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incident.

    “Damn, this is good. I guess it’s been a while since I’ve eaten meat,” Bob said, smiling at John. “Your back feeling good?”

    “Yes, thank you. But even though it does feel better, it really wasn’t proper for you to just presume that I would be comfortable with you being in the bedroom with me naked and then giving me a rub down. I was a little uncomfortable with the situation.”

    Bob put down his knife and fork and finished chewing the steak in his mouth. When he swallowed, he said, “Damn, that is the last thing I wanted to make you feel. I really just wanted to help you unwind from a stressful day. As I lay on the bank floor, I wondered how much stress you were experiencing having a brand new ‘baby’ agent inside a bank that was being held up. I figured you might be preparing for the news that they had found me out and shot me.

    “I’m truly sorry if I acted in any way that upset you in your bedroom. I only wanted to bring you comfort, and I thought you were enjoying what I was doing. Your breathing changed, you sighed a couple of times, especially when I worked your ass muscles, and now to hear you were uncomfortable… I’m sorry.”

    “I don’t wanna make a bigger deal out of it than I should; I did enjoy the massage very much. You’ve obviously had either training or have received many massages.”

    “Well, my former boyfriend was a physical therapist and taught me everything I know about massaging a man. Maybe I forgot some things he taught me.”

    John choked on a piece of meat, and when he was able to clear his throat, he said, “Your what? Did I hear you right? Did you say former boyfriend?” John asked with a look of shock on his face.

    “Yeah, boss, but don’t think what I did for you in there was anything but trying to help you. It wasn’t a sexual thing at all.”

    “You’re gay?”

    “Yeah, boss. I guess with my generation it isn’t that big of a deal anymore, and I’m not used to concealing the fact that I’m gay. I guess in your generation, it’s still a thing to be ashamed of?”

    “My generation? We’re not that fucking far apart in age! You make me sound like a great-grandfather. Does everyone at the office know?”

    “I haven’t mentioned it yet. Since it hasn’t come up, there’s been no need to disclose it. But from the day I spent with my partner, I figured that you might be gay. If you are, I’m not trying to take advantage of that fact in any way job-wise. I think you’re a hot man, and I wanted to help you out a bit.”

    “Whoa!” John put his silverware down now. “What was said in the day you spent with your partner that moved you to conclude I might be gay?”

    “Relax, boss; after all, the agency we work for was founded by a gay man. Everyone accepts that fact except for some of the conservative assholes who still say that Clyde Tolson was just a good friend .”

    “About that conversation?” John repeated, slightly uptight.

    “Oh, Win just said that you had lived with a guy roommate for a number of years until something happened, and that you have been alone since. He didn’t know of you dating or anything. The guys figure you’re just dedicated to the job, which excludes a social life for you. Are they right?”

    John went to the wet bar and poured some Grey Goose vodka into a glass with rocks and orange juice. He returned and sat back down at the table.

    “Go ahead and eat before it’s stone cold. I don’t usually talk about my personal life to anyone, but with you, I’m making an exception. Win Caulfield was right. For over thirteen years, I lived with a guy who was my lover. We were deeply in love and were very happy. He got sick, and it turned out to be pancreatic cancer. He died a year after being diagnosed. I’ve basically been alone for almost four years now.”

    “I’m so sorry. I really am! You don’t even date? Is it because you still love him or something like that?”

    “I don’t date because it’s damn hard for the head of an FBI field office to just go out to the local bar, which might be under surveillance for some reason. I can’t be photographed going in a gay bar alone and leaving with a man. I still love my Jimmy, and that will always be the case. I’ve been very lonely, but I throw myself into the job, and that helps. But days like today, I could definitely do without. If you had been killed, it might have ended my career with the Bureau.”

    “Why? They couldn’t