Chapter 68 Noah
Noah
“I’m sorry, Crystal,” I apologized again in a low voice after Crystal repeated for the umpteenth time that she did not appreciate my working in conjunction with her mother to get her laid.
I was sorry. And not only was I sorry, but I was feeling sorry for myself. My relationship was coming to an end, and I was heartbroken. I wanted to share that with Crystal, but when I called to do so, she’d immediately ripped into me.
“Well, you need to be,” she said, and then she released a long sigh and said, “Thank you.”
“What?”
“I said, ‘thank you,’ Noah. Only a true friend would go to the lengths you did. Don’t get me wrong—I’m pissed about the whole situation—but more grateful than anything.”
I didn’t say a word. I wanted to hear this.
“I really needed Neville here. I mean, I needed the sex, don’t get me wrong—Lord knows I needed the sex!” Her voice went up a notch, and I found myself smiling for the first time in days. “But I also needed to be reminded that I am a beautiful, sexual being, and Neville did that for me.”
“I’m glad to hear that, sweetie.”
“It’s funny how we know what our friends need, even when they don’t express it, don’t you think?”
“Yes.”
“So I feel like you need a hug right now. You sound so sad. I wish I was there to give you one.”
My eyes filled with tears and my lips began to quiver.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Crystal asked. Then the dam broke, and all of what I’d been going through came rushing out.
Crystal never interrupted me. She just listened the way a good friend was supposed to. After I was finished, she softly reminded me of something that I had seemed to have forgotten in my anger.
“Noah, remember the summer you had your little problem?” she began.
My little problem was the fact that I had started sleeping with women.
It was a dark, dark period in my life. “When you told Zhan, he was totally understanding and even went to a few of your Homosexuals with Heterosexual Tendencies meetings, right?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“He didn’t get angry and walk away from you. He stuck by you, he forgave you, and continued to love you, didn’t he?”
“Y-yes.”
“He gave you another chance, so why can’t you do the same for him?”
I hadn’t even looked at it that way. Here I was putting the man I loved through the wringer for something as simple as a kiss. And not once did Zhan throw my indiscretions in my face.
“You’re right, baby,” I said through a fresh stream of tears. I let my jealousy hide the fact that this man loved me so much that he would let me walk out of his life, if that’s what would make me happy.
“Of course I am,” Crystal said, and I could tell she was smiling. I was smiling now too.
“Wow, is this what a hug feels like long-distance?” I teased.
“I guess so, baby. It feels pretty damn good, doesn’t it?”