Straight

by Seth King

“Was that her? The girl you dated?” I look away. “It was! You acted so…familiar with her!” I take a quick breath to buy some time, then try to steady my voice. “Hey. Come on. I was just talking.” “I’ll say. Why didn’t you introduce me?” “Oh, be real – you know that would’ve been weird. You have to give me time. I don’t know what this is any more than you do.” His face goes slack. “You fucked me. You like guys now. That’s what this is.” “Ty! I thought I was straight a few weeks ago. Look at it from my eyes.” “Well, I have news for you: the other night you were moaning my name.” I look away. “Ty. Stop. Please don’t talk like that.” He turns, grabs his temples, breathes. “Okay. Sorry. This is hard for me, too. I’m falling for someone who could leave me for some chick any day.” “You’re falling for me?” “Isn’t it obvious?” “Well, no. Nothing with you is ever obvious.” “You are like the sun. You are all I see,” he says plainly. I don’t know what to say to that, because it makes me feel like I’m drowning in blue eyes. “Look. I won’t make you choose,” he says soon. “I’m not like that. This is your own journey. But just don’t disrespect me. That’s all I ask.”