Life in Fusion (26 page)

Life in fusion
189

settled—”

“I’d be happy to show Gabe around,” Chip offered, looking

totally innocent.

“Thank you so much, Chip,” Gordy said, before either Gabe

or myself had a chance to protest. “Such a nice young man, isn’t

he? Too bad you don’t have a brother.”

I watched helplessly as he took my arm and led me away while

I reluctantly agreed out of politeness that Chip was anything but

a hound dog.

“Quite a turn out,” I said, as the Mayor led me back inside

the building.

“Yes, well we support our own here in the SC.”

I had to work really hard to not laugh at that one, but the

cracks and comparisons to the OC were running amok in the

back of my mind. The OC from the TV show, obviously, as I’d

never been to the real Orange County.

“We’re all very excited for you and Wade,” he said, finally

stopping once we were far enough away from the crowd.

It was difficult to concentrate on what I assumed was about

to be a serious conversation with the Summit City Band singing

Love Shack
as a soundtrack.

“I for one am very eager to see Wade settled down,” Mayor

Nelson said, an expression of genuine relief sweeping over his

face.

I was slightly confused since Wade wasn’t exactly in any

danger of being labeled the Rocky Mountain party boy.

“I hate to seem simple, but Wade’s not all that wild.” I

shrugged. “I can’t imagine him giving anyone a moment’s pause

to worry.”

“Are you kidding?” Mayor Nelson took me by the arm and

leaned in as if he were about to reveal state secrets. “A single

gentleman of Wade’s standing? I know for a fact being gay isn’t

always as homogenized as they like to portray in the media and

on television.”

190 Ethan Day

I felt my eyes widening and my mouth fell open thinking the

Mayor had been a very bad boy, indeed.

“Well, no, not from actual experience,” Mayor Nelson scoffed.

“But I have seen the other side, like on that
Queer as Folk
program

with…stuff…going on in back rooms.”

I did my damndest to hold back a smile, but could tell I’d

failed by the expression that came over his face.

“You can mock me all you want, but we’ve always kept a

watchful eye over Wade. All this town needed was some sort

of sex scandal to ruin all the man’s hard work. And believe me,

Boone, Wade has given an unimaginable amount of himself over

to Summit City. We’ll likely never be able to fully repay that debt.”

I cringed, chewing on my lip for a moment. “I’m not sure if

I should be flattered or insulted by the fact I wasn’t considered

sex scandalous.”

Mayor Nelson stood up straighter, clearing his throat as his

face turned crimson. “Holy Moses, the Quad wasn’t kidding

around; you really do just lay it all out there, don’t you?”

“Hey pal, you’re the one that brought up sex scandals. Like it’s

my fault I’m slightly vain. Ugly kids who get hot when they grow

up become total whores for compliments.”

He stood frozen for a rather long and uncomfortable moment,

before bursting into full blown, laughter…make that cackling.

“I’m probably not exactly what you had in mind for Wade,”

I said, nodding as he settled himself down. “But despite my lack

of tact, I don’t wish to come here and turn the town on its ear.”

“I know that, son,” he reassured me. “And very wrong. I think

you’re exactly what we all always hoped Wade would find. Perhaps

not as colorful a version as you’ve turned out to be, I’ll give you

that. But any idiot can see you two are gaga for one another.”

As in Lady Gaga? Because I do enjoy riding Wade’s disco stick and

playing our own version of
poker face. And even though I’m terrified we’ll

wind up having a bad romance, leaving me to just dance while watching

Wade ride off into the sunset with Alejandro as the paparazzi followed in

Life in fusion
191

a frenzy, I can’t seem to stop myself from loving him.

I shook the nonsense out of my head.

“What it is you’re trying to say to me then?” I asked, searching

his eyes for clues as to whether or not it was going to be good or

bad, while trying to keep a straight face.

“Man, for a politician I’m doing a horrible job at this.”

I sighed. “It’s likely due to no fault of your own. I have a

tendency to run conversations amok.”

“I really just wanted to say welcome, Boone. And that I hope

you’ll feel at home here in this nutty little town the rest of us love

so much.”

“Is that it?” I asked. “You’re afraid I won’t like it here?”

He shrugged. “Well, I uh…wouldn’t say anything as strong as

fear, but some form of very mild worry, perhaps—”

“Look, Gordy, I can’t honestly say while I’d never choose

to move here if it weren’t for Wade, I think I’ll be quite happy

here.”
Hope and pray…perhaps even some begging thrown in for good

measure
. “New Mexico is my home, always has been and I love it

there. But aside from Wade, this place does have a magic all its

own.” I watched the Mayor nod in agreement. “That, and you’re

all completely crazy, which only serves to make me seem more

normal.”

“There is that, son.” He slapped me on the back heartily.

“Though I prefer to think of us as distinctive, fostering strong

individuals who have a live-and-let-live mentality.”

I grinned. “There’s the spin-master general back at the helm.”

“I am sincerely happy Wade has found someone to love. He’s

a good friend as well as a good son to Summit City. God knows

the boy deserves some happiness after all he’s been through over

the years.”

“I hope I can make him happy.”

“Keep him happy, Boone,” Mayor Nelson said. “I think it’s

safe to say you’ve already made him happy.”

192 Ethan Day

“Aww, you ole softy.” I winked, pinching the man’s cheek,

realizing after the fact I’d once again pushed it just past the point

of becoming overly familiar with a next to total stranger.

“Yes, well…um, thank you there, Boone.” He patted me on

the shoulder and I spun around to keep from laughing in his face.

I needed to hire someone to follow me around and slap me

upside the head when they saw me heading down the road to icky

town. Of course, it would help if I didn’t find it so amusing when

it happened. Really should sit down someday and try pinpointing

where my lack of boundaries stemmed from.

