Kiernan looked at him, but images of the steam room in the Unicorn slashed through his mind. Shadowy memories of Keith, and all the other nameless men he had lusted after and known since Justin's death coiled about his soul and clenched at his heart. He ran tremulous fingers through his hair and shuddered. "I should probably go."
"Yeah, it's late. Hey, you want to come back and spend the rest of the night in my room? Just talk, get to know each other better? I've got to leave by noon if I'm going to make my appointment in Springfield, but we could have breakfast together."
He checked his watch. "Sounds like fun." His breath came in short bursts. "But I've got a bunch of errands to run in the morning. I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow for a couple of weeks, and I've got to take the cat to the kennel, stop the mail. You know."
Sam looked at him, expressionless. "Yeah, sure. I know." He ran a finger along Kiernan's cheek. "You're so beautiful. I'm sorry you don't live in Tulsa or me in Chicago. I'm lonely, too, you know."
Kiernan frowned. "What makes you think I'm lonely?" He looked around and checked his pockets. "I think I've got everything. Look, maybe we should take separate cabs? We're kind of going in different directions."
"Whatever you say. Look, I'll be back in six months. You want to get together then?"
"Sure. Six months. Sounds great." Kiernan was already headed back to their table.
The rhythmic cadences of Blood, Sweat and Tears singing the classic "And when I die," cascaded from the loudspeakers. That's all I ask of living, he thought, humming along with music. No chains on me. Tomorrow's journey and the allure of strange places and strange men consumed his thoughts. |
