Made Man by Evan Gilbert

Author:Evan Gilbert [Gilbert, Evan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Short Stories, Contemporary, Gay, Fiction
ISBN: 9781613725498
Google: kdafpmHo6HAC
Amazon: B008B32LBE
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2012-06-11T12:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

THEYwere both silent as Eli drove down 176 toward the expressway. There were a thousand questions swirling through Eli’s brain, and he was afraid to ask any of them because he wasn’t sure he could handle the answers. Murphy seemed to be freezing; he had his arms wrapped around his chest, hands tucked into his armpits, his knees knocking together to generate warmth. Eli remembered how sensitive Murphy was to the cold, how much he hated winter’s snap. Eli reached down and turned the SUV’s heater up to full blast.

Murphy held his hands out to the vents, letting the hot rush of air warm his skin. “You’re looking good, man,” he said. “How ya been?”

“Fine.”

“Hey, I read your books.”

“Yeah? Which ones?”

“All of them. Some of those crooks you investigated

were into some sick stuff, man.”

“For sure.” Eli could hear how terse and flat his side of

the conversation was, but at the moment, he just couldn’t

invest much of himself in the exchange. If that hurt Murphy’s

little feelings, well, that was just too damn bad.

“I liked reading your stuff. You’re a great writer.” “Thanks.”

“So what brought you back to town? You investigating

something here?”

“No,” Eli said quickly. “I came for the Forest Lake High

Gay and Lesbian Alumni Society’s New Year’s Eve dance.” “Shit. I didn’t even know we had a Gay and Lesbian

Alumni Society.”

“Big surprise there.”

Eli saw the perplexed look Murphy gave him. He

turned his eyes back to the road.

“You pissed about something?” Murphy asked. “No.”

“I think you are, man.”

“I said I’m not mad.”

Murphy stared at Eli, a long, appraising look.

“Something’s changed about you.”

“Yeah. I’m twenty years older than I was the last time

you saw me.”

“You don’t look like you’ve aged all that much. God.

Twenty years. Has it really been that long?”

“Time fucking flies when you’re having fun.”

Murphy paused. “Eli. Why are you so mad?” “I told you before, I’m not angry. But you know what?

You’re pissing me off every time you ask me that question.” Murphy raised his hands as if in surrender. “Okay. I got

it.” He put his head back against the headrest, looking at

Eli. “I thought about you a lot since we graduated. I’ve

missed you.”

“Okay, that’s it!” Eli spun the steering wheel, making a

sharp turn into the parking lot of a Chinese restaurant. After

putting the car into park, he whirled on Murphy. “You are unfucking-believable, man. Don’t youdaresay you’ve missed

me. I didn’t walk out of your life. You dumped my ass like a

bag of garbage.”

“Oh. So that’s what you’re pissed about.”

Eli could feel his face burn as he got even angrier.

“Hell yes, I’m pissed about that! Do you have any idea how I

felt about you back then?I. Loved. You.And I’m not talking

about some teenage crush. I loved you with my whole heart.

I’d have done anything for you, given up anything for you.” “I know that, Eli. It’s one of the things that made me

love you back.”

“Bullshit. That’s bullshit. You never gave a damn about

me.” Eli knew that to be untrue. Even in school, with Murphy

breezing past him in hallways and

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