Page 33 of Something Like Hail

Noah smiled, unwillingly at first. “You meanthe buffet?”

“Yes!” Ryan grinned. “Theywere set up for a party of some sort but nobody was there yet. Wenever found out what the occasion was, did we? I wish we could haveseen the caterers’ faces when they saw we had eaten a little ofeverything. The best part was swimming with you.”

“Swimming?”

Ryan nodded. “Remember the pool?”

He had the details wrong. Ryan had alreadystarted shooting up at that point, but only occasionally. The poolhad been at night, not during the day, and it wasn’t at the countryclub. It was a public pool in a quiet neighborhood. It must havebeen three in the morning on a hot night, and what they had donetogether was even hotter. They had skinny-dipped, neither owning aswimsuit, Noah certain that the police would arrive at any moment.Ryan hadn’t been concerned. He pinned Noah in a corner of the pooland kissed him. Hungrily. Then they had traded places, Ryan in thecorner, facing away from him. Noah hadn’t been gentle. That’s nothow Ryan preferred it, but as violent as their lovemaking could be,the aftermath was always tender and sweet. What Noah liked mostabout that night wasn’t the sex. The best part was when they hadgotten dressed and spooned against each other in one of the deckchairs. The world around them had been still, the stars abovetwinkling for their pleasure alone.

“You know I love you,” Ryansaid. “Right?”

“I love you too,” Noahresponded truthfully.

“Good. Find yourself adifferent job. I don’t like the idea of you gettinghurt.”

“I don’t want you to gethurt either,” he replied, and he meant it in many ways. He didn’twant other prisoners or guards hurting Ryan; didn’t want Tim’sinevitable lack of a response to reopen old wounds. He especiallydidn’t want Ryan to get hurt when he realized that Noah needed tobe set free. What they’d had together belonged in the past. Noahwasn’t sure what the future held, but if allowed to make a fewwishes, he wouldn’t choose Ryan, even if unburdened by so muchaddiction and rage. Their relationship had ended long ago. Noahjust needed to find the courage to tell him so.

* * * * *

Noah felt like he was the one escaping fromprison by the time he left. He eagerly got into Harold’s car, amaroon Chrysler Sebring Limited, he noted for the first time. Itwas a nice little ride, and he had fun putting the top down on theshort trip to the highway. Just being inside the vehicle felt likea reassuring hug from Harold, prompting Noah to speed a little onhis way back to Austin. He wanted to see Harold again. Enough thathe was already regretting his decision to work tonight, especiallywhen he returned the vehicle to its owner.

“How’d it go?” Haroldasked. “Did you have fun visiting your friend?”

“Fun?” Noah repeated,already deciding not to lie. They were standing in Harold’sdriveway, and he was hoping for an invitation inside. “It was moreof a social obligation. One of those people you have to see, evenif you don’t really want to. Still, thanks for loaning me your car!It really helped. What do I owe you?”

“Nothing,” Harold said.“Maybe a tank of gas?”

“I filled her up just a fewminutes ago.”

“Then we’re even!” Harolddeclared.

“Great.” Noah realized withsome discomfort that he would rather be indebted to Harold, sinceit might result in more excuses to interact.

“You workingtonight?”

“Yeah!” The text messagehad come during his visit with Ryan, Noah strategically ignoringit. He showed the name and address to Harold, whoscowled.

“No fucking way!” hesnarled.

“Whatever it is this time,”Noah said, “I’m sure I can handle it.”

“Okay, tough guy,” Haroldreplied. “Do you like fisting? Wait, let me rephrase that. Do youlikegettingfisted?”

“No!” Noah exclaimed. “Areyou serious? Do I really have to—”

Harold was already shaking his head. “Comeon. I’ll fix this.”

Yay!

Noah did his best not to act thrilled asthey went inside. “I’m a top,” he said. “Guess I should havementioned that sooner. Do I really have to do things likethis?”

“You should be a littleversatile,” Harold said, leading him to the kitchen. “That’s justrealistic. Some guys will want to get fucked by you, others willwant to fuck you, but things like fisting… That’s different! Aspecialty. We already have escorts who are into that. Is there anyreason Marcello would think you’re one of them?”

“Nope,” Noah said. “He’sprobably out to get me.”

“Huh? Why?”

Noah exhaled. “The whole secret past thing,which no, I’m still not going to tell you about.”