Talker

was safe. He had thanked
    his friend at work for helping him out—and when Ray asked how
    his boyfriend was doing, he answered, “Better. But I’m still worried.”
    When a girl overheard the conversation and said, “Aww, man—it
    figures,” and rolled her eyes, he’d managed to grin at her, like he’d
    known he was gay his whole life.
    G iven all that, it was very easy—far easier than he ever would
    have imagined, that painful afternoon spent with his ex-girlfriend—
    to close the space between him and his dream boy and kiss him
    softly, then touch foreheads with him, there in the open green in
    front of the school health building.
    “I promised,” he said seriously. “Now come on, Talker. I love
    you. Let’s go live up to your name.”
    They had made love almost every night—but Tate was still
    self-conscious, and Brian stil had to gentle him into being touched
    and looked at.
    What were you going to do, Talker? Pierce it? Tattoo it? It’s
    yours. I love it. Let me touch it.
    Your body is so beautiful, Brian. Don’t tel me you don’t see
    the difference.
    The difference is you’re my dream boy. If I was my own dream
    boy, I’d be an idiot. And probably real y boring. Now here… (kiss,
    lick, suck) doesn’t that feel good?
    Ahhhh… do… no… oh G od, don’t stop….
    Brian wanted so badly for Talker to believe he deserved love,
    right down to the most elemental form of it: touch. He looked
    anxiously at Tate, studying that masked face and the transparent
    heart beneath it, hoping to see cooperation.
    Talker | Amy Lane
    91

    Talker nodded, final y, and Brian sighed in relief. C lutching
    hands tight enough to turn Brian’s fingers blue, they turned toward
    the counseling office.
    “Brian?” Talker asked as they got to the door. “You’l sit on my
    right, okay?”
    Brian’s heart bled, and he closed his eyes and had a little faith
    that this would help the two of them make the bandages they
    needed.
    “Always, Talker. I promise.” It was apparently the right answer.
    Their hands clenched in faith, they walked toward a future together.

    About the Author

    AMY LANE teaches high school E nglish, mothers four children, and
    writes the occasional book. When she’s not begging students to sit-
    the-hell-down or taxi ng kids to soccer/dance/karate—oh my! she
    can be found catching emergency naps, grocery shopping, or
    hiding in the bathroom, trying to read without interruption. She wil
    never be found cooking, cleaning, or doing domestic chores, but
    she has been known to knit up an emergency hat/blanket/pair of
    socks for any occasion whatsoever or sometimes for no reason at
    al . She writes in the shower, while commuting, while her classes
    are doing bookwork, or while she’s wandering the neighborhood at
    night pretending to exercise and has learned from necessity to type
    like the wind. She lives in a spider-infested and crumbling house in
    a shoddy suburb and counts on her beloved mate, Mack, to keep
    her tethered to reality—which he does while keeping her cel phone
    charged as a bonus. She’s been married for twenty plus years and
    stil believes in Twu Wuv, with a capital Twu and a capital Wuv, and
    she doesn’t see any reason at al for that to change.

    Visit Amy’s web site at http://www.greenshil .com. You can e-mail
    her at amylane@ greenshil .com.

    Also by AMY LANE

    http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

    Also from D RE AMSPINNE R PRE SS

    http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

    Copyright
    Talker ©Copyright Amy Lane, 2010
    Published by
    Dreamspinner Press
    4760 Preston Road
    Suite 244-149
    Frisco, TX 75034
    http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
    Cover Art by Reese Dante http://www.reesedante.com
    This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034