Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
TONY
I hit Sal’s number, unsurprised when he answered before the end of the first ring. “Anthony. Is it settled?”
“It’s settled,” I replied. “Our friend Mark won’t be hassling Brendan anymore.”
“What do I have to do on my end?”
“I told him there would be people watching, making sure he kept his word. I also recommended he get a new job since he has such a problem working with a gay man.”
Sal made a growling noise. “He’s probably in the closet.”
I shrugged. “Maybe. I personally think he’s a homophobic prick who likes to bully people smaller than him.”
“Is there anything else I should know?” he asked.
“Not yet. But I told him I looked into him and that if he didn’t keep his word, every little secret he had would be blasted to everyone he knows.”
“You looked him up already?”
I chuckled. “Nah. I was lying my ass off. But he doesn’t know that. I’ll put Michael on it when he gets back to the City.”
“Excellent.” He let out a sigh. “Tony, I can’t thank you enough. This means a lot to me.”
“Anytime, Sal.” After a short pause, I asked, “So, are you going to ask Brendan out?”
After a long silence, he said, “I don’t know. You know what my life is. He’s such an innocent. It wouldn’t be right to bring him into my world.”
“I hear what you’re saying,” I replied. “But Brendan’s an adult. It should be his choice, shouldn’t it?”
“Maybe. I’ll think about it. Thanks again, Tony. I owe you one.”
“Anytime, Sal. You know I’m here for you.”
After I ended the call, I took a taxi back to my apartment. On the ride downtown, I opened my contacts to the newly acquired phone number of one Greg Hayden.
I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’d actually agreed to a friends-with-benefits arrangement. I hadn’t done that in more than ten years. It had always been so unsatisfying. What made me think this would be any different?
This was all Michael’s fault. I was tempted to call Greg and tell him I couldn’t do it.
But then I remembered the look on his face when he told me he wanted to be my friend.
He was living alone in a new city, trying to make a new life for himself.
And I was trying to break the pattern of attaching myself to a romantic partner too soon. I could do this. I was an adult.
As I entered the lobby of my apartment building, I was reminded why I had decided to agree to Greg’s proposition. My ex-boyfriend, Luke, was leaning against one wall, his arms crossed, and a deep frown creasing his brow. “For fuck’s sake,” I muttered under my breath.
Luke launched himself off the wall as soon as he saw me. “Where have you been?” he demanded. “I’ve been here for over an hour.”
“I never asked you to come here, so that’s a you problem,” I retorted. “Why are you here?”
The asshole had the nerve to look hurt. “Come on, Tony,” he wheedled. “We can work this out. It was just a misunderstanding. Let’s go up to your place so we can talk about it.”
“No,” I replied curtly. “I took back my apartment key for a reason.”
His placating tone turned to acid in a split second. “You just can’t cut the apron strings from your little brother, can you? You let Michael run your life. He wants to split us up because he’s jealous.”
I stepped in close to him but kept my hands at my sides because I didn’t trust myself not to punch him in the face.
“Keep my brother’s name out of your mouth.
Michael didn’t do anything but point out what you were doing behind my back.
You’re only mad because you got caught, and now you’re gonna lose your gravy train.
Go find someone else to leech off of. We’re done here. ”
His lip curled up in a snarl. “You still have my stuff at your place. I want it all back.”
“I told you Marco would bring it to you.”
“I want it all back now,” he insisted.
I clenched my jaw. “Fine. But you’re staying here. I’ll go up and bring it down.”
“How do I know you’ll bring it all?”
I leaned in close and said in a low growl, “Because there is nothing of yours that I want. I don’t want any reminders that you ever existed.”
I left him standing there with his mouth hanging open while I headed toward the elevator. I stopped by the security guards and said, “He’s staying here until I bring down his stuff. If he causes you any problems, call the police.”
He gave me a shark-like smile. “You got it, Mr. D’Angelo.”
When I got into my apartment, I grabbed a garbage bag from the kitchen cabinet and went through my place looking for anything that might have belonged to Luke.
It turned out there wasn’t all that much.
Some clothes, a pair of running shoes, toiletries, an electric razor, and a Rolex watch that he never wore but always bragged about.
I double-checked to make sure I hadn’t missed anything and then went back down to the lobby.
When Luke saw me carrying a garbage bag, his face turned red. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
I held the bag out to him. “You wanted it now. It’s all I had. If you’d have waited, I would’ve been nice and gotten a box from my office.”
He grabbed the bag from my hand. “Fuck you, Tony.”
I shook my head. “Never again, Luke. Go find yourself a new sugar daddy or whatever it is you’re looking for.”
I didn’t even watch him leave the building. “Sorry about that,” I said as I passed by the security desk.
“No worries, Mr. D’Angelo. You take care of yourself.”
Back in my apartment, I threw myself on the sofa and stared out at the city skyline as dusk faded to night. My day hadn’t gone at all like I’d planned. I wasn’t sure I had it in me to go out again. Maybe I’d pull up a movie and get some takeout instead.
My encounter with Luke only emphasized what Michael had said to me earlier.
I needed to be more discerning about the people I attached myself to.
I hadn’t had any luck with either men or women.
Looking back, I could see that I had rushed into serious relationships before I really knew the person.
I groaned in disgust at myself. How had I become the middle-aged cliché?
I pulled up the food delivery app on my phone and ordered from my favorite Italian place.
If I was going to be pathetic, I might as well have good food while I was doing it.
I was scrolling through one of my many streaming services when my phone vibrated with a call. To my surprise, Greg was calling.
I swiped to answer. “Hey, Greg. What’s up?”
“Hey, Tony. I had a question.”
“Okay,” I replied. “Hit me.”
“Someone I connected with at City Lights emailed me a pair of tickets to an Off-Broadway show. She said the musical director was looking for a substitute pianist and that I should talk to him after the show. I was wondering if you’d like to go with me. It would be nice not to go alone.”
I worked very hard to keep the surprise out of my voice when I answered. “That sounds great. When’s the show?”
I heard his sigh of relief before he replied, “Tuesday at seven.”
“Let me just check to make sure I’ve got nothing going on Tuesday before I say yes.” I pulled up my schedule on my phone. My last meeting was at four. “Yep, I’m good. You want to meet for dinner before the show?”
“That sounds good. Maybe you should pick the place since the theater is on 39th Street. You know the neighborhood better than I do.”
I ran through the restaurants I knew in my head. “How about I text you the menus for a couple of places I know and you can tell me what appeals to you?”
“That works,” he replied. After a long pause, he added, “Thanks, Tony. It’s nice to have a friend to do things with.”
“Anytime. I enjoyed the time we spent together today. It’s nice to have somebody besides my brothers to talk to.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad I rate up there with your brothers.”
“Some days higher,” I muttered.
That got a laugh out of him. “I won’t tell them you said that.” There was a brief silence. Then he said, “Goodnight, Tony. I’ll see you Tuesday.”
“I’ll be there,” I replied.
After he ended the call, I squeezed my eyes shut and repeated to myself, “This is not a date. This is not a date. This is not a date.” Maybe if I said it often enough, it would sink in.