Dinner was a big meal of fried chicken, biscuits and gravy. Kathy
             barely ate a bite, just picked at her plate. Nothin' new about that,
             the girl was always talking about her figure.

             "Can't let myself go," she'd always say.

             Never mind the fact that Spence wouldn't mind if she had a little
             more meat on her bones. Especially when it came to her chest. Kathy
             wasn't flat chested or nothin' but Spence liked his women a little
             bustier. All the girls he'd gone with before Kathy had bigger chests.
             Maybe if she'd had the baby, her cup size would've gotten bigger. It
             happened to his sister Glynnis. The stupid bitch.

             Kathy had been broken hearted when she lost the baby. Spence felt bad
             for her and all, but he wasn't that sorry. He figured it was meant to
             be. Besides, he knew Kathy had flushed her pills down the toilet. Had
             to hook him somehow. Never called her on it, though. It was over and
             done with. However, he made damned sure she took that magic pill
             every night.

             Kathy really thought he wasn't gonna go to Joby's tonight. Hell, if
             he wanted to go, he'd go. With all the crap he was gonna go through
             this week, shit...he was entitled to see an old friend.

             Though both Kathy and Vi gave him a funny look when he casually
             mentioned he was leaving for Joby's.

             He shook his head. Vi always had her suspicions but she had no proof.
             And Kathy, she had her own ideas. But he'd sure squelched 'em right
             quick when he proposed.

             He must be crazy, seeing Joby again, starting things up again. No, he
             wasn't starting up nothin', he was catching up with an old buddy. If
             anything, he'd be finishing things up. He'd never had a sense of
             closure with Joby. Spence'd just told him he was leaving town in the
             morning. Kathy had a bun in the oven. Period. That's all she wrote.

             Joby's house was a few blocks away, within walking distance. Spence's
             momma had lived on the same block before she lost the house to
             foreclosure. Passing by the same houses of his childhood was surreal,
             dreamlike. The choking scent of honeysuckle was thick as fog. A
             frontal assault on his nostrils.

             Ah, there was the house. 19014 Magnolia Blossom Road. Spence had to
             smile. It was a nice house, complete with columns, veranda, even a
             porch swing. Joby'd said he owned the house. Spence wondered how.
             Asheville was a lot cheaper than Maryland, but a house was still
             expensive. He thought about the efficiency apartment he and Kathy
             lived in and bile rose to the back of his throat.

             Spence's heart was actually pounding in his chest as he knocked on
             the door. He was even hyperventilating. This was a mistake. It was
             best just to let sleeping dogs lie.

             He was about to leave when the door swung open. Joby. He hadn't
             changed much in five years. The golden blond hair was already
             beginning to bleach blond in the sun. His face was slightly
             sunburned. Joby'd always liked the outdoors, especially the mountain
             trails along the Blue Ridge Mountains.

             "Hey," Joby said.

             "Hey," Spence replied.

             There was a screen on the door, probably to keep out the mosquitoes.
             Joby walked outside, shutting the screen door behind him. "Been a
             long time."

             "Yep."

             Joby gestured towards the porch swing. "Have a seat." Spence sat down
             and Joby sat beside him. "Sorry about your momma."

             "Don't be."

             "Oh yeah," Joby chuckled. "You weren't exactly her golden boy when
             you up and left."

             Spence shrugged. "Shit happens."

             He'd hoped that Joby would have a beer belly, maybe lose some of
             those good looks. That would've made things soooo easy. But nothin'
             in Spence's life *ever* came easy and this was no exception. Joby
             Thibodeaux was still tall, slender and sleek. Reminded Spence of an
             otter.

             And just as slippery.

             Jesus, he was actually checking Joby out like he'd check out some
             piece of tail when Kathy wasn't looking. But that had been girls.
             Well, yeah, he could appreciate all kinds of beauty and he was gonna
             notice if pretty boy walked by. Kinda like enjoying fine art. But it
             didn't mean shit. And neither did this. Wasn't like he was attracted
             to Joby, or nothin'.

             If Joby noticed Spence's gawking or the way Spence's cheeks were
             aflame, he didn't let on. But Spence knew Joby noticed. Those silvery
             grey eyes took everything in. Nothing' got by that sonofabitch.

             Wasn't Joby's style to show you his hand, to let you know he'd
             peeped you. No, Joby enjoyed letting you dig your own grave and now
             his eyes were glinting with cool amusement. "So, Joby asked, "Is my
             momma watching the baby?" Then he smacked his hand against his
             forehead, "Some baby, more like a preschooler by now."

             Vi didn't tell him? How peculiar. "Kathy miscarried, Joby."

             Joby's eyes darkened. "I'm so sorry, buddy."

