Wood: A True Lover's Story

“What are you doing here? How did you—?”

“My nephew told me you came by while he was at my house waiting on my cable guy.” Adam smiled brightly, and Wood found himself riveted as old memories of Adam gazing up at him just like this sank inside of him. “He said you came by weeks ago, but of course he forgot to tell me until yesterday. Damn teenagers.” Adam ran his hand through Wood’s long hair on top of his head.

It felt nice, strangely nostalgic, but… weird. Wrong. The touch was soft, hesitant, as Wood had become used to a rough, firm touch.

Trent.

Wood spun around to an empty porch.

“Come inside. It’s cold out here,” Wood said. “I need to introduce you to someone.”

“To that guy who was scowling at me?” Adam shrank away. “No, thanks.”

“I can see how he might misunderstand this.” Wood glanced down at their close proximity.

“Wait a minute—”

“Just come inside. I’ll explain.” Wood put his palm in the center of Adam’s back and helped him up the few steps onto the porch. His place was warm and smelled like lemon Pine-Sol since he and Trent had cleaned Saturday morning. His trailer wasn’t much but Wood was proud to be able to offer his ex a hot cup of coffee and a place to sit and talk. He didn’t see Trent in the living room or kitchen, so he assumed he’d gone to his bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes. “Trent!”

“This is, um…” Adam cleared his throat. “This is very different from your condo in Ghent, Woody.”

Wood tried to relax his shoulders, but every time Adam called him that old nickname, the memories it raised weren’t happy ones he wanted to remember. Wood tamped down his insecurity at the way Adam’s eyes were judgingly roaming over his small place. “I know. But what’s important is I have a roof over my head, y’know.” Wood glanced around, trying to see the place he’d called home for the last month through new eyes.

“If having a place is the issue, then you can always come stay with me,” Adam offered. “I inherited my mother’s house, and I have more than enough room.”

Wood set the two cups of tap water in the microwave and hit the quick start button. He leaned against the counter, staring in amazement. “You’ve got to be joking. You don’t even know me anymore, Adam.”

Adam came closer. “I know you, Wood. Trust me. And I know what happened that night was an accident. You’re not a drunk, never have been—you weren’t intoxicated at all that night. I wished I’d have been conscious to give you an alibi. To tell the truth. You didn’t deserve what they—”

“Stop,” Wood said quietly, but firmly enough to make Adam seal his lips together. “Don’t do that, please. It was vehicular manslaughter, Adam. What happened was meant to be.”

Adam leaned heavily on his cane, blinking slowly. “Wow. I can’t believe you’re really here.”

Wood recognized the vivid spark of attraction in Adam’s eyes as he stared at the tattoos he could see around Wood’s short-sleeve button-up. His arms had always been Adam’s favorite part of him, and there was no denying that his ex’s mind was venturing to ground they’d never travel again.

“Trent. Baby,” Wood hollered. “Can you come out here now?”

The bedroom door opened, and Wood met Trent’s shimmering eyes as he walked slowly down the hall. He was still fully dressed in his church clothes, and Wood wondered what he was doing back there and most of all why he was hiding.

“Trent, hey,” Wood said, narrowing his eyes at Trent’s stiff posture. “I want you to meet someone.”

Wood stepped between the two men in his small kitchen who appeared to be assessing the hell out of one another and hurried to introduce them. “Adam Phillips, this is Trent. Trent, this is—”

“Wood’s fiancé.” Adam extended his hand to shake, but Trent ended up staring at it for long moment before his sad eyes went to Wood. He knew he had to look like a deer caught in his headlights, but he hadn’t expected Adam to say that.

“Excuse me?” Trent sneered.

Adam casually tucked his untouched hand into his pants pocket, kicking back one side of his fashionable outerwear. He stood there confidently with his head high and his back straight, regardless that he relied on a cane for assistance. Adam touched his hand to the graying edges at his temple and glanced over at Wood. “I see you’re still taking the mentoring thing a little too far.”

Trent looked as if he was two seconds away from snapping, and Wood chuckled nervously, trying to break the tension. “No. That’s not true. I… We’re not engaged, Adam. What the hell are you doing?”

“Yes, we’ve been apart for a long time, but you’re home.” Adam did a quick glance around. “Well, here… for now. But we were engaged when that accident happened. I never gave up on you, Wood. And obviously you didn’t either because you came to my house. You came to see me just a few weeks ago.”