Garner working as a waiter at an upscale restaurant with a growing attraction to a man named Alonzo, who always asks to be put in his section for dinner. One night after work, the man is assaulted while trailing Garner. Garner goes to his aid, but is shot for his trouble.<br><br>Taking time off from work to recover, Garner is resting on a park bench when Alonzo suddenly appears at the other end of the bench. Garner never saw him approach. He asks why Alonzo is trailing him.<br><br>After some hesitation, Alonzo explains he wants to recruit Garner to help fight against others who systematically hunt people like himself. Garner isn’t inclined to get involved in anything dangerous, but he does finds Alonzo more and more attractive, so he agrees to consider the idea. As he learns more about Alonzo’s bizarre and dangerous subculture, what Garner really wants to know is whether Alonzo is romantically interested in him at all.

Call to Love

“It sounds prideful, I suppose, to say that.”


Her eyes twinkled. “It is—or was.”


“Yes. I suppose it really is the only kind to have. I mean, that or a friendship relationship. That’s nice, too. I have seen that in many people I’ve known—husbands and wives who are just good friends, without the romance, I mean.” She chuckled and leaned forward. “But personally, I prefer the other, even when it comes with the complications that are inevitable with a great love.”


“Complications? They’re inevitable?”


His aunt smiled. “Oh, yes. They’re part of the passion, with reallove, I mean.”


“Oh.” Garner tried to imagine Uncle Don and Aunt Jenny in love—and then became uncomfortable. He realized that he couldsee it.


Chapter 77