“Surprise!” he said, waving and doing a little skip.
William stepped forward and hugged him, the sensation oddly comfortable.
“You’re walking,” he murmured into Kelly’s ear.
“I am,” Kelly responded, throat feeling tight. “No harm done. It’s like it never happened.”
William pulled back, tears in his eyes. Kelly understood how this must feel to him. Like redemption. He was more than happy to grant it. He swallowed against his own rising emotions and looked at Emma and Jason, who remained puzzled.
“Prosthetic leg,” he said. “It’s amazing what they can do these days. When Marcello found out I was looking into them, he insisted on flying me to Germany, where they have the very best prosthetics in the world. All paid for by the company.”
Or so he had always believed. But what else could he say? That the estranged love of his life had been secretly supporting him all this time? He didn’t even know if it was true. Maybe Marcello was—
“I love that man,” William said. “I love you!”
Kelly rolled his eyes. “Someone fetch William a drink. He gets so emo!”
“Guilty as charged,” William said, “and drinking only makes me more emotional, so we’d better stay sober. Unless you want to see a grown man cry.”
“Tempting,” Kelly said, looking him over. Military service had been good to William. The muscles beneath his navy-blue suit jacket appeared more toned than ever, and his hair was buzzed and bright from exposure to the sun. He’d even managed to get a light tan! None of this filled Kelly with yearning though, which was probably for the best, because Jason was clearly still enamored with William.
“I didn’t expect to see you two here,” Kelly said, making sure his tones were friendly. “Thanks for coming.”
Jason nodded. “It’s good to see you again. Sorry for not staying in touch.”
“It’s fine,” Kelly said. “Modeling kept me busy. Then I got tired of the scene and ran away from home. What about you?”
“Me? Oh, I’ve been...” Jason grasped for words before his shoulders sagged. “Honestly, I’m right where you left me.”
Emma rolled her eyes and nudged him. “You never did know how to sell yourself. Jason has been volunteering at the local animal shelter and keeps coming up with fundraising ideas, enough so that the shelter has been able to expand. He also trains new volunteers.”
“That’s really cool,” Kelly said, “and much more worthwhile than what I’ve been doing. Trust me.”
“I don’t know about that,” Jason said. “People seem to be enjoying your art.”
Kelly smiled. “They feel sorry for me. But if you’d like to look around, I’d be interested in your opinion.”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “Of course.”
“I’ll catch up with you guys,” William said.
Kelly hesitated. As interesting as reconnecting with his ex-boyfriend would be, his search for Nathaniel had been interrupted. Then again, maybe he could do both at once. “Walk with me?” Kelly offered. “Gladly.”
Together they strolled over to the nearest wall of photos. He introduced every piece, and as William carefully considered each photo, Kelly casually turned to search the room. Still no Nathaniel. After ten minutes of this, Kelly turned back around to find William checking him out instead.
“You look good,” he said.
Kelly didn’t hide his surprise. “If you hadn’t shown up with Jason tonight, I’d think you were flirting with me.”
“Don’t worry,” William said. “I wouldn’t be so cruel as to subject you to dating me again.”
“Oh, it wasn’t all that bad,” Kelly said. “I’ve had worse.”
“Really?” William asked. “Just how many prosthetic limbs do you have?”
“Ha! Just one, and when you put it that way, you do sound absolutely villainous. But you’re not. You’ve always been a good person.”
William appeared vulnerable. “I’m trying to be. I really am.”
“You already are,” Kelly said. “I’m disappointed. I thought the Coast Guard would leave you more confident.”
“That was the plan.” William sighed. “And yeah, most of the time I feel like I’ve gotten my life on track. Funny how temptation can sneak up on you though.”
Kelly raised an eyebrow. “Spill it.”
“I came back to Austin hoping to sweep Jason off his feet, only to discover that someone else got there first. He’s with another guy, and I want to wedge my way between them, but we both know that can lead to disaster.”
Kelly tried to hide his amusement and failed. “I can’t decide if this is karma or not, but I’m pretty sure you deserve it.”
William grinned. “You’re such a bastard.”
“I know. But you’ll be fine. From what I can gather, Jason is still madly in love with you. Give it a few weeks and I’m sure things will shake out in your favor.”
“I hope you’re right.”
They moved to the next photo, but only because it seemed the natural thing to do. “Ever regret leaving town all those years ago?” Kelly asked.
William thought about it and shook his head. “No. I became the person I was meant to be. I wasn’t a good boyfriend to you, and I wouldn’t have been to Jason, had I stuck around. All the time on my own has made me feel complete, you know? I’ve let myself be selfish enough that if I get another shot with Jason, I’ll be ready to give all of myself to him. What about you? Do you regret leaving?”
