We'd gone to dinner the other night and he made everything clear to me.
I do remember thinking how I wanted him to rip off my clothes and make love to me. I guess I was thinking out loud and he did what he wanted. That was all. No big deal.
He swore it would never happen again.
He also gave me a beautiful new gold crucifix.
I showed up at eight this morning.
I looked around the place. Books and clothes thrown around, stuffed in boxes or paper bags. The place looked like a tornado went through it.
Steve was putting his stereo into a large garbage bag.
"Hey," I said. "What are you doing? Going on the lam?"
He stuck the last speaker in the bag and tied it up. "Cut the jokes and give me a hand."
I started putting the stray books and clothes into whatever box they would fit in.
His new place.
It looked just like what Mike said he lived in.
A rat hole.
"Why did you move into someplace like this?"
"Money." He said, hooking up the stereo's speakers. "I need to save some cash."
"You should stop giving me presents...just kidding."
He took my hands. "Let's break in the bed."
Steve left right after we finished, so I got dressed and called Mike at the guest house.
"Want to meet me at Mocha Daze?" I asked him. "I'm buying."
"Yeah," he yawned. "I got to take a shower first. See you in an hour."
"Okay."
We hung up.
I was putting on my socks when I saw a bag filled with note books.
I picked one up.
It was Steve's journal.
In fact, they all were.
I knew I shouldn't look at them. I should just put it back in the bag and leave. I'd burn in hell if I read any of them.
I took one, anyway.
I found a parking spot in front of Mocha Daze and got out of my car.
The tattered notebook lay in the back seat.
I walked up, saw Mike, and started to go inside.
