Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

least partially because of his cockiness.
    Jason had always been the nice guy. All through school, everyone who knew him, considered him to be friendly and courteous. He had a very laid back, tolerant personality. He was, in a word, non-confrontational. Even with his father, he knew how to communicate with him, calm him down without having the situation escalate into an argument.
    He was glad that Glenn was a little different. He liked the fact that Glenn didn't shy away from confrontation. He liked that he took charge.
    The bitter part of Jason's morning was the reality he was facing. Glenn would be leaving that afternoon. He'd be gone, and Jason's dad would be back. It really sucked because it wasn't just a matter of keeping a relationship a secret from his dad. If Glenn lived in Denver, that might actually be possible. Jason had his own apartment, and he led his own life. His dad didn't need to know who he was seeing.
    But with Glenn living in Houston, Jason didn't know when he'd see him again. It wasn't like Jason could just tell his dad he was leaving for a few days or even for a weekend. Most of the time, Jason worked on Saturdays, and when he was away for any length of time, he told his father.
    As wonderful as the weekend had been, Jason knew that whatever he had with Glenn had to end, and he felt sick about it. He felt as if he could just break down and ball. It was crazy of him, really. He'd only known the man a few days. They'd met the previous Monday, had drinks on Tuesday, gone out on Wednesday and then followed it up with a four-day love nesting in Jason's apartment.
    It was a wonderful affair, but that was all it was. That was all it could ever be.
    "Don't look so sad," Jason turned to the voice behind him.
    "Good morning," he said.
    "What's wrong? You're deep in thought," Glenn observed.
    "You're going away today. I'm feeling a little… I don't know. Melancholic, I guess. It was so beautiful that I don't want it to end."
    Glenn stepped over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Babe, this is just the beginning. Just because I'm going home doesn't mean we can't find a way to see each other."
    "Oh? And how would that be?"
    Glenn shrugged and smiled at him. He leaned over and kissed Jason on the forehead. "I'll fly up every chance I get. I'll fly you down to Texas. We'll have weekends, holidays, vacations… until we're to a point where we're ready to make some serious decisions."
    "Glenn…" Jason sighed. "I can't do that. You know I can't."
    "Okay, then we'll decide right now. I won't go back. I'll move my operation here. I'll open an office in Denver. I design fucking software. It doesn't matter where I live."
    "We just met, and neither one of us is ready for that yet. You don't even know what my farts smell like yet. You haven't even figured out what a horrible singer I am and that I'm anal about my CD collection."
    Glenn laughed. "I've smelled your farts, and I do know those things about you. I heard you at the karaoke bar, and you're anal not just about your CD collection but about everything."
    "That's not my point." Jason reached up to take Glenn's hand. "I've loved the time we had together, but it's too soon to take up a homestead together. And what am I supposed to tell my dad? He doesn't even know I'm gay."
    Glenn stepped over to the empty lawn chair beside Jason and took a seat. "That's not a question I can answer for you, Jase. But I do know that at some point you're gonna have to tell him about yourself. Don't you think he'd want to know?"
    "I don't want to hurt him, Glenn. He's been through so much. I don't wanna disappoint him."
    "Let me ask you this. What do you think is more hurtful: when someone you love lies to you or when they're different than you?"
    "That's not fair, and you know it. I've never lied to my father about who I am. I just haven't told him."
    "That's a lie of omission."
    "Call it what you want to," Jason said, sighing. "The point is, even if I told him I'm gay, how could I ever tell him about you? You know how he is."
    "Jason, I hope you'll give this some more thought. I don't want to be unfair to you, but essentially what you're saying is that you've chosen your father over me. No matter how close we get, no matter what we mean to each other, I'd never put you in a position where you had to make that choice. But right now, you're making it on your own."
    Jason stood up and grabbed hold of the railing. "You just don't understand! I don't even have a choice."
    "So