Kelly glanced back toward the main room, just in time to see Nathaniel slipping out the front door. So much for meeting him again. He continued to stare at the door, hoping to see him reappear. When he didn’t, Kelly took a deep breath. “I can’t say I feel complete... But no, I don’t regret it. Leaving was the right thing to do.”
The lights of the gallery were shut off one by one. Kelly stood outside on the sidewalk, watching Tim as he locked the front door. When he was finished, he walked over with his hands in the pockets of his slacks. The hour was late enough that traffic had all but disappeared, the clicking of Tim’s dress shoes loud on the sidewalk.
“Five sales,” he said. “That’s very successful for an opening night. Especially at those prices.”
Kelly nodded, trying to muster some sense of satisfaction, but somehow the night felt like a failure. Holding his first real exhibition, seeing all those old friends, having his family there for one of his proudest moments—even the sales, which showed appreciation for his art—and yet part of him felt emptier than before.
“Cheer up,” Tim said, patting him on the shoulder. “There’s always a weird sort of melancholy at the end of such things. You’ll get through it.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Once he was back in New York, all of this would be a distant dream.
“You need a ride?”
“No.” Kelly nodded across the street at a waiting sedan. A man leaned against the door, smoking a cigarette. “I’m meeting Marcello. He’s giving me a really expensive camera, which means he wants something.”
Tim nodded knowingly. “I’d warn you against doing whatever he wants, but honestly, you won’t know what that is until it’s too late.”
Kelly chuckled. “Too true. Thanks for this. The exhibition and all the work you put into it.”
“My pleasure.” Tim took the keys out of his pocket, tossed them in the air and caught them again. “Take care of yourself, Kelly Phillips.”
“You too.”
He watched Tim climb into a silver car and drive away. Then Kelly looked across the street and sighed. He was tired. Too tired for a mental sparring match with Marcello. If only that camera wasn’t so unbelievably amazing. He supposed the fruit a serpent once offered to Eve must have been the shiniest, most juiciest apple imaginable. Sometimes a person couldn’t help but take a bite.
Kelly strolled across the street. The driver perked up and opened the door for him. After he slipped inside the car and got comfortable, Kelly closed his eyes an
d listened to the rumble of the motor and the gentle hum of tires on the street. When these sounds ceased, he opened his eyes again just as the driver opened the door.
He stepped outside the car. The studio hadn’t changed at all, its drab exterior still belying the artificial glamour created within. A figure stood in the open doorway with a similar vibe as his driver. Sure enough, Kelly’s driver approached this stranger and offered him a cigarette. By the time Kelly strolled up, they were talking sports.
“Sorry,” Kelly interrupted. “But are you still going to be here when I come back downstairs?”
“Of course,” his driver said. “I’m supposed to stay here all night, if need be.”
“Oh. Thanks.” Kelly felt a little uneasy as he walked down the hallway, the fluorescent lights flickering as they always did. The elevator doors opened just as he approached. He could imagine Marcello sitting at his desk, watching the security monitor and chuckling at how easily he lured flies into his web. Kelly entered the elevator and turned around, refusing to act surprised or impressed when on its own, it took him to the top floor. In fact, he made sure his expression was positively bored when the doors opened again and he strolled into Marcello’s office.
“Don’t let them close!” a voice shouted.
Kelly’s eyes went wide as a figure leapt over one of the lounge couches and charged at him. He stepped aside just in time for Nathaniel to slam into the metal elevator doors, which had already shut. Then he jabbed at the button to open them again, snarling in frustration when they didn’t. Kelly took this opportunity to examine him. Stubble still covered his clenching jaw, the rolled-up sleeves of his dress shirt revealed arms Kelly had once clung to for support, and the strong brow still softened somewhat when turning to him.
“Nice to see you too,” Kelly said. “What’s next? Are you going to try jumping out a window just to avoid me?”
Nathaniel took a deep breath and huffed. “I’m not avoiding you. I just don’t like being trapped. I called a technician over an hour ago.”
“Marcello has someone waiting at the door. He probably sent the technician away already. So where is he? Hiding behind his desk, or can he control all of this from home?”
“From his phone,” Nathaniel said, leaning his back against the elevator doors and sighing. “I don’t want to know what he’s playing at.”
“He probably thought this was the only way he could get us to talk.” Kelly crossed his arms over his chest. “I saw you at the gallery. Why did you run off?”
“I had an awkward conversation,” Nathaniel said.
“That’s it? That’s why you didn’t even say hello?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“What else is new?”
