Free Trouble Triangle (Tyler's Trouble Trilogy) by Travis Casey Page B

toward the dresser where the Coors sat in its self-proclaimed 'Keep ' em Cold Twelve Pack' box.
    "No thanks. I want to be sober for this."
    "Oh, I see. Hope you don't mind if I have a few." I held my hand out flat and gave an exaggerated nervous shake. "Might just help steady the nerves."
    "You're nervous? Thank God." She wiped pretend sweat from  her forehead. "I thought it was just me."
    "Yeah, I am a little. Why don't we sit down and talk for a while. I'd like to know a little more about what's going on."
    Debbie went to the bathroom and got herself a glass of water. She returned to the room and we sat on the chairs by the table. She took a sip. I downed a mouthful of Coors. We both lit a cigarette. I looked at her while she looked at the floor.
    "So, Debbie, you're not sure if you're gay or not," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "What happened to the people who say you're born that way and can't help it?"
    She looked up at me. "I really do think some people are that way. I thought I was, maybe still am. I don't know. Holly came onto me. I won't go into all the details, but she—"
    "No, please." I touched her hand. "Go into all the details you want. I want to hear everything. I can handle it." I smiled.
    "You're such a perv . Have you ever thought about two women doing it?"
    "Of course."
    "Good. I don't want to disappoint you with reality, so let's just leave it in your mind." Her face remained solemn.  "Anyway, Holly made the first move and it was the best sex I ever had. Probably the thrill of something new. I can't tell you how flattered I was that a woman as good-looking as her came onto me." She pointed to herself. "I was in awe of her beauty, and she wanted me."  She took a deep breath and sipped her water. "Anyway," she continued, "I figured, we were drunk, and it was a one time thing. But she kept coming 'round to my room or inviting me over to her place, and we always had amazing sex. It felt like we were a proper couple. I fell in love and told her one night. That freaked her out. She started calling me a lesbo , and…well, let's just say she got really nasty. She never spoke to me again."
    "So why'd you think Holly played the game?"
    She shrugged. "Don't know. Maybe because I kept telling her how lucky I felt and how beautiful she was. She's got a really big ego that needs regular stroking, but I'm sure you already figured that out. I think for her, it was a drunken encounter, then experimental, and then being flattered. I really did idolize her, and she knew it. If she snapped her fingers, I jumped. No doubt she liked the power."
    "Wow. I always figured she could be a bit mean, but that's below the belt calling you names and everything." I took another drink and noticed Debbie staring down at the carpet in what looked like a visit to the past. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that."
    "I know how you meant it. No worries. Anyway, we were together for four months, so I figured that was what I was. I had a few other girlfriends after that. I thought me and Lisa were solid. She turned out to be a lying, cheating bitch, and I started thinking again about what it would be like to be in a relationship where I didn't have to sneak around, keep it hidden and not be able to tell anyone." She wiped away a tear. "Tyler, I don't know if I'm gay or not. I thought you'd be a good way to find out. You strike me as a guy who can turn off his emotions. I don't want a stalker if I turn out to be any good at this hetero stuff."
    I took her hand that was resting on the table. "Debbie, I might be doing myself out of free sex here, but you don't need to do this. I don't think you're gay."
    "You're sweet, Tyler. Sometimes an asshole, but a sweet, caring asshole. I've primed myself for the last week for this moment, and I want to do it. I need to know, once and for all. I need to know how I feel when…well, you know."
    "So, are you going to judge your entire life on one fuck?"
    "No, but it's a start." She put her finger on her