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His what?

He saw their footprints next to Brandy, where they had stood apart and come together.

The kiss. No…twokisses.

He felt flush. Heat rose from his groin up to his pounding head. He turned and saw that there

was a note attached to the front door. He removed it and went back inside.

Leaning against the closed door, unable to wait a moment longer, he unfolded the paper and

began reading.

Alec,

I thought you might need some sleep this morning, so I put the decoy on your roof and some

pie pans in the tree. Maybe that will keep your friend away. Sorry I was out of line last night. Idrank too much. Sometimes I get lonely. If you need anything else my contact info is below.

Tyler

Below his name, he had left a phone number and an e-mail address. Alec folded the paper and

closed his eyes.

Sometimes I get lonely.

That was the line that stuck with him the most. There were so many ways to read it:I'm sad...

I'm horny… I like you… thanks for the distraction.

You're over-analyzing, Demarco chided in his head.

Demarco.

He opened his laptop and booted Skype. Demarco answered on the second ring.

"So, how's things up on Brokeback Mountain?"

"Beulah Mountain." Alec corrected. "And things are…interesting."

Demarco's eyes brightened. "Do tell."

Alec recounted what had happened the previous night, starting with the talent show. Demarco

listened patiently, peppering Alec's narrative with fewer than usual witticisms. When Alec concluded with Tyler's second kiss, Demarco sighed audibly with one long, drawn-out word:

"Hot."

"Yeah. What I remember of it."

"This guy likes you, Alec."

"Well, I thought so. Then I get this cryptic message on my door this morning."

"Does he ever sleep?"

"I'm not sure."