Just Like Honey by Ajax Bell

Author:Ajax Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 20th Century, Seattle series, lgbt contemporary fiction, self discovery, gay literary, queer literature, Coming of Age, Gay Romance, bisexual romance, queer romance, lgbt romance, bisexual characters
ISBN: 9781939423276
Publisher: Jugum Press
Published: 2017-12-15T08:00:00+00:00

23.

A course for happiness

JOHN AND STEVEN’S NEW house, a mid-century modern masterpiece, had the graceful curves of 1940s architecture of the first post-WWII houses built right on Lake Washington. The dining room had an unimpeded view of the water and Mount Rainier—on a clear day.

Steven and John laid out a properly celebratory dinner: salmon, fried polenta, a salad more complicated than Ryan saw in most restaurants. Even tiramisu, which John made himself. When Ryan and Steven lived together, Steven had been the best cook in the household. What he and John did together now put Ryan to shame for the few simple meals he ever made for Ben, who was the best cook now, though his work schedule stopped that months ago. As a new homeowner, Ryan resolved to learn to cook to fill the evenings with Ben.

Daydreaming about the impending circumstances all through dinner, Ryan barely followed his friends’ conversation about current events.

“Smiling at gas prices?” Ben whispered in Ryan’s ear. “What’s got you so distracted tonight?”

“Just thinking about the future.”

Under the table, Ben squeezed Ryan’s knee. “Happy about finally signing on the apartment?”

“Happy to have done it with you.”

All week, Ryan struggled not to say anything to Ben. Ben might always have more money than Ryan, so it was up to Ryan to find a way to give Ben something no one else could. Ben gave so much of himself to other people, and in return Ryan wanted to give him time, give him peace. Steven’s job offer would be the best start for Ben to have time and a new place from which to see the world. To make space for himself. And Ryan.

“You guys really think Initiative 667 will pass?” Shane pushed away his plate, settled back in his chair, and rested his hand on Bash’s shoulder. Outside the wide windows behind him, Lake Washington stretched past the short lawn. Twilight nearly gone, lights sparkled up on the far shore in the new dark.

John looked thoughtful. “Seattle has long gone back and forth on gay rights, usually coming out on the proper side. It’s not too far-fetched to think anti-gay discrimination laws can pass in the whole state.”

John sat beneath a sumi-e triptych he’d purchased from Ryan right after Steven moved in with him. Dahlias, cherry blossoms, and rhododendrons. They had a looseness of stroke that no longer appeared in Ryan’s work. He studied them, surprised at how much he’d improved in recent years. He still needed to paint a good likeness of their old house as housewarming gift.

“Have you been to eastern Washington?” Shane’s voice snapped Ryan back to the present. “They aren’t ready to go for it over there. Hell, you only have to get out of King County to see people’s views haven’t change completely.”

John said, “I think most companies would go for it, but they don’t vote. There was another letter in the paper today declaring homos against morality and claiming I–667 was part of the gay agenda we’ve apparently been perpetuating since 1972.

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