Chapter 29 Noah
Noah
“Well, Miss Thing, it seems all of y’all across the pond got the fever,” I said in the middle of yet another one of Geneva’s pity-party, woe-is-me tirades. Shit, I had my own problems and wasn’t really feeling like counseling Geneva—yet again!
“What?”
“Everybody’s fiending for one thing or another, it seems,” I said nonchalantly.
“Everybody like who, Noah? Something like what?”
“Oh, girl, just everybody, the world, but go on with your story. He took you out and…” I said the last bit with little interest, but that went right over Geneva’s head, so in typical Geneva style, she continued.
“We just had a really great time, and I don’t know, but I just can’t get past his age and my weight….”
We were on the weight thing again? I wanted to scream, but instead I said, “Blah, blah, blah…”
“I hate when you do that, Noah. It’s very rude, not to mention infantile.”
“Look, Geneva, I know you don’t have money to waste to call me and tell me the same thing over and over again, right?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“So we talked about this already; he don’t have a problem with your weight and your age and your tired-ass hairdo—”
“I never mentioned my hair—”
“Whatever. The point is, he likes you for who you are and that’s what’s important.”
“Yeah, I guess—”
“I’m sure Crystal has told you all this—”
“No, I haven’t told Crystal a thing, ’cause we’re off men. You know, power in numbers.”
“Uh-huh.”
“So don’t tell her any of this—okay, Noah?”
“Yeah, sugar, my lips are sealed,” I yawned.
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart and hope to go straight.” Something I felt sure was worse than death!
We talked a little longer, me not really hearing what Geneva was saying; my mind was all turned around with what I thought was happening with my neighbors next door.
For three days straight I’d seen Aldo coming home in the afternoon, always accompanied by two men and always during the time when Ray-Ray was off for his two-hour strength-training session at the gym.
Each time I pressed the glass to the wall, and each time all I could hear was moaning and groaning!
Aldo was cheating on Ray-Ray, I was sure of it!
I liked Ray-Ray, he seemed like a good guy, full of life and very much in love with Aldo.
I wanted to tell him what was going on but felt that our friendship was still too new for me to say anything.
And besides, Aldo and Ray-Ray had been together for damn near ten years, and really, who the hell was I?
I hadn’t even confided what I’d been seeing and hearing to Zhan. I mean, if he knew we had a philandering gay man next door, he might start thinking that I would be Aldo’s next victim.
As forgiving as Zhan had been three years earlier when I confessed my infidelities to him, I knew he hadn’t forgotten.
I’d seen him watching me for a reaction on more than one occasion whenever we were out and a good-looking woman walked by.
I guess if the shoe were on the other foot I would behave the same way.
A gay man does not quickly get over the fact that his lover went on the “down low” with women.
So for the time being, I kept my secret to myself, but I didn’t know how long I would be able to.