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

“Then he did a cannonball and landed right next to me when I was swimming.” Josh gave Steve dagger eyes.


“Sounds familiar.” His father’s words stung from the look on Steve’s face.


Adding salt to the wound, Josh glared. “I swallowed some water and choked. I would have drowned if he hadn’t pulled me out.” Steve saved him, so Josh gave credit where due.


“If he’d acted more responsible in the first place, he wouldn’t need to pull you out.”


Steve slapped his hand on the table with a whack.


“Then I was coughing for a while. Then the police came.” He told it just like it was.


“You left out a couple details, but that’s close enough. Steve, what happened to the last one? What was his name, Chris?”


“Yeah. Chris. I got a new one.” Steve said this a little too casual, from Josh’s point of view.


Chapter 36