Free Duet in Blood by J. P. Bowie Page B

run,
    though. Keeps me in shape.”
    “I should join you,” I said.
    He took my arm. “Come on back. I’ve got a pot of coffee—and a lot of questions!”
    Feeling his arm around my shoulders as he steered me towards his office made me
    realise how much I had missed the easy camaraderie that had existed between us. Before Robert, Ron and I had clubbed together, gone on vacation together and met for coffee or lunch on a pretty regular basis. We had gotten to know one another’s little faults and foibles—when to tease, when to back off. We’d even slept together, once or twice. And even though it had been nice, we’d decided we’d rather be good friends, without the sex getting in the way.
    “So,” Ron said, as we sat at his desk in the tiny office behind the kitchen. “Tell me everything.”
    I laughed. “Everything? I don’t want you falling asleep in front of me.”
    “There’s lots of coffee,” he said, chuckling and pouring us both a cup. “I’m sorry to hear about you and Robert.”
    I sighed, but figured I’d better get that story out of the way as quickly as possible. He sat opposite me, his face clouded with compassion as I began to narrate my ‘tale of woe’.
    DUET IN BLOOD
    J.P. Bowie
    56
     
    Suddenly, as I droned on with the same tired old story, I heard a voice inside my head say,
    “Oh, for Pete’s sake, snap out of it!” As if I’d been slapped, I stopped mid-sentence and gaped at Ron. What had just happened? Had Cher walked into the room?
    “What’s wrong?” He stared at me, half rising to his feet. “Micah, are you all right?”
    “Yeah, yeah…I’m fine. But I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
    “I’m sorry.” Ron got up and walked round to where I sat. He rubbed my shoulders
    with strong, comforting hands. “I should have known it’s still rough to talk about it.”
    “No, it’s not that,” I said, looking up at him. “I think I’m finally over the whole sorry, pathetic episode. Robert called me the other night, wanted me to go out with him to the theatre. At any other time, I would have leaped at the chance, but I’d met this guy—this really great guy—the night before, and I found that I really didn’t want to ruin the opportunity to see him again. So I told Robert no, I couldn’t go out with him. Then he called me again, just before I came over here, as a matter of fact. Wanted to buy me a beer, and talk.”
    “He’s persistent, at least,” Ron said, chuckling.
    “But he’s too late. I never thought I’d ever say this, but I don’t want to hear from him ever again. And now, hearing myself start to tell you this…this crap all over again, it’s like I’m just over it.” I smiled up at him. “And boy, does it feel good!”
    Ron grinned at me and patted my shoulders. “Was that what they call an epiphany?”
     
    “Something like that, I guess.” I sipped at my coffee. “Mmm, good stuff.” I looked at Ron as he sat on the edge of his desk near me. “Tell me about you. Who’re you dating?”
    His expression became one of complete satisfaction, and he smiled happily as he told me. “His name is Jean-Claude. We met six months ago last night—not that I’m counting, of course. And Micah, I have to tell you I am totally in love with him. It’s like I’ve been waiting for him all my life.”
    “Wow,” I breathed, impressed. “I thought you looked different when I first saw you. If that’s what love does, I say, bring it on.”
    “What about the guy you’re seeing?”
    DUET IN BLOOD
    J.P. Bowie
    57
     
    “He’s terrific, and I’m in love with him already. But I don’t want this to be a rebound thing. Joseph’s very special, a real class act, and I don’t want to mess it up.” I winked at him.
    “So when do I get to meet Jean-Claude?”
    “Uh…well, he’ll be here later tonight.”
    “Joseph’s coming over to my apartment later,” I said. “Maybe lunch this week?”
    “He’s pretty busy in the daytime.”
    I got