“That does sound sweet,” Anthony admitted.
“Yeah. So maybe it doesn’t matter about the rest.”
Anthony wanted him to be happy. But he also knew that if he only said what Ricky wanted to hear, he might end up getting hurt. “Diego could be straight. I know that sounds crazy at this point but, well, remember Omar?”
Ricky winced. “Yeah. I keep thinking about that.”
“So do I,” Anthony grumbled before nudging him reassuringly. “Omar says he loves me. And if I had been as persuasive as you were, it sounds like he might have even slept with me. But I really do think he’s straight.”
Ricky nodded, and kept nodding to himself as they walked in silence, as if he was trying to work it all out. “He needs me though. Jeremiah used to say that he loved me, but with Diego, I actually feel it.” He stopped and turned to Anthony. “Isn’t it possible that he’s just not into certain things? Not everyone has the same fetishes and stuff, right?”
“Yes,” he admitted grudgingly. “That’s possible.” His friend’s eyes were so hungry for confirmation that he couldn’t help adding, “I’m still figuring out what I like with Cameron. It’s a process, right?”
“Yes!” Ricky said with transparent relief. “I’m thinking of trying some butt stuff with him. Maybe that will help.”
“Butt stuff,” Anthony said with a chuckle. “That’s what Omar calls it too.” He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “You guys didn’t…”
“No, I swear!” Ricky promised him. “And if Omar ever wants to, I’ll point him in your direction.”
“Thanks.” He laughed self-consciously. “Not that I’d know what to do.”
“You still haven’t gone that far with Cameron?” Ricky asked. “How can you even wait? I bet he’s the kind of guy who will stare lovingly into your eyes the entire time.”
Anthony snorted. “I bet Diego is the kind of guy who puts you in a chokehold from behind. And we did try, briefly, but it hurt way too much.”
“I can teach you how!” Ricky said before they both cracked up.
There wasn’t, and had never been, any sexual tension between them.
“I mean I have some useful tips that might help,” Ricky amended. “If you want.”
“Yeah!” Anthony said instantly. How else would he learn? They couldn’t simply check out a book at the library. Not about any of it, emotional, physical, or otherwise. The only role model he had was Charles, but even he felt the need to hide his relationship from the public eye. “Being gay is kind of wild, isn’t it?” Anthony asked. “We have to figure out all this stuff on our own.”
“I love it,” Ricky said. “It’s like we’re on an adventure in some fantasy world and we’re the fairies. Hey! That would be a good birthday present. I’ve always wanted to play D&D.”
Anthony made a face. “Is that like S&M?”
“Only if the players want it to be.” Ricky resumed walking. “You’re coming to my party, right?”
“Yeah! Who else is going to be there?”
“Your boyfriend, of course. I invited Dave and David. Omar too.”
“What about Silvia?”
“What about her?” Ricky grumbled.
“You know Omar. He’ll want to bring her along.”
“Yeah, but it’s my special day.”
“You don’t like her?” Anthony asked. “I know she can be kind of reserved at first, but she’s cool.”
“Is she though?”
“Yes!” Anthony said with a laugh. “Trust me, I wanted to dislike Silvia when he first started dating her but couldn’t. Where is this coming from?”
Ricky’s expression was hard to read. “I can’t really say.”
“As in you don’t know?”
Ricky shrugged half-heartedly. “He can bring her if he really wants.”
“She might have to work anyway,” Anthony said. But he hoped that wasn’t the case, because he was certain Ricky would learn to like her as much as he did. “It’ll be a good time no matter what. We’ll make sure of that.”
“I hope so. I already know what I’m going to spend my birthday wish on. I’d tell you, but then it won’t come true.”
He could guess. Whatever it was had to involve Diego. “What should we do now?”
“You said something about swings?” Ricky replied.
“Yeah. They’re just around the curve. Race you there?”
They grinned at each other before they took off running, leaving grownup concerns behind them as they went.
CHAPTER 17
April 4th, 1993
With her eyes closed, Silvia’s world was reduced to an orange glow. A light breeze moved across her body, helping offset the heat from the sun. The sound of water lapping against the inflatable raft was soothing, although she still had concerns about how long it would keep them afloat. Omar had insisted regardless, bringing it with them on this fishing trip and nearly passing out from the effort it took to blow it up. Now she was held aloft on his breath, which was quite the romantic gesture. She felt around next to her until she located Omar’s hand, his fingers eagerly intertwining with her own.
“This is nice,” she said.
“Yeah. What a great gift! Thanks, babe.”
The inflatable raft was intended to be symbolic of more fishing trips. She had never expected when buying it at a charity shop that it would actually work. Or that she would be crazy enough to let Omar talk her into trying it out on the water, but here they were. Although she had insisted the fishing gear remain on shore. She didn’t want a hook anywhere near this thing.
“You’re so beautiful when you’re sleeping,” she heard him say.
“I’m awake.”
“Yeah, but this must be how you look. Isn’t it weird that we’ve never slept together? In the normal nonsexual way. I bet it would be nice.”
“You’d probably film me half the night. Wait…” She shielded her eyes and turned her head toward him. “You’re not filming me now, are you?”
“Nah,” Omar said with a grin. His mane of black hair had spilled over his forehead, a lock resting on his cheek. She had to admit that he looked nice lying down as well. “I left my camera at home today. Just in case.”
“You were worried about it getting wet, but not us?”
“I had a bad experience with a Gameboy once,” he said. “Or I guess Anthony did, since it belonged to him.”
“That’s sad,” Silvia said. “A gay boy lost his Gameboy.”
She laughed at her own joke, certain that Omar would join her. Instead he peered at her funny, and not for the first time.
“What?” she asked. “Do I have something on my face?”
She began pawing at her cheeks, rubbing her mouth, and touching every other part of her face in a silly manner, hoping to lighten the mood, but instead his eyes narrowed further.
“Are you high?” he asked.
So that’s what was going on. “I wondered when you were going to ask about it,” Silvia said, sitting up.