Page 21 of Something Like Hail

Harold laughed, pulling his hand free.“You’re like that lion.”

“Oh,thatlion,” Noah saidteasingly.

“The one at the beginningof movies,” Harold clarified. “He’s always yawning too.”

“He growls!”

“No way. There might havebeen a growling sound effect, but you can tell he’s reallyyawning.”

“Probably because of allthe boring previews,” Noah said, stifling another yawn.

“Tired?”

“Yeah. I didn’t sleep sogood last night.”

“Lie down.”

The couch wasn’t that big. He looked over,ready to make a joke, when he noticed Harold patting his lap ininvitation. Seriously? Noah wasn’t about to turn that down! Heflopped over, resting his head against the soft robe, the thighsbeneath it strong. As erotic as that might be, it simply felt goodbeing close to another person in that way. Someone he really liked.The hand resting on his shoulder was nice too.

Harold turned off the television and usedhis phone to conjure up music from speakers on a shelf. The songwas mellow, a light electronic beat, the volume low enough thatthey could still converse comfortably.

“I’m glad you’re doingokay,” Harold said. “This job isn’t for everyone.”

“I bet.” The events of theevening seemed distant and ludicrous now.

“What’s your bigneed?”

“My what?”

“The reason why you’redoing this,” Harold pressed. “Are you putting yourself throughcollege? Paying off debts? It’s usually one or theother.”

Noah chose his answer carefully. “I’m tryingto get back on my feet. What about you?”

“I’m in it for the longhaul. Can’t say it’s my dream job, because this isn’t what I wantedto do when I was little. Could you imagine? Some little kid whocan’t wait to grow up and be an escort?”

“That would make agoodKey & Peelesketch,” Noah said with a chuckle. “How long have you beendoing this now?”

“Years. I loveit.”

Noah turned his head to glance up at him.“Really?”

“Yeah! Usually I feel goodabout it. Take someone like George. Imagine him going on a firstdate. Should he be honest about his fetish and tell the otherperson during dinner?”

“No. Too soon.”

“Exactly. Then you getweeks, months, maybe even years into a relationship, drop the bomb,and the other person freaks out and leaves. Or maybe they justrefuse. We get a lot of guys like that. Some of them have aboyfriend who doesn’t want to fulfill the fantasy. Others are intostuff that scares people away. So I feel good about helping themout. I’m either taking the burden off an unwilling partner ormaking someone feel less lonely.”

“You make it soundnoble.”

“I don’t mean to. It stillgets really nasty, and I definitely love the money. This isn’tcharity work. But it’s not like a real job either, you know? Nooffice cubicle. No boss breathing down my neck.”

“Marcello doesn’tcount?”

“He’s okay,” Harold said.“Usually. Sometimes he can be a real bastard. For the most part,you’re in good hands.”

He was in a good lap! Noah closed his eyes,a feeling of warm contentment spreading through him. “What aboutthe future?” he murmured. “In forty years, are you still going tobe doing this?”

“Sure! I’ll put my bestdentures in, pop some Viagra, and make my rounds in the old folks’home.”