When former tagger Eric hears a cute fellow student named Joel protesting to a woman that he's gay, Eric comes to his rescue and gives him a big kiss and hug in City College’s hallway.<br><br>Even though sparks fly between them, Eric doesn't expect any reward for saving the guy from being hit on in public, so he's surprised when undercover cop Joel asks him to become his pseudo-boyfriend.<br><br>How bad can it be for a former high school dropout, who's been to juvvie more times than class, to pretend he's a cop's lover?

A Kiss in Time

“You give him a message from me.” The big guy pointed a stubby, calloused finger at my chest. I eyed it and then him. His stance adjusted, lightened, and the finger came down.


“You tell him that Ian said the stuff better be there tonight.”


“Ian who?” I added a frown for effect. “You threatening Joel?”


The guy looked a little scared, but stuck to his attitude.


“You just tell him.” Then he turned quickly and stomped out of the room, almost at a run.


I was tending bar that night at Long Point, an unsubtly named gay bar frequented by older men and women who like to listen to jazz and not club music. One of my favorite tracks was playing with Ahmad Jamal and Dave Brubeck, the classics, when who should walk in but Joel with an older buttoned-down type.


They were both in suits and ties, not uncommon for the Point. The older guy had his hand on Joel’s shoulder and was saying something Joel obviously didn’t agree with.


Chapter 3