Page 22 of Black Reign

It's the kind of silence that only happens between men who have known one another long enough not to fill every space with noise.

Then Drew looks at me.

Really looks.

Never promising.

“Question.”

“No.”

“You don't know what it is.”

“I know you.”

“That hurts.”

“Ask.”

He takes a pull from his cigar.

“Are you gay?”

Silence.

Haverhill stops chewing.

Leo closes his eyes.

Vale looks toward the sky.

Jalen lowers his drink.

I stare at Drew.

He shrugs.

“What? Everybody's wondered.”

“Everybody has not wondered,” Leo says.

Jalen raises one finger.

“I have.”

“Thank you,” Drew says.

Vale points his Scotch at me.

“I never cared enough to wonder.”

“That's friendship.”

Haverhill swallows.

“I'm curious now.”

I consider all five of them.