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

Josh’s performance amazed Steve. Summersaults mid-air timed perfectly to the swinging trapeze. Josh grasped the bar at the last moment. The audience gasped. Steve kept his shirt untucked. 27


The time approached. Josh lay on his bed. Steve sat on a chair nearby, fresh from another cold shower. One of many he’d said. Undressed and prepared, Josh waited. No discussion, too distracted, his mind drifted, but eyes remained fixed on Steve and the old picture beside him.


Lightning flashed behind the curtains that faced the mountain, where storm clouds often grew this time of year, or maybe someone flashed their brights on the street. A distant rumble of thunder rolled by barely audible, or was it his imagination? It could have been a passing car.


Chapter 48