Page 53 of True

"Yeah... so?"

Tyler had slipped into the monosyllabic vernacular of defense. Alec had caught a brief glimpse

of vulnerability, and now the large man before him was impenetrable.

"I… well, uh…. I… " Alec stammered.

"Spit it out. No big deal."

Alec sighed. "This is the strangest place I have ever been. And I live in DC!"

"What's so strange about it?"

"I don't know. But it is."

"Do you have a problem with Brett being a guy?" Tyler asked, probing.

"No. Not. At. All…" he said, with faux exasperation. "I'm gay too, Tyler."

"Yeah, I picked up on that." He swigged from his Corona.

"Well, I didn't get it from you…at all. My friend, Demarco, on the other hand, picked up on itlong-distance."

"Look, just because we're a small town in the mountains… we're still people like anyone else, Alec. Humans, not savages."

"Whoa whoa, whoa..." Alec said, raising his hands. "That's not what I was saying… and if I sound aloof or judgmental—"

"You do."

Alec froze at Tyler's interruption. He waited for more and then his lips slowly curled into a

smile. "You're right. I'm sorry. I have a habit of putting my foot in my mouth—unfortunately, my best friend is not here to help me remove it."

Tyler looked at him, amused. "I accept your apology… I think."

"Can we start over? Please. I'm just not accustomed to being rescued by gay cowboys… on

horses… on mountains… in snowstorms… in the middle of the night."

"I'm not a cowboy… but I do like horses."

"And these people love you. Everyone I've met so far."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all. I just… I didn't think small towns were like that."

"It's not just a small town, Alec. It's anisolatedtown. Most of the people here have always been here. We've known each other our whole lives."

Tyler's brusqueness had waned, his expression softening.

"I am sorry, Tyler. Honestly. I like it here. I do. And I'm happy that we havethisin common…

as well as music. It's just I'm from the city and… well, I'm an idiot. Pleased to meet you."

Alec extended his hand.

Tyler eyed him mock-suspiciously, his expression part smile, part scowl—deep brown eyes