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bare frame. Alec brought a tray to the coffee table for both of them. Neither spoke for several minutes

—both adding cream to their coffee—Alec intending Mac to speak first.

When he did, his voice was hoarse from alcohol and a lack of sleep.

"Thanks, for this," raising his coffee cup.

"You looked like you could use some sustenance. I assume you skipped dinner."

"Yeah."

Alec nodded, suspicions confirmed.

"Alec," Mac began, eyes red and weary. "I'm sorry. I'm not exactly sure what else to say."

"There's not a lot to say."

"He's young, so green—"

"Don't."

"What?"

"No more Great Gay Mentor excuses. It's ridiculous and tired. You used it with the last one."

Mac's face went flush with embarrassment and guilt. When he began to speak again, Alec cut

him off with a hand. "I accept your apology. You did owe me that and I will take it if it makes you feel better."

Mac looked at him, hopeful, his rugged face lined and dark with two-day stubble surrounding

his beard. His boyishness was still in there, somewhere, but altered through years of hard living. He was only two years Alec's senior but in the morning light looked almost old enough to be his father.

He was still a handsome man though, devastatingly so… and the smile he gave right then wasalmostenough to make Alec forget everything he'd ever been through with him.

But not quite.

"It's the last thing I want from you," Alec said.

Mac's face froze in mid-smile, then seemed to crack and splinter in confusion. "What do you

mean?"

Alec set his coffee mug on the table. "I mean it's over, Mac. I love you, probably more than I should. But I'm notin lovewith you anymore. I need some space."

"I don't understand."

"Don't make this difficult. We've been through this… what, three times now? I can't take it

anymore. And I'm not going to."

"But it's not always been bad."

"Three years, Mac," Alec said, rising with the tray and taking it to the kitchen. "May have been great for you. Me… not so much."

"What if I promise? No more. I'll get a different job. No more bars."

"Working at a bar is not the problem. You can't change the pattern, Mac. Your eyes are going to drift wherever you are. And what else are you qualified to do anyway?"