Nathaniel’s jaw clenched a few more times. Then he pushed away from the elevator and plopped down on one of the couches, burying his face in his palms. Kelly watched him a moment, then went and sat across from him. On the table between them were two presents. One had been opened already, scraps of torn wrapping paper obscuring it from view. The other was a box. The camera, no doubt. An unopened bottle of wine sat near it, condensation dripping down its surface. Next to it, two empty glasses waited. The lights in the office were low, and the air smelled of scented candles, even though they had already been extinguished. Marcello’s intent was more than obvious to them both, which made it hurt that Nathaniel seemed so distraught by the prospect. Was nothing left between them?
“I know about the prosthetics,” Kelly said softly. “You’ve been paying for them all this time.”
Nathaniel’s hands dropped into his lap, his eyes searching. “Marcello told you?”
“I figured it out. I’d offer to pay you back, but I don’t have any money. Maybe someday I can—”
“No,” Nathaniel said firmly. “I want to do this. For you. Please let me.”
Kelly studied him. “Why? I know you promised I would never have to worry about it, but I don’t hold you to that anymore. It made sense when you loved me, but not now.”
Nathaniel’s expression was pained. “That’s not fair. Don’t make me say it.”
“Why not?” Kelly said. “Is that the cure? Does staying silent keep the feelings at bay?”
Nathaniel shook his head. “No.”
“And did it ever stop hurting? All these years we’ve been apart, can you honestly say you avoided what you fear most? Because my heart has been aching since that night. No matter how far I go and how many other people I welcome into my life, there’s always a part of me that yearns for you. I’ve learned to live without you, Nathaniel, and I can keep on doing so. But I don’t want to, and the pain is never going to go away. I’m guessing the same is true for you.”
“Yeah,” Nathaniel said, his voice hoarse. “I love you, Kelly. I’m a piece of shit and I ruined everything, but I love you so much that I think it might be worth the pain.”
“It doesn’t have to hurt,” Kelly said, his chest heaving. “Not all the time. I swear.”
Nathaniel’s eyes were desperate with hope. Or fear or just pure emotion. Kelly didn’t know, and that troubled him. He loved the man so much that sometimes he awoke in the middle of the night, the dreams of them being together again so beautiful that they drove him to tears. But there remained so much he didn’t know about Nathaniel, and that made him question everything. Nathaniel stood, as if to come to him, but Kelly shook his head.
“We need to talk,” he said.
Nathaniel hesitated and sat back down. “There’s someone else?”
“There’s only you.” Kelly’s laugh was ironic. “You made it so I could run again, and believe me, I’ve been running long and hard. Whenever I look back, I see you’re not there and I feel like I got away. But the truth is, you’re inside me so deep that there’s no escape. All this time I’ve been running, all I’ve been doing is carrying you with me. So no, there is no one else. I don’t think there ever will be. But I’m finally ready to get to know the man I love. All of him.”
“So what do I do?” Nathaniel asked.
“Talk to me. Tell me everything.”
Kelly tried to soothe his racing heart as he took a seat and leaned back. This was going to be a long night, but he had learned long ago that dark times are best weathered with those you love. And when the dawn of a new day greeted them, he prayed that the skies would be clear, the rest of their days spent together basking in the light.
The story continues in... Something Like Thunder
Nathaniel Courtney has a troubled past. One that still haunts him and causes him to behave irrationally. Will opening up and sharing his life story be enough to earn him a second chance? Can Kelly Phillips ever forgive him? Or is this only the eye of the storm?
Something Like Thunder is the second book in the Storms Series, one that reveals Nathaniel’s secrets while furthering the events of Something Like Lightning.
Experience the story from the very beginning...
...in the Seasons Series, each book written from a different character’s perspective, the plots intertwining at key points while also venturing off in new directions. The quest for love takes many different forms, changing like the seasons. Which is your favorite?
Current books in the series:
#1: Something Like Summer
#2: Something Like Winter
#3: Something Like Autumn
#4: Something Like Spring
Also by Jay Bell
Kamikaze Boys
True love is worth fighting for.
My name is Connor Williams and people say I’m crazy. But that’s not who I am. They also think I’m straight, and mean, and dangerous. But that’s not who I am. The stories people tell, all those legends which made me an outsider—they don’t mean a thing. Only my mother and my younger brother matter to me. Funny then that I find myself wanting to stand up for someone else. David Henry, that kind-of-cute guy who keeps to himself, he’s about to get his ass beat by a bunch of dudes bigger than him. I could look away,
let him be one more causality of this cruel world... But that’s not who I am.
Kamikaze Boys, a Lambda Literary award winning novel, is a story of love triumphant as two young men walk a perilous path in the hopes of saving each other.
For more information, please see: www.jaybellbooks.com
Jay Bell, Something Like Lightning
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