Chapter 62

This is one of the reasons I didn’t want to have lunch at her place; I knew perfectly well she would eventually pester us with questions. It’s true girls are strangely curious about their gay friends’ emotional and sexual lives. Charlie is living proof of it.

Fortunately Sean, who is much better than I am at conversing, answers her by talking about the tattoo parlor and how much he likes living in America, as well as how much he misses Ireland. Hearing the word “Ireland,” Charlie lights up and I send a look to Frank, who sighs, resigned: he’ll have to take his wife to the Emerald isle sooner or later and he knows it.

I indulge in the tranquility of being, for the first time, relegated to the role of Sean’s partner and not Charlie’s ex-boyfriend/best friend. I like remaining distant and not having to answer any questions, but then Charlie shuts up and this makes me look up at her. She wears a strange and thoughtful expression.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, sipping my glass of wine.