Free Any Way the Wind Blows by E. Lynn Harris Page B

boy has to keep a little something to himself. I can’t have my best friend trying to go after my man.” I laughed.
    “Be that way. I guess I need to go to Stella’s and see if I can’t find me a dreamboy for the night,” Wylie said.
    “Good night and good luck,” I said. Stella’s was a midtowngay bar where Wylie and I went when we wanted certain one-night-stand sex. I smiled, because after meeting Basil I knew my nights at Stella’s and cruising Mount Morris Park were coming to an end. No more nights of looking for Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now at the piers down in the Village. All the things I hated about being gay could end if I could get Basil to fall in love with me, and I was going to give it everything I had.
    • • •
    I was walking from my kitchen with a bowl of microwave popcorn when my phone rang. I figured it was Wylie trying to talk me into meeting him at Stella’s, so I answered the phone, “I’m not going to go.”
    “Is this Bart?” an unfamiliar male voice asked.
    “This is Bart. Who is this?”
    “This is David. I met you at the Viceroy about a month ago. We went out and had a drink. I’ve called you a couple of times,” David said. I remembered the tall and lanky man who I was certain was packing big beef, but when I grabbed between his legs all I felt was something the size of my thumb. Didn’t he know that’s why I wasn’t returning his calls? Any self-respecting little-dick man knew not to step to me.
    “Yeah, David. I’ve been busy,” I said quickly.
    “I was wondering if I could see you again,” he asked softly.
    “For what?”
    “You seem like an interesting guy,” he said.
    “But you don’t know me. What do you want to see me for?”
    “I thought we had a good time. But I guess …” “Listen, David, I’m sure you’re a real nice guy, but you ain’t packing enough for me to waste a minute of my time. And I’m dating a real man. Have a nice life,” I said as I hung up and put a handful of popcorn in my mouth.

A Cold, Cold Wind
    I almost cut myself shaving when I heard Yancey’s voice sweep through my loft. I was in the bathroom getting ready for work when I heard Doug Banks announce, “This is the fastest-selling song in the country, ‘Any Way the Wind Blows,’ by Yancey B.”
    So old girl had changed her name and career path. The Yancey Braxton I knew wasn’t going to be stopped until her name was listed, large and bright, on the marquee. The song was smooth, but I got nervous when I heard some of the lyrics, “You want him and not me.” I better get a copy of this song quick.
    When the song was over Doug asked Dee-Dee, his co-host, a question.
    “So have you heard what this song is about?” Doug asked Dee-Dee.
    “Yeah, it’s about brothers on the down low.” Dee-Dee laughed.
    “But I wonder who she’s talking about.”
    “I don’t know, but it sounds like ole Yancey B got a score to settle,” she joked.
    “Well, you know she’s going to be here in the studio real soon. Do you think she’ll tell us?”
    “If sister wants to sell some records, then she needs to do more than sing. She better talk.” Dee-Dee giggled.
    I turned the radio off, and tiny beads of sweat started to cover my forehead and neck. Unwanted memories of my last days with Yancey began to flood my mind. I grabbed a towel, wiped my face dry and then rushed to my phone. I dialed the office and then hung up. At first I wanted to know if my assistant, Kendra, who listened to
The Doug Banks Show
religiously, had heard the song, but then decided I’d rather find out when I got to the office. I still had Yancey’s number on my speed dial. When a female voice picked up, I took a deep breath.
    “Windsor, is that you?” I asked.
    “Yes, this is Windsor. Who am I speaking with? Wait, I know this voice. Basil, how are you doing?” She sounded like the same old Windsor, optimistic and concerned about anyone she came in contact with.
    “I’m fine. How are you?”
    “I’m