Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

Hearing Trey's voice was important. He'd visit, and drag Trey out here to Aunt Julie's, and play on the guy's nostalgia. Because despite having a couple of good friends in Hartford, Josh realized that no one had ever taken the place that was Trey's. He might not be Trey's "best bud" anymore, but dammit, Trey was still his.
    He would take his time introducing the bisexual thing. There was no rush. It wasn't as if Josh was with anyone right now, girl or guy. He could just let it wait until he met someone special. That might even be quite a while. He couldn't imagine making the effort to start dating again any time soon.
    Another blonde was at the register hanging on Trey's smile today, but this woman was heavy, obviously bleached, and in her forties. As she tried to haggle Trey down in price for a Mickey-Mouse clock, she was joined by a very young teenage boy. The kid wore a bright blue jacket with wide lapels, and as he reached the woman's side he gave a little spin to show it off. "Look at this, Aunt Mary! Isn't it cool? So retro. And look!" He held up a little half-skirt apron with a ruffle. "This is so fifties, just like the one Lucy wears." He wrapped it around his waist for a moment. "Cute, huh?"
    The woman stared at him, and then her expression became a glare. "Emmet, you take that apron off right now! And the jacket. Those are girl clothes! What are you thinking? Do you want to look like a fag? Do you? What would your mother think?"
    The boy's bright expression fell. His hands clutched the apron. "Mom wouldn't care..."
    "Your mother would say the same thing. It's disgusting! How dare you shame me in public like that? Put those clothes back this instant!"
    The boy froze, and then whirled and ran toward the back of the barn where the vintage clothing was kept. Josh turned quickly, heading back there by a different route. He wanted to have a quick word with the boy, but it would be better if the aunt didn't overhear him. As he rounded the last display he saw that Trey must have followed the kid too. Trey was already on one knee beside the boy, taking the apron from his shaking hands.
    "Don't let her get to you," Trey said quietly but clearly. "There's nothing wrong with you. There's nothing wrong with liking women's clothes, and if you are gay, there's nothing wrong with being gay."
    Josh froze, stunned to hear that coming from Trey.
    The boy's shaky voice said, "She said it was disgusting."
    Trey reached out to help the boy shrug out of the jacket, saying firmly as he did so, "Lots of people are gay. Hell, I'm gay."
    At that moment the boy's aunt came round the divider and strode up to them. Her face showed that Trey's words had reached her too. With a muffled shriek she whacked Trey on the head with her purse. "Get your hands off him," she yelled. "Don't you touch him, you pervert! You're disgusting. Get your faggy hands off the boy!"
    Trey yanked his hands back and stood, looking as if he might retort. But then his gaze shifted and he caught sight of Josh standing frozen against the display case. Trey's face went white. For a moment he glanced from the sputtering woman to the boy, and then he looked up at Josh again. He looked almost sick. Before Josh could hold out a hand or say anything, Trey turned and ran.
    Josh stared after Trey as Trey stumbled around a shelf and out of sight. Josh felt as if the world had just come apart. His heart was pounding and his throat was dry. The blonde woman turned her attention to him, demanding what he was thinking of to have a pervert serving customers in his store, putting filthy hands on children and...
    "Shut up." Josh snapped.
    She stared at him, he mouth open. "What did you say?"
    "I said, shut up." Josh dragged his gaze from the spot where Trey had disappeared to look her in the face. "I don't want to hear another word."
    "He's a pervert. A child molester."
    "Helping a kid take off a jacket in a crowded store isn't perverted. Your mind must be pretty sick if you think it is." But he turned away from her sputtering reply. He didn't have time for this, for her. Because his whole world had just done a ninety degree tilt, and he needed to go find the one person who would tell him what it meant. And he was scared to death that the look on Trey's face meant he was about to run from Josh far and fast. Not this time.
    If Trey was really gay, had been gay... questions and speculations bubbled up in Josh. He needed to chase after Trey and find him. Right the fuck now.
    Josh said