A Token Of Time by Ethan Day

Author:Ethan Day [Day, Ethan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: MLR Press,LLC
Published: 2012-04-22T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Hollywood Hills

Los Angeles, California

August 15th, 1959

Zachary’s mouth fell open as Marc steered the Porsche up the slight incline of the private drive to Victor Ballentine’s estate. There were several vehicles lined up ahead of them as they came to a stop, waiting for people to get out of their cars and head inside the mansion. He’d been nervous about coming along as Marc’s guest to a fancy Hollywood party. He wouldn’t have been comfortable with this type of thing in 2008, but for some reason the prospect was more terrifying in 1959.

The fact they were meant to stay over the entire weekend had him more on edge, complicated by a nagging sensation that something was off. Zachary assumed it was merely his fear of doing or saying the wrong thing, so he’d decided to only speak when spoken to. Sitting in the car, waiting as it slowly crept up the drive, he acknowledged a good part of his dread stemmed from the realization this party would be another reminder that he was an interloper—he didn’t belong here. Something he only experienced whenever they left Crescent Moon Bay.

Other than Marc leaving last week to meet up with a director he’d worked with a couple of times, they’d been holed up having a lot of sex and pretty much ignoring life existed outside the walls of Marc’s house. Zachary had done his level best to entice Marc into skipping this party, but apparently Victor had lined up a few people he wanted Marc to meet so they could discuss some movie Victor was trying to get made.

When Zachary asked if he could stay behind, Marc wouldn’t hear of it.

“I’m not going without you, and I have to go,” Marc said matter-of-factly. “That leaves one other option.”

It was overwhelming for Zachary. They were wearing tuxedos, for crying out loud, and they weren’t rented. It was yet another surreal moment, and he hadn’t been thrilled Marc was once again spending money on him.

It had caused a minor argument as Zachary mentioned that he needed to find some sort of job—breaking up what had otherwise been two weeks of blissfully vigorous sex.

Marc had jumped down his throat like he was being ungrateful. He’d immediately softened seeing the look on Zachary’s face.

“I’m sorry, Zac.” Marc shook his head and took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, but I don’t mind buying you things.”

“I don’t enjoy always taking from you.” Zachary placed his hands on his hips. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but—”

“Damn it, Zachary. You’ve given me so much.” Marc stopped working on his bowtie and turned to face him. “There’s a hell of a lot more to life than money.”

“I don’t understand what the big deal is, Marc?” Zachary shrugged. “I’m not useless, you know. I can do things.”

Marc smiled and Zachary could tell the man was thinking about something illicit. “Is that what it is? You feel like you aren’t contributing?”

Zachary sighed, crossing his arms in an attempt to stifle his fidgeting.

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