Love Is Always Write Volume 4

Not to mention the bad radio reception and a broken microwave. Just one more day to finish the goddamn report and he'd return to his small L.A. apartment and two whole weeks of vacation.
    A flurry of auburn brushed his line of vision as Dinah scooted herself into the seat across the table and poured him a cup. Her tiny face beamed when he looked up. "So, what've you been up to, Kevy?"
    Kevin's eyes flicked from her to the otherwise empty diner. Just his luck.
    "Been working," he said, focusing back on the computer to look busy. The prehistoric box of technology was taking forever to start up.
    "Always knew you'd go and make something of yourself. You a businessman now? Whatcha doing in Castor Springs?" She twirled a lock of hair around a forefinger, big green eyes watching him.
    Sure to give the queen of gossip only the bare minimum, Kevin cleared his throat. "I'm doing a project for Samson & Gray Constructions. I'm leaving tonight." The laptop screen finally yawned to life with a lazy jingle.
    "You've been here a while? Why didn't you come see me sooner?"
    Kevin blinked. Why? Why would he? It's not like they were friends. Dinah was more than ten years older.
    "Come on," she drawled. "I used to babysit you. You were such a cute kid. Remember that time when I found you hidden in the high grass? You were trying to make two worms mate."
    He looked up with heated cheeks and a half-smile. "Sorry, Dinah, I've been busy. Still am."
    There, a polite hint. It's not that he wouldn't mind catching up, though he didn't want to relive the stupidity of his childhood, but he did come here to work.
    "That's okay, honey," she said, waiving the apology off with a flick of her hand, totally not getting the hint. "You were such a handsome teen. The coolest of the cool. Could've had any girl you wanted."
    "Yeah, well," Kevin muttered, focusing on the screen.
    "I remember girls my age pining after you, but you always stuck with the same girl, didn't you? Nancy Summerhill?"
    "Yep," said Kevin, typing in his password.
    "Always thought you'd become a baker like your folks. Never would've guessed you'd become a business man. How'd that happen?"
    With another sigh, Kevin took a sip of coffee. It would take another couple of minutes for the password to process. "It was more practical."
    He'd hitchhiked to L.A. at eighteen and found himself in a relationship with a professor of economics. That's how it really happened.
    "Well, you got some of them business smarts your daddy had, I'm sure you're doing fine." She placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward.
    "I'm doing okay." He dug out the wrinkled receipts and started flicking through them.
    "Hey, did you hear about Nancy?"
    Kevin shook his head, ears perking up just a little.
    "Figured you didn't," she said leaning in closer. "She was caught making out with a girl up in Floresville. Wouldn't have known about it if Jack hadn't been looking for privacy and walked in on 'em. Jack divorced last year."
    Kevin stopped sorting the receipts and looked at Dinah. He and Nancy had known about each other's sexuality, which was why they'd been perfect in acting girlfriend-boyfriend back in high school. Castor Springs wasn't exactly a bible town, but that didn't mean people weren't narrow-minded.
    "Then what happened?" asked Kevin, putting the receipts down, absent-mindedly ironing them with the flat of his palm.
    "Well, her daddy still won't talk to her and her momma took it kinda hard, but I think she's okay now. Not like Benny's momma," Dinah scoffed.
    "Benny's mom? What do you mean?" Kevin asked, giving Dinah his undivided attention.
    "Old crow kicked him out on his eighteenth birthday. Poor guy stayed with the few people he could still call friends before he found a girl up in Houston and got married. Don't know why he'd go and marry a girl if he's gay."
    A couple of things ran through Kevin's mind. Benny had either came out or been exposed, and Dinah felt sorry for him. She, apparently, wasn't against homosexuals, although she had no qualms about spreading the news about Nancy and Benny. Didn't seem as though Benny had revealed Kevin's secret, not that it mattered. Kevin was never coming back to this town after today.
    "They're not the only ones in town, you know. Liam came out when he was sixteen, but his daddy took it well. Don't know if Charlie Samson's gay, he and Liam seem awful friendly. I also think that new girl, Anna, is a lesbian. Her and Nancy've been hanging out a lot."
    Gay by