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

He didn’t reply and needn’t interrupt Steve’s conversation, because Steve carried it on with himself. Then the doorbell rang. It gave Josh reservations, but one should answer, he supposed. When the door opened, Steve sat on the dirt bike.


“Can I park it next to yours?” he asked. “Want to go for a ride?”


Though the heat wave abated that day, it was still warm. Steve wore shorts and T-shirt, no helmet. How he survived all those childhood years was beyond Josh’s understanding. Maybe Steve had hit his head. That explained a lot. He still acted like a kid sometimes, but Steve wasn’t a child. On the contrary, he was a full-grown man and in exceptional shape.


While appraising the curves in Steve’s shirt, the delight in Josh’s own chest swelled and almost escaped before he reined it back. “I have to get ready for work.”


“Okay, I brought breakfast, those burritos you like.” Steve lifted a white paper bag.


“Oh! Come in.” There was nothing to start the day like a warm breakfast burrito.


Chapter 35