Josh, a lonely trapeze artist, thinks he’s cursed. It’s an old family superstition. He can’t have sex on a day he flies or he’ll fall. Maybe that’s why he’s never had a steady boyfriend, though sometimes he dreams of one. In his show, a strange melody plays in the background. It follows him and surfaces from time to time on the street. When Josh’s uncle hears about the music, he tells his nephew to bring the old ring, passed down from generations since the time of the curse. Steve is a realtor who always reaches his goals, in sales or otherwise, and he moonlights as a dancer in an all-male review on The Strip. All his friends his age are married, and his best friend’s wife Genie wants to see him hitched, too. He’s a little bit challenged in the relationship department, though. He has some growing up to do, or maybe it’s his problem in bed, where he’s somewhat one-sided. Steve and Josh meet one crazy night when Josh breaks all the rules used to protect him from the curse. After that, he runs. If it wasn’t for Genie’s matchmaking, Josh and Steve might never see each other again. Though not yet ready for a boyfriend, Josh does need a realtor. What a good way for he and Steve to get to know each other, while Josh works up the courage to tell Steve about the curse. Still unaware of Josh’s problem, Steve falls in love with him. When Steve finds out about the curse thing, it’s a big disappointment, but he wants Josh anyway. There’s no doubt Josh is worth the wait. Maybe the curse isn’t real after all. Can lonely Josh overcome his fear of it? Can horndog Steve handle a curse? Is the answer in the ancient ring?

The Curse of Flight

“They must have,” the old man said. “I’m sure they talked about it at one time or another.”


“If they did, it wasn’t to me.” Josh twirled a strand. “And they didn’t explain what it meant.” His hands dropped to his lap. “Not my father or my mother nor you until now, no one did.”


The old man squirmed. “Maybe we thought it was different for you. It didn’t apply. I was wrong. I’m sorry. Now you know. You must wear the ring.”


“I can’t find it.” He’d discussed it just a minute ago with his uncle. The ring was lost. How was he supposed to wear it? Even if he had it, why should he?


“It was your great-great-grandfather, the first of the flying Dalenzos, who called the curse on us during the time in Egypt. He took advantage of a girl in love. Her mother was a witch and cast the spell.”


This caught Josh’s attention. He leaned in and listened. The old man coughed and choked. His crooked finger waved in the air.


Chapter 9