That being said, I was flying higher…well okay, floating a

couple of inches off the floor if nothing else. This was going

to work. Wade and I were going to make a go of it. I felt more

secure than I had at any previous point in our relationship. It was

as if all my doubts had been eviscerated by love.

Love will conquer all.

“You look particularly floaty,” Gabe said, appearing slightly

more genuine than he’d recently been.

“I think I’m really and truly happy, Gabe.” I thought I was

going to cry for a moment, then realized my eyes were just dry

from not having blinked during my entire conversation with the

Mayor. “You showing up has really helped get me there.”

“Sorry again for being such a jerk-butt.” Gabe took a sip of

his wine.

We both smiled as the twins passed by, blatantly stalking Chip

and his twin brother, Dean. I’d already tried to tell them Dean

wasn’t gay, but they couldn’t seem to get it through their perfectly

coiffed heads.

“Hey guys,” Chip said, looking Gabe up and down like a

snack cake…or a Ferrari as the case would more likely be.

His brother excused himself, and Donny and Lonny seemed

torn for a moment, not knowing what to do as they watched

Dean walk away. It took everything I had to not suggest they

simply split up. They cursed at one another, fighting while they

Life in fusion
193

tried coming to an agreement.

“Twins creep me out,” Gabe said, fidgeting under Chip’s

persistent leery-glare.

“Hi Boone,” Theresa said, strolling up to me with her rosy

complexion and perky attitude.

“Have you ever dated a twin?” Chip asked, turning to watch

Lonny and Donny for a moment as they finally came to realize

they weren’t conjoined.

Lonny whispered into his brother’s ear before heading off

into the crowd to look for Dean. I decided that was the smart

choice, as Lonny was the bolder of the two. They’d have zero

chances at reeling in a straight man, even a drunk one, without

his charisma and persistence.

“How are you doing Theresa, having a good time?”

“I most certainly have not.” Gabe said it like he was repulsed

by the idea, despite the fact his gaze betrayed his mouth, eyeing

Chip’s package.

“Twins are hot!” Donny blurted out, causing Theresa to

giggle and turn red.

“I’m having a great time!” She now stared back and forth

between all of us boys, waiting with bated breath, practically on

the edge of her seat.

“We are at that, Donny,” Chip said, taking a step closer to

Gabe.

That made Donny frown in obvious disappointment. I knew,

as did Donny, having figured out that Chip didn’t want the thing

he could easily have, nearly as much as the thing he couldn’t. And

Gabe fit the
couldn’t have
bill like no one probably ever had in the

past. Of course, that didn’t mean Donny was ready to throw in

the towel. Gabe had a long history of saying no to men. Donny

was willing to wait around and pick up the pieces.

I took Theresa by the arm. “Perhaps you and I should go

somewhere…where the conversation is less…gay.”

“You are seriously wasting your time here, buddy,” Gabe said,

194 Ethan Day

taking a step back from Chip in order to keep a suitable amount

of inches between them.

I couldn’t help but think all Gabe really needed was a solid six

or seven inches to turn that frown upside down.

“Oh no, please,” Theresa said, attempting to not seem

panicked at the thought of missing any of the gay drama

unfolding in front of her. She whispered under her breath, “This

is fascinating.”

I was beginning to wonder if she and the Mayor had been

having secret, underground
Queer as Folk
watch-parties.

“Gabe really is the world’s biggest prude,” Donny added,

obviously hoping to dissuade Chip from his foolhardy attempt at

storming the Gabe-gates. “He never has
any
fun.”

I witnessed the transformation as Chip’s jaw set with renewed

determination. Theresa grabbed my arm, like she might squeal

with delight at any moment. It was obvious she knew what was

going on, and stranger still was the fact she was so delighted

by it. Personally, I blamed reality television and YouTube; life in

general had been turned into fodder for the average American.

This was like
The Hills: The Homo Edition
. We are a country that

liked to watch, kind of a pervy bunch, I know.

Chip took another step forward. “I’m always up for a

challenge.”

I glanced down, checking out Chip’s crotch to see if he was

telling the truth. I quickly recovered, thankful Theresa had at

least missed that, considering Gabe and Donny hadn’t. Gabe’s

face went bright red, realizing he’d been busted checking out

Chip’s chip off the old cock-block.

Chip was now smiling, licking his lips. “You’re just about the

cutest thing I think I’ve ever seen.”

I scoffed, insulted since he’d tried to pick my ass up at one

point, but then caught myself.
You don’t always have to be the center

of attention, bitch.

I took note Gabe was staring at me, likely thinking the same

Life in fusion
195

thing.

I shrugged an apology.

“You’re wasting your time.” Gabe was now apparently feeling

quite brave, or at least the wine was beginning to speak for him.

“But it’s your time to waste.”

Donny reached over, pushing my chin up to close my

mouth for me, though he was equally stunned by Gabe’s cheeky

invitation. It was very un-Gabe-like behavior, inviting Chip to

please continue trying to get into his pants.

Chip was grinning from ear to ear as he slowly rubbed at his

chin. “I appreciate the invitation, stud. I should warn you that I

almost always get what I want.”

Theresa gasped, quickly covering her mouth as she realized

she’d outed herself. She stood there all wide eyed and deliciously

shocked, yet wishing she hadn’t fucked up by drawing attention

to herself.

“The taste of disappointment should be a refreshing change

for you, then,” Gabe said, eyebrows raised in defiance.

“Not nearly as refreshing as the taste of your co—”

“Okay, then,” I cut him off, feeling my own face burn.

“Good golly,” Theresa whispered, clearly more excited by the