Reunion Read Free Page B

go in. Logging on to the internet I search for a decent hotel in Grande Valley, the Marriott, the same place as the reunion, still has a decent room available. My new life has given me the means to stay in nice places, I do a shit load of travelling so I know what I like now.
    I glance quickly around my room for one last check then pick up my luggage and head out. I walk slowly down the stairs taking a long look around the beautiful home I have, realizing how empty it has become. I stop at the entrance to the games room, I see the fun and games have settled down. Looking around for Troy I see him wrapped around some other young twink and smile, then his eyes meet mine and I mouth goodbye, his eyes widen for a second before he nods mouthing ‘I love you’ back to me, then with a small sad smile, I leave.
    I see Lyle as I drive down the street and he raises his arm to stop me. This makes me laugh, I’m sure as hell not stopping for him ever again.
    I keep driving through the night, the adrenaline buzzing through keeps me focused and awake. I’m hardly aware of the scenery around me. But as the sun rises sending the darkness away, casting bright lights over the red mountains I pull over and stop the car. Stepping onto the still night-cooled asphalt taking a deep breath in, I can feel my lungs expand and fill with the cool fresh air. My heart beats faster as I embrace my epiphany. I no longer want to hide; I want to show the haters that I have survived, that I am a good man. I refuse to dwell on what I have left behind, the business I love and the clients I will miss. Clients are always transient, they get the results they want and then walk away. Now it’s time for me to get the results I want. I’ll talk to Troy, we can make a decision about the gyms later. I know Franco only wanted me to be happy.
    My cell phone buzzes with text messages a few times but it won’t be anything important. I have no important meetings or engagements scheduled; I made sure my diary was clear around this date. I didn’t ever think I would be brave enough to do this, to go back, but now I have a fire raging through me that’s pushing me forward.
    My ruminations are interrupted by the shrill ring of my cell, when I look down I see Troy’s face. “Hey Troy, are you okay?” I’ve been looking after him for so long it’s my go to question.
    “Yes Nico, I’m not a baby.” I hear his chuckle which makes me smile. “I just wanted to check that you’re okay. Please keep in touch, let me know how it goes with… well I won’t mention his name. But Nico, please let him know the real you. You are worthy of him.” Troy sighs sadly.
    “Thank you, I promise I’ll give it my best shot. I mean, what have I got to lose? My heart was broken ten years ago. I don’t think it could shatter anymore.” I know when I say that it’s not true; my heart is undeniably able to fracture into tiny irreparable pieces over this, over his possible and likely rejection.
    “Just keep in touch, I’m not ready to lose you too Nico,” Troy’s voice hitches in his throat.
    “You won’t lose me Troy, I promise you that. I’ll call you soon.”
    “Bring him back to meet me, Nico,” he whispers as he ends the call.
    I throw the phone back on the seat of the car. I take another deep breath and smile. Maybe it will be okay. Troy knows something, perhaps it really will be fine.
    The rest of the drive back is quiet and uneventful. Fuelled on caffeine I push on, driving through the day. It’s almost dark when I pull up at the Marriott Hotel in Grande Valley. I know I had taken one of the last few rooms and from the sound of the receptionist it was full of ex-students. I wonder who I will bump into first. I get to my room and grab a shower, it’s been a long drive to get back here and not just the miles travelled.
    I decide to take a walk down the high street and grab a beer, when I get into the bar I see a few faces I vaguely recollect. Looks like it’s going