Men Who Love Men. William J. Mann

doing a very poor job of it. “But it’s easier for straight people. You get married, you have kids, you accept what comes. Gay people are always on the lookout for the next best thing.”

      “That won’t be so easy to do now that we can get married, too,” Lloyd reminds me.

      I scoff. “What would it matter to you guys? You’re nonmonogamous. You can have your wedding cake and still eat all the boys you want to.”

      Lloyd says nothing, just drops his eyes to the table. He begins fidgeting with the tea bags in the basket. “The point is, Henry,” he says, not looking up at me, “you need to get over your victim energy. Joey didn’t dump you. Neither did Daniel or Shane.” He moves his eyes back up to meet mine. “And neither did I reject you. What we all did was simply get out of your way so you could live the life you were supposed to.”

      I sigh. “So I could meet Gale, maybe.”

      Lloyd nods. “Maybe. Or someone else.”

      “I’m just so tired of waiting.”

      He reaches over and places his hand on top of mine. “I know.”

      We sit in silence a couple of moments.

      “That tea working?” Lloyd asks.

      “Fuck no.”

      He sighs. “Okay. I’ve got some Ambien back at the house.”

      “Sweet.”

      “You need to get some sleep,” he says, standing up. “I’ve got a new houseboy starting in the morning, and you’ll need to show him around.”

      “Where’d you find this one?” I ask.

      “I didn’t find him. Jeff did.”

      My ears perk up.

      “Some kid who came by to see his movie posters. Hope this one lasts.” He gives me a smile. “I’ll be right back with your wonder drug.”

      I sit staring at the door after he’s gone.

      I can’t believe it.

      Jeff finagled Luke a job here.

      Or maybe Luke was the one who did the finagling.

      Either way, I have a feeling that our new houseboy is indeed going to last.

      And my life is going to be hell.