Free Riding Tall by Kate Sherwood

I was going to count. We’re at twelve now….”
    “Oh, come on!”
    “Fourteen.” It was kind of fun. “Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen—”
    But it was pretty hard to keep talking with Anton’s tongue in his mouth. Not something Mackenzie had ever wanted, but he’d made the deal and he’d do it right. He wasn’t kissing Anton, he told himself. He was kissing his old life, all the good times and the bad times and the friends who had faded away when he’d moved, the bright lights and crazy nights. He was kissing it all good-bye, and he’d leave the life with the same enthusiasm with which he’d lived it. So he grabbed Anton’s ass and pulled him in tighter, brought a hand up to muss his hair, and kissed his old life for all he was worth. Then he pulled away, ignoring Anton’s clinging hands. “Sixty,” he said, and he smiled. “I’m out of here.”
    “I’m coming with you,” Anton avowed.
    Mackenzie didn’t object. He just headed for the door. The cool air helped him clear his head, at least a little, and he took a moment to orient himself before starting down the sidewalk toward the nearest subway stop.
    He didn’t even realize Anton was beside him until the man said, “Kristen’s busy, right? You want to come to my place?”
    If Anton had only been offering his sofa, it would have been an easy answer. But things were never that simple, and Mackenzie really didn’t want to fight off unwanted advances or deal with a guilt trip. Besides, Anton was from the old life, and Mackenzie had moved on. “No, I’m all set. Thanks, though.”
    “Your loss,” Anton said. “I’m getting a cab—you want me to drop you somewhere?”
    “No, I’m okay.” Mackenzie stopped walking. “Thanks, though.” He’d known Anton a long time, and they’d been through a lot together. “For everything.”
    Anton shrugged, “It was just a cab ride,” he said with a bemused smile. Then he stepped to the curb and raised his arm, his gaze on an upcoming taxi with a lighted roof sign. When the car stopped, Anton opened the door and looked back at Mackenzie. “You sure?”
    “Yeah,” Mackenzie answered. It was true. He was on the right path, and he had no doubts about it. “Take care of yourself, okay?”
    Anton either didn’t hear him or didn’t think an answer was needed. He just climbed into the cab and waved as it pulled away.
    Mackenzie was left alone on the busy sidewalk, and he stood for a moment and looked around. He’d be back. This was still the gay village, still his home turf. But maybe the next time he was there he’d check out one of the finer restaurants, or go to a bookstore or something. Hell, maybe he’d go to a sex shop, but he’d be buying something to bring home to Joe.
    That thought was enough to keep him warm as he hurried toward the subway station. Joe might not be too wild socially, but he was completely comfortable with himself, and with Mackenzie, in the bedroom. Or wherever they happened to be. Yeah, they could have some fun with toys. And it would be a novelty for Mackenzie to get to pick them according to his own tastes instead of having to go along with whatever his partner wanted.
    He was moving in the right direction. He could feel it. Things were changing, but that was okay. It was good. Things needed to change. Mackenzie had a brand-new life, a life with Joe, and a family, and, inexplicably, a farm and an old church being slowly converted to a gay wedding chapel. It wasn’t where he’d expected to be, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. Not even if he had to spend the night sleeping in his parked car.

Chapter 7

     
    J OE TRIED to get comfortable in the old leather armchair. He hardly ever sat in the living room and hadn’t really figured out which seat fit him best. Jasper was lying by the fire, as he always seemed to be, and he was staring at Joe like he was an alien invader. The little dog was a bit odd. Joe squirmed a little, then jarred his side and sucked in a