Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 42

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Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 42

The smokers finished up and headed back inside, leaving Nick alone in the night air. His only
company was the regular buzz of cars on the road and the insects singing in the swale next to
the parking lot. He smoked about half the cigarette, trying to think of nothing at all.
The door of the club opened, releasing loud music for a few seconds before it shut again. Eli
came to stand next to him. Nick could tell it was him without even looking. He knew what it felt
like to share a space with him, could tell just by the way the air moved.
“Didn’t know you smoked,” Eli said.
“I don’t mean to shock you,” Nick said, ashing onto the sidewalk, “but there are some things you
don’t know about me.”
“Yeah, I’m—I think I’m starting to see that,” Eli said.
Nick couldn’t help the not-laugh that huffed from his lips at that. “Are you?” He rounded on Eli.
“Because it seems like you’re incapable of believing anyone but you can change.”
“Wha—?” His mouth flapped open and shut again. “I don’t even know what that means.”
Nick sighed. Tossed the cigarette on the ground and put it out under the sole of his shoe. He
couldn’t even stay angry. Not at Eli. It wasn’t his fault Nick’s
head was a mess. “I want you to stop introducing me as your straight friend. Please.”
He glanced over to see Eli’s eyes go wide. “Okay. How come?”
Suddenly what had seemed like such a complicated thing requiring a long and difficult
explanation felt very simple. Nick took a deep breath.

-- 138 of 228 --

“I don’t know if I’m straight,” he said. “I’m not freaked out about it. I just… thought you should
know.”
“Oh.” Eli’s gaze went all distant, like he was trying to figure out a complex math problem in his
head, all the variables rearranging themselves before his eyes. “Well, I—okay.”
“That’s it?” Nick said flatly. “Just ‘okay’?”
“Hey, I’m trying to wrap my head around this,” Eli snapped back. “Fifteen minutes ago, I thought
the earth is round, water is wet, and Nick Wu is heterosexual. Give me a second to readjust my
worldview.” He stood there for a second, then said, “So when you say ‘not straight’ do you
mean, like, bi?”
“I don’t know,” Nick said. “If I knew, I would tell you.”
Eli nudged the toe of his Chelsea boot against the cigarette butt on the ground, hands stuffed
into his pockets. “Thank you. For, uh, updating me.”
Nick rolled his eyes. He made it sound like Nick had texted him with a new address for his
contact list. “This doesn’t have to change anything, you know,” he said. “That’s not why I told
you. It’s—the way you described me felt wrong, and I didn’t like it.”
Eli opened his mouth to reply, but the door opened again, spilling out Jamar and Ernesto. They
both wore wide smiles, oblivious to the tension they’d stumbled into.
“You boys hungry?” Ernie asked. He pointed to the Denny’s in the distance. “I want Moons Over
My Hammy.”
“Yeah, come get some greasy food with us,” Jamar said, his arm wrapped around Ernie’s waist.
“Oh, actually…” Eli looked to Nick in question.
Nick waved him off. They both could use some distance. Maybe that would give Eli some time to
let it all sink in. “Why don’t you go? It’s late for me. I think I’ll head home.”
“If you’re sure,” Eli said. There was a tightness around his eyes. “Yeah.” Nick mustered a smile
for him. “I’m sure. Go ahead.”
“Aw, really?” Ernesto pouted. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Nick. Come on, Eli, we’ll give you a
ride home after we get some eggs.” He looped his arm through Eli’s and led him across the
parking lot, chattering away about the legendary My Hammy.
Nick watched him go with a sinking feeling in his stomach. That could have gone worse, but it
also could have gone better. He wasn’t sure what he’d wanted Eli’s reaction to be, but poleaxed
shock wasn’t it.

-- 139 of 228 --

“Hey,” Jamar said, pulling his attention back. “You all right?”
“Oh, yeah. Just tired.” Nick ran a hand through his hair. “It was nice running into you like this,
though.”
“Same, bro. And listen—” Jamar reached into his pocket and extracted a business card. “If
you’re ever in Orlando, let me know. We can get brunch or something. Hell, even if you just
need someone to talk to, I’m a text away. Won’t magically make things easier, I know, but if I can
help at all, I will.”
“Oh, that’s really kind of you, but—” Nick began. A lifetime of turning down offers of support
was on the tip of his tongue.
“Nick.” Jamar looked at him. Really looked. Nick felt a spark of something in his chest,
something new and familiar at the same time. “No bullshit. Take the card. Whatever you’re
going through, you’re not the only one who’s been there.”
Nick took the card. The thick paper felt buttery between his fingertips. “Thank you,” he said.
And he meant it.
Jamar grinned, gave him a little salute, and took off in pursuit of Ernie and Eli.