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

That was a lame excuse. Genie couldn’t believe it. What a jerk.


“Come on. Make the announcement. You still can. Don’t you want to?” Steve sounded desperate. “I just didn’t get around to it. I’ll do it tonight.”


“No,” Josh said it without looking up.


“Oh, come on. I’ll do it right now.”


“I don’t care what you do.” Josh’s head rose, eyes downturned.


Genie exchanged a worried look with Mike.


“Can we talk about this alone?” Steve asked.


Genie resented the aggravated expression Steve gave her.


Josh looked up at him, squarely in the eye. “You won’t like what I have to say.”


Steve’s usual buoyant bearing sunk. His face turned to stone, and he stormed out of the room. 41


Josh woke and stretched. The bed was empty. He was alone and wasn’t sure why. Then everything came back to him. He closed his eyes in hope to sleep again. It didn’t work. There was no return nor escape.


Chapter 70