorrow.”

“Husband, he’d side with me in a heartbeat.”

I was about to pile on more teasing when a comet passed overhead. It was close enough to see the atmosphere wrap around the front, leaving a long tail of white behind it. I had seen shooting stars before, somewhere off in distant worlds, but not like this. The boulder burned away until there was nothing left.

Just as I was about to speak, three more appeared. Somewhere in the cosmos, we were getting a show that no other humans could witness. The sky sparkled as dozens more followed. I turned to see their faces filled with a sense of childlike awe.

Theo caught me staring, but I couldn’t look away. His hand found mine, squeezing it tightly as we spent the next hour making wishes as we watched hundreds of meteors. I had fought against thinking of him as more than a fling, fearful that it’d be complicated. My face turned red, a blush as his eyes held the same sense of wonder as they had watching the sky.

I processed, and I liked the conclusions I discovered.

16

“A country bar?I didn’t even know these existed in Vanguard.”

I patted Theo on the cheek. “Stick with me, handsome, and I’ll show you all the fun night spots.”

“I’m seeing that.”

The Stallion was a good ol’ fashioned country bar. On one side of the room, walled off by a waist-high wall, were tables and the bar. The rustic charm came from the rough wood, horns hanging on the wall, and coarse rope used to line the tables. It wasn’t my usual hang-out spot, but when Theo said he wanted to try something different, it immediately came to mind. Sure, it wasn’t the Eiffel Tower, but I was willing to bet it was something he had never seen.

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