Was Matt the only one who remembered this?
“Matthew,” Jordan said, in that same needy little-boyvoice Matt recognized from his past. “I just want to see youagain—”
“No,” Matt repeated, stronger now. “Hell no. Do me afavor, Jordan, will you? Hang up and don’t fucking bother meagain.”
“But—”
Matt laughed, a high, scary sound that bordered onmadness, but this call was the breaking point to an alreadyhellacious day. “I’m with someone now,” he told Jordan. “Happilyever after and all that. I’m not interested in you. I neverwas.”
For a moment, silence spanned the distance betweenthem. Matt cleared his throat, ready to say his goodbyes and hangup, then call Roxie and ream her out about letting Jordan through,when his former classmate spoke. His words were soft, almost awhisper, as if he wanted to keep this between just the two of them.“It’s the guy from the store, right?” he asked. An image of the7-11’s surveillance camera photos snapped in Matt’s mind, Vic onhis back on the floor, the gun leveled at his chest. “How’s thatwork, Matthew? Different powers for different people, or what? Youfuck him long enough, he becomes invincible?”
Into the phone, Matt hissed, “Shut up. Just shut up,Jordan.”
“Shit,” Jordan drawled, a streak of nastiness in hisvoice, “I’d stay with you too just to have that power. I’deven fake the happily ever after bit, if fucking you made meSuperman. Don’t tell me you believe him when he says he loves you.You’re smarter than that.”
A red haze dropped before Matt’s eyes, an anger thatclouded his mind and forced him to slam the phone down todisconnect the call. “Fuck you,” he spat at the receiver. Then heswept a hand across his desk, knocking papers, pens, the phone,everything to the floor. The phone hit the ground with a metallicclunk! Seconds later, a steady beeping sound rose from thereceiver, distant, discordant.
The start of a livid migraine tugged at Matt’stemples. He squeezed his eyes shut, surprised they burned. Wherethe hell did Jordan get off questioning his relationship with Vic?That man loved him, and it wasn’t for the powers or the sex,or whatever else Jordan might have insinuated. Vic lovedhim, he said it often enough. Him.
And fuck Jordan for even thinkingotherwise.
* * * *
Chapter 11
At the end of another long day, Vic came home to asilence that worried him. Nearing the apartment, he reached out forMatt’s mind, only to find a solid wall blocking him out. Like acheating lover with a guilty conscience, Vic thought back over thework day, searching for something he might have done that couldhave pissed Matt off. Nothing came to mind. Well, okay, at lunchhe’d lifted the rear bumper of a small automobile so a little girlcould retrieve her ball. But as far as he knew, that wouldn’t makethe news. Sure, he’d impressed a group of young children, but therehadn’t been any adults around, and in all honesty, who’d believe abunch of kids?
Trudging upstairs to their apartment, Vic tried againto connect with Matt. ::Hey sexy,:: his usual opener,was met with stony silence. So he tried a low, menacing growl,::Matty.::
The reply was a terse, ::Get in here.::
“I’m not up for this tonight,” Vic muttered into theempty hall. He approached their door with dragging steps, like acondemned man. Was this still about the house fire? He thoughtthey’d worked that out.
Inside the apartment, the only light was a faint glowthat spilled out into the hall from the bedroom. By the door, Vickicked off his work boots, then padded toward the light. At thedoorway, he peeked into the room, cautious. With Matt not openingto him, he had no way of seeing the bedroom before he entered, andhe had no idea what awaited him.
On the bed, Matt sat propped up against the pillows,legs hidden beneath the heavy covers, arms crossed before hischest. From the way his thin muscles bulged, Vic knew Matt’s handswere clenched into fists. A look of pure turmoil consumed hislover’s face, anger and disbelief and anguish marring his handsomefeatures. His black curls stood up from his temples as if he’d runhis hands through them one too many times. When he saw Vic in thedoorway, sad pain flashed in his deep green eyes. It was all Viccould do not to rush in there, gather him in his arms, and nursethat sadness away.
Instead, he entered the bedroom with slow, measuredsteps. “Matty?” he asked, tentative. “Are you all right?”
Matt didn’t answer. Stepping over to the dresser, Vicbegan to empty his pockets of coins, keys, wallet, beeper, whateverhad drifted into them during the day. He deposited it all on thedresser, his gaze never leaving Matt. Just when he was about to askagain, Matt choked out the words, “Do you love me?”
Vic’s reply was automatic. “Of course I do. Youknow I do.”
“Why?”
Where was this coming from? He pressed his mindagainst Matt’s but his lover was still closed tight within himself.“What’s this all about?” Vic wanted to know. “Why what? Why do Ilove you?”
Raising one hand to wipe at his mouth, Matt nodded.His eyes looked like twin round stones set in his face, darkened bytears that threatened to fall. Vic had no idea what might havecaused his lover to question his fidelity but, God, once he foundout, he’d make sure it never happened again. With deliberatemovements, he unbuttoned his work shirt and thought through what tosay. “Well,” he said, slowly, “and don’t take this the wrong way,but when we first met, I didn’t know you at all but, God, I wantedto. I thought you were hot, standing there dripping wet from thepool, wearing those tight-ass Speedos. I liked your hair, the colorof it, the thickness, the curls. I liked your feet—you know I havea thing for feet.”
Matt nodded, eyes wide, prompting Vic to continue. Helet his work shirt fall to the floor and began unbuckling hispants. “I liked…I don’t know, I liked everything I saw about you. Ithought you were the finest guy I’d ever seen. I still do.”
Unhurried, with the lack of embarrassment found inseasoned lovers, Vic stepped out of his pants, leaving them in apile on the floor. He shucked off his undershirt, baring
