Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 39

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Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 39

Nick wanted to scream. But like every other time in his life when he wanted to scream, he just
said, “I’ll be fine. Thanks.”
Eli gave him a thumbs-up and disappeared into the throng of bodies alongside Ernesto.
Nick might have stared after him for a long time, but Jamar nudged Nick in his side, capturing
his attention. “You’ve got a kid? That’s wild.”
“Yeah.” Nick shook his head. “Time sure flies.”
“Should we grab another beer while the boys are shaking their behinds?” He held up his empty
Coors bottle.
Nick’s own drink was still half full, but the bar seemed a safer proposition than the edge of the
dance floor, where he could watch Eli and Ernesto indeed shaking. Ernesto looked bewildered
by Eli’s lack of skill, but he was trying valiantly to keep up with the jerky motions.
“Sure,” Nick said. “Another beer sounds good.”
They ended up in the same spot at the bar Nick had been in before. There were a lot more
people dancing and fewer trying to get served, so the bartender produced their fresh beers in
no time. Jamar asked with great sincerity if Nick really had a picture of his kid to share, and Nick
obliged by showing him the endless reel of Zoe photos on his phone. Jamar exclaimed over each
one. “Looks just like you, man. Check those ears. Those are Wu ears.”
Nick lifted a hand to his own ear. He’d never thought of himself as having super recognizable
ears. “Thanks?” He sipped at his new, colder beer. “How about you? What have you been up to
these days?”
“Besides the obvious?” Jamar handed Nick his phone back with a chuckle. “Ernie and I’ve got a
place in Orlando. He works in hospitality, manages one of the big hotels. After college, I went
into public relations. Sports teams, cartoon characters, museums, you name it, I’ve repped it.”
“Oh.” Nick couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. “I always thought you’d go into politics.”
They’d called Jamar the mayor of PSP, after all. He was the kind of person who could get anyone
on his side, nerds to jocks, band geeks to drama kids.

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Jamar laughed. “First of all, if I’d’ve gone into politics, you would’ve heard about it. And second:
a Black gay man running for office in Florida? They’d get the FBI involved before I could get one
damn lawn sign in the ground.” He shook his head. “No, I decided it was a big enough challenge
to just live a comfortable, quiet life after I came out. So that’s what I’m doing.”
Nick picked at the edge of the wet beer label on his Bud Light. “Yeah, can I ask—? Like, how did
that all happen? Did you always know, even back in high school, or…?”
“Man, back then I was so worried about being everything to everybody that I couldn’t even tell
you who I was. I didn’t matter to myself.” He looked out over the dance floor, the blue and
purple lights highlighting his handsome face. “I was obsessed with making other people happy,
making other people laugh, getting every trophy and blue ribbon and certificate I could so other
people would be proud of me. So nah, I didn’t know in high school.” Jamar lifted his beer in a
salute. “You know, for every gayby who jumps out of the womb knowing all the lyrics to ‘We Are
Family,’ there’s someone like me.”