Change of Heart

boats directly onto the back patio. In the summer, I was told, the place was a madhouse morning, noon and night. In the winter, lined with lights, warmed by heaters out on the patio, it was the haven of the snow-packed winter retreat of Incline Village. Our clientele was made up of locals, tourists, and the vacationing wealthy elite.
    "Jin." Ray's voice snapped me from my thoughts.
    "Yeah?"
    He stepped in front of me so that I had to meet his gaze.
    "When you first came to work for me, I thought you were just some punk, but right away you stepped up and showed me your qualities."
    "You thought I was a punk?" I teased him, squinting.
    "Jin," he warned me.
    "Ray," I said, using the same tone back.
    He grunted. "Listen, everybody loves you and everybody takes orders from you. I need that."
    "Ray——"
    "Since you took over here, I'm actually running in the black."
    I was silent.
    "The marketing you've done, getting the tie-in with those clubs in Reno and working out the deal with The Lakehouse Inn to have private parties there... everybody's making money. Greg came by yesterday and said that the inn is doing well for the first time in years. He says you're a miracle worker."
    "Oh, screw you, Torres."
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    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    His smile was huge. "He said that if I didn't offer you the general manager spot here that he wants you there. He likes what he sees."
    "And I appreciate that, but I dunno what I'm gonna do yet.
    Originally, I had plans to leave."
    "I know you did, but I really want you to stay. We all do."
    "I dunno... I'm not the only one who wants the job."
    He shrugged. "The fact is, Jin, that when you're here, I don't hafta be. I don't worry when I leave you in charge.
    Everyone else... I worry."
    "I appreciate what you're saying. Gimme some more time to think about it, okay?"
    "Take as much time as you like." He smiled before he walked away.
    Minutes later, in the kitchen, I was greeted with the usual round of loud affectionate obscenities before I was forced to try a new concoction of jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and cranberry sauce all deep-fried together. It was disgusting, and I asked Ramon, the head chef, if he was trying to kill me or just make me really sick.
    "Do all the girls here know you're gay?"
    I could only guess at his train of thought, because it made no sense at all. "What does that have to do with what I just asked you?"
    "Absolutely nothing," he assured me.
    We were silent, just staring at each other, but I cracked a grin before he did.
    "Okay, what about me being gay?" I sighed deeply.
    "The girls," he repeated. "Do they know?"
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    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    "I'm gonna go with yes."
    "Then how come they all talk about you all the time?"
    "'Cause straight women and gay men go together like peanut butter and jelly," I enlightened him. "We're made for each other."
    "No," he shook his head. "They talk like they wanna screw you."
    But they didn't—he just didn't know the difference.
    All the women I worked with loved me, and that was the reason for their appreciation. Whether I wanted them to or not, whether I had tried or not, none of that made any difference. I loved women; I just didn't make love to women, and they had always been crazy about me. They all complimented my light gray eyes, long black hair and dark eyebrows. Girls noticed things like the perfect shape of your eyebrows, how long your eyelashes were, full lips and the curve of your nose. I was told that between my smoky eyes, hard body and gorgeous skin that I should model. It was sweet, and so were the hugs and kisses I got every time I came into work.
    "Hello."
    I lifted my head and looked at Ramon. "No one wants to do me; they all want Crane."
    "None of the girls are into your roommate——they're all into you."
    But that made no sense.
    "You're just too blind to see it."
    I gave him an indulgent smile and turned to go.
    Before I could leave, he took hold of my arm.
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    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    "What?" I returned my eyes to him.
    "We," he said, indicating the entire kitchen staff with a quick wave of the tongs still in his hand, "are gonna beat the crap out of that guy Ben if he's ever stupid enough to show his face around here again."
    I smirked at him. If he only knew—there was no way that Ben Eller would ever come back near me on a bet. "I appreciate you guys lookin' out for me, but I'm not a girl. I don't need you to beat up that guy just because he messed me up a little."
    "But he didn't