Covet Thy Neighbor

stuffed my keys into my jacket pocket and started down the sidewalk.
    Lights Out was only a few blocks away. When I got there, the bouncer checking IDs at the door gave me a nod and let me in without paying the cover. Sometimes knowing the owner of the place really paid off.
    Over the music, I shouted, “Jason around?” Of course he was. He was always here when the club was open.
    The bouncer pointed at the stairs. “Was in his office last I saw.”
    “Thanks.” I went upstairs and walked right past the Employees Only sign to a short hallway. Then I tapped two knuckles on the door to Jason’s office.
    “It’s open,” came the strained, tried reply. I grimaced. Someone was having a rough night.
    I pushed open the door. “Hey, man.”
    He looked up from a mountain of paperwork, and exhaled. “Oh, hey. How’s it going?”
    “Not bad.” I dropped into the folding chair in front of his desk. “What about you?”
    “Eh.” Jason rubbed his shoulder gingerly and tilted his head to stretch his neck.
    “Shoulder acting up?”
    He nodded. “I’d have Michael come down, but Dylan’s staying at the house this weekend.”
    “Well, it isn’t like you can’t have him fix you up in the morning.”
    “True.”
    “Must be nice, having a live-in acupuncturist.”
    Jason flashed me a smug grin. “It has its perks.” He closed the thick binder he’d been going through and put his elbow on top of it. “So what brings you here? Out of beer again?”
    “Come on, I don’t just come down here for the free beer.” I leaned against the back of the chair. “Honestly, I don’t even want a beer tonight.”
    Jason sat bolt upright, nearly knocking a cup of pens off his desk. “Dude, what’s wrong?”
    “Well.” I tapped my heel beside the chair leg. “I have a new neighbor.”
    “Oh yeah? That’s right, you were saying Robyn was going to move out.”
    “She did. And the new guy?” I whistled and shook my head. “Gorgeous.”
    “Nice! Never hurts to have a little eye candy around the neighborhood.” He raised an eyebrow. “So, what’s the problem?”
    “He’s hot, he’s amazing, and he’s a minister .”
    A laugh burst out of Jason. “Oh, shit. Seriously?”
    “Seriously.”
    “Wow. The fucking irony.”
    “Tell me about it.”
    “So, does he know he’s living in the gayest part of town?”
    I nodded. “Yeah. Totally does. And he’s also completely cool with living across the hall from an atheist.”
    Jason laughed again. “Maybe you’re his next project, assuming he likes a challenge.”
    I tried to laugh, but it probably wasn’t very convincing. “Yeah. Maybe.” I watched my fingers play with the frayed fake leather on the armrest. “Pretty sure he’s okay with the fact that I’m gay, though.”
    “Well, that’s a plus, especially considering what part of town he’s living in.” Jason shrugged. “What’s the big deal, then? So your hot new neighbor’s a minister? Just take in the eye candy and skip the religious debates.”
    Sighing, I leaned back in my chair. “Well, that’s a little easier said than done. Especially after, um, last night . . .”
    Jason eyed me for a moment. Then he blinked. “Good God, Seth. You two didn’t waste any time, did you?”
    I laughed, heat rushing into my cheeks. “No, we didn’t.” I scowled. “And now I feel like shit about it.”
    “Why?”
    “I’ve been trying to figure that out all day.” I tapped my fingers on the armrest. “I guess it . . . I mean . . .” I exhaled hard. “I think it just keeps coming back to the fact that after how things went down with my family and my old church, I don’t want to get involved with someone who’s part of that crowd.”
    Jason lowered his chin and raised his eyebrows. “That was one of those extremist churches. Is it really fair to paint an entire religion with that brush?”
    “Maybe not,” I said through gritted teeth. “But the church pariah and disowned son in me are a bit hard-pressed to give a damn about what fucking qualifies as ‘fair.’”
    “Okay, I can understand that. But you know damn well not everyone with a religious affiliation is like your idiot family. I can see why you’re gun-shy, but, Jesus, I would think it would be refreshing to find someone who didn’t condemn us the way your family does.”
    “Maybe it should be, but all I can think is . . . fuck. I don’t even know what I’m thinking.”
    “That his acceptance of who you are—and who he is ,