Chapter 28

As the bartender made his way toward us, Ephram suddenly froze, turning to barely whisper to me, “We can’t drink anything.”

“We can,” I replied quietly. “Water, wine, you can even tolerate beer since you’re so young. So name your poison. I’m buying.”

“You don’t have to.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “You’re suddenly rich?”

“Well…no.”

“Then it’s my treat. Beer?”

“Yes, please.”

I placed our order and soon he had a beer and I had a decent red wine.

“You don’t mind being here do you?” Ephram said.

It took a moment to figure out why he’d asked. Then I chuckled. “I’ve lived in the city for a long time. If being around gay men bothered me I’d be up the creek, wouldn’t I?”

“Yeah. I guess I should have figured that since you let me stay at your place.”

“Yep.”

We sat quietly for a while just sipping our drinks, since it really was too noisy to hold much of a conversation. Then a man about Ephram’s age came over. He smiled at Ephram, asking if he wanted to dance.