             He patted Spence's shoulder, but Spence shrugged him off. "Again,
             don't be."

             "But you wanted that baby,' Joby protested. "You told me-"

             "I know what I *told* you," Spence snapped. "Things change."

             "Mmmm-hmmm." Joby's gaze held his, trying to see beyond what Spence
             would tell him. "Did you marry her?"

             Was he playing with Spence or did he really not know? Those eyes were
             like lasers, burning into Spence's soul. Made him just as uneasy now
             as it had then. Like he was a bug being examined under a microscope.

             "Livin' together," Spence told him. "No reason to marry."

             A small smile played at the corner of Joby's lips. "Well then, why
             are you still with her?"

             That had been one of the things that had drawn Spence when he'd first
             met Joby at Casey's Pub, all those years ago. That bluntness. Kathy
             bitched that Joby "had the tact of a dead snail," but to Spence it
             was refreshing. Southern boys were programmed from childhood to be
             gentlemen, to always be polite. Joby was no different, his momma
             raised him right. But he also had a way of making the words, "Have a
             nice day, y'all," sound like "fuck you." Spence, who would never dare
             say "boo" to *anyone,* never mind curse them out so genteelly,
             quickly befriended the jaded rebel that didn't give a rat's ass about
             what anyone thought of him.

             But now, that bluntness was jarring. "Never really thought about it,"
             Spence answered honestly.

             "Doesn't surprise me. I'll tell you why. Because she's there, and
             she's safe. No questions. No worries. Just a nice convenient
             girlfriend."

             Spence bristled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

             "You know fucking well what it means. Don't blame you, though. You
             always wanted the best and Kathy Trumball was the prettiest girl on
             campus. Dammed fine woman." Joby smirked, as if he was laughing at
             his own private joke. "And you got her. You're a lucky man, Spence."

             Another thing Joby honed to a razor's edge. Pushin' your buttons,
             then immediately disarming you with kindness so you felt like a heel
             if you were still mad.

             And as those eyes boldly raked over him, Spence realized it was
             happening again. It was all gonna happen again...

             Not if he could help it. Spence abruptly got up from the porch
             swing. "It was good seein' you and all, but I gotta go."

             Joby made no effort to rise. "Yeah." The eyes turned to ice. You do
             that."

             Shit, this was how things ended last time, with Spence leaving and
             Joby sulking. There was no need for that. He'd come to prove
             something and now he knew the answer to what he'd been wondering
             about for the past five years. His time with Joby was a fluke, a
             phase. Spence'd been 19 and confused. Joby just happened to be there
             at the right time. Hell, everybody experimented.

             Didn't they?

             Well, that was in the past. Least he could do is just make things
             right between the two of 'em. Leave on good terms. "Look, Joby. We
             were good friends, can't we just say 'goodbye and God Bless?'"

             Joby's eyes defrosted a mite. " You're right. We're adults. No
             reason to be sniping at each other like little kids."

             He got up and the two men embraced. "Bye, Joby."

             "Bye."

             Neither of them moved, just stood there for a few moments. Joby
             smelled of soap and aftershave. He'd actually showered and shaved for
             this little reunion. Spence was touched at the effort.

             Both remained frozen, unwilling to let the other go. Their eyes met.
             Spence wanted to believe that Joby made the first move, but he
             couldn't swear by it. Perhaps they both moved at the same time.
             Anyway you looked at it, their lips met. Just a light touch.

             That light touch lit a fuse to a spark that Spence had thought'd died
             long ago. Before he had the chance to question his feelings, Joby
             kissed him again, this time with just a hint of his tongue running
             along Spence's bottom lip. Spence opened his mouth and their kiss
             deepened.

             It was only minutes, but it seemed like forever, as their tongues
             hungrily explored each other. Spence had forgotten that he could feel
             this good. It still felt wicked, wrong, but he could not deny the
             stirring in his groin.

             Or the heat he felt pressing against own.

             Joby broke the kiss, his eyes lazily seductive. "Now, the way I see
             it, you got two choices. Go on home to boring chitchat with my momma
             and Kathy. Or you can come inside with me. I dislike scenes as much
             as you do." He released Spence, opened the door and walked in the
             house.

             Spence thought long and hard. Wasn't this why he'd left in the first
             place? Why was he waking up urges he never should have had? He had
             Kathy, for Christ's sake. He should take advantage of the fact that
             Joby was inside, giving him the opportunity to make a clean break. If
             he left right now, he could make it back to Vi's at a decent hour.
             Hey, maybe he could even be a real man and make love to his woman.

             A real man admitted what he wanted and took it.

             With that thought, Spence walked inside the house without looking
             back, shutting the front door behind him.