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He s dangerous.
Oh, I know that, Leo said, looking at him.
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Reed met his gaze, an eyebrow slightly cocked.
Meggy glanced from one to another. Okay, she muttered, I
don t think we re talking about the same game.
Mark came out and saved them from the conversation. Okay,
kids, clean up the game. Supper is on.
Great, I m starved, Meggy announced.
A few minutes later, they all sat down to fried chicken and
salad. Reed complimented Mark on the chicken and he smiled,
appearing pleased with the compliment.
Oh, Mark said suddenly, pouring some wine into Leo s glass,
Leo has some good news.
Leo looked up sharply from his plate. I do?
Pierre, Mark reminded him.
Pierre? Reed asked, looking at Leo.
Oh, Mark, ah& never mind that now. Leo tried to smile but
he could have kicked Mark s ass. It s kind of private.
Why? Mark demanded. You love the guy.
Leo glanced at Reed, who lifted his glass of wine and took a
drink. He put it down.
Drop it, Leo snapped.
But it s exciting news, Mark insisted. At least there will be
one happy ending around here.
Who s Pierre? his sister asked.
Leo sighed. Let s just eat.
Pierre was a guy Leo met in Paris, Mark told Meggy. They
fell in love, then Leo discovered that Pierre was married and
Mark! Jesus Christ, Leo snapped. I said to drop it.
Reed wiped his mouth on a napkin. The chicken was great,
Mark. I think I ll get to work on the cabin. He stood.
I don t get why you re so pissed off, Mark said. Pierre loves
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you. He wants you back. He left his wife for you. Aren t you
happy?
Reed, Leo said, looking at him.
Reed threw down his napkin on the table. I don t think I need
any help tonight, Leo. If I were you, I d call that guy back pronto.
It looks like he s missing you.
Leo watched him leave the room, his heart sinking. Reed, he
said softly under his breath.
Meggy looked from one to another. What in hell was that?
What was what? Mark asked.
Leo? she looked at him.
Leo got up and scraped back his chair. Mark, Jesus Christ, did
you have to do that?
Mark met his gaze. It shouldn t have mattered to you if Reed
knew. And it shouldn t have mattered to Reed about Pierre. But it
did, didn t it? It mattered.
Mark, Leo muttered, you don t understand.
Yes, I do, he said. All this time you were supposed to be my
friend, and what you really wanted was him. You ve been fucking
Reed behind my back.
Oh, my God, his sister said.
It didn t mean anything, Mark. Reed doesn t feel anything for
me. Sex to him is like brushing his teeth.
But you feel something for him. It s in your eyes when you
look at him. I m not a fool.
Yeah, you are, Leo told him. You are a fool, but so am I.
Two fools in love with the same man, a man who doesn t give a
damn about either one of us.
He left the room before the tears threatened and went outside.
He walked down to the water, passing the happy people on the
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way, nodding to them briefly, as he tried to hide the tears. He
stared at the watch he still wore on his wrist, the one Pierre had
given him, the one he thought he d never part with. He unclasped it
and took it off. Without hesitation he threw it into the lake, then
pulled out his cell phone. He tried to remember Pierre s touch, his
kiss. At one time that s all he could think about. Now, he was
having a hard time even picturing his face.
Damn you, Reed. He grunted as he punched in Pierre s cell
phone number.
It s over, he said when Pierre s voice mail answered. I m
sorry, Pierre. I did love you, but not enough. Don t call me
anymore. He closed the phone, hung his head and cried.
* * *
The sun dipped low in the sky and the moon glowed above.
He d been sitting on the rock by the water a lot longer than he
thought. Thankfully, his phone hadn t rung.
Maybe it was time to go, leave here. He wondered if Mark
would ever forgive him for sleeping with Reed. It didn t matter
really. He d be punished for that. The longing, the ache of wanting
Reed would be enough.
He walked away from the water. The light in Adrian s cabin
was on. Leo imagined that he had his own ache to deal with. He
paused, prepared to walk on, when Adrian came out on the porch.
He seemed surprised to see Leo.
Oh, hi, I heard footsteps and I thought it was
Mark. You hoped it was Mark. Leo smiled sadly at him.
Sorry.
Want to come in for a drink?
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Leo nodded. I m not sure if I even have a place to sleep
tonight.
Oh?
Leo followed him inside. Mark s pissed off at me. And I
deserve it.
Ah, he found out you were fucking Reed.
So you did know. You saw me the other night.
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