Packing Heat by Kele Moon Read Free Book Online

unlikely he was going to get over this obsession
    anytime soon.
    “I sorta fel into a relationship,” Gavin admitted, knowing it
    was either tel Charlie or go into the shrink’s office like a fool in
    love. He needed an outlet, and Charlie was the only one currently
    available. Gavin turned back to his partner. “It happened fast, but
    it’s been pretty hot and heavy.”
    Charlie puled back, amber eyebrows rising in surprise. “You
    met someone? When’d that happen? Far as I knew you were
    sulking around the apartment in your sweats.”
    Gavin hesitated, looking back to his basket of wings. Rather
    than eat them, he puled at the skin, getting his fingers sticky. Charlie
    was one of his closest friends, his partner, someone he spent
    entirely too much time with. Gavin was second-guessing his decision
    to use Charlie as an outlet. He’d be better off outing himself to the
    shrink. She couldn’t do anything to Gavin for being gay. Brad
    worked for the city, and he was out and proud. He even marched in
    parades and did charity work like organize youth groups for GLBT
    teens. He stil had a job and pension.
    It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing to just out himself to one
    shrink who wanted to make sure Gavin had a good head on his
    shoulders and wasn’t randomly shooting gang members for looking
    at him wrong. She’d ask why he was walking on sunshine after the
    shooting, and Gavin would tel her—no apologies.
    Yes, the shrink was a much better idea.
    “It’s Brad.”
    Gavin looked up in surprise. “W-what?”
    “The relationship,” Charlie went on, speaking slowly as if
    fearing for Gavin’s sanity. “It’s your roommate.”
    “I—” Gavin swalowed hard. “What makes you think that?”
    “Am I right?” Charlie asked rather than answer the question.
    Gavin found the confession trapped in his throat. Outing
    himself was good in theory, but the reality sorta sucked. He didn’t
    think his partner would ditch him for it. Charlie wasn’t driving
    around with liberal bumper stickers on the back of his car, but he
    was progressive enough considering his conservative Irish Catholic
    background. His wife Maria was an artist and socialized in gay-
    friendly circles. She’d probably leave him if he dumped Gavin for
    being gay. But Gavin didn’t want Charlie to be awkward around
    him either. He feared an invisible wedge being driven between them
    once it was out in the open.
    “Yeah.” Gavin nodded, because his mama taught him to face
    the things that terrified him head-on rather than hide from them.
    Feeling like he might puke, he admitted to his partner, “You’re right.
    It’s Brad.”
    “Shit.” Charlie shook his head in disgust. “This sucks.”
    Gavin’s shoulders grew tight in anger. The shock of rejection
    made his voice more vicious than he anticipated. “Excuse me?”
    “Not you,” Charlie said, stil shaking his head as he reached
    over to his iced tea. He took a long drink before he sighed. “I made
    a pretty hefty bet with Maria that you weren’t gay. Now I gotta pay
    up. What is it about women, they’re always right?”
    Gavin gaped, not expecting that at al. “What’d you bet?”
    “A trip to Napa.”
    “California?” Gavin coughed. “That’l cost a mint.”
    “Tel me about it, but I thought that bet was a sure thing. I
    was waiting for you to find a steady girl and enjoy season tickets to
    the Bucs.” Charlie huffed, giving Gavin a glare that clearly said this
    lost bet was his fault. “How the hel are you gay? You don’t look
    gay. You certainly don’t act gay.”
    Gavin tried realy hard not to get defensive the way Brad
    always did, but it wasn’t easy. “How exactly is a gay man supposed
    to act?”
    “You’ve dated girls, plenty of ’em,” Charlie said, craftily
    avoiding the accusation in a very coplike manner. “What about
    Emily? You stil talk to her. You’re like best buds. I thought for sure
    you’d get back with her.”
    “I’m bi.” Gavin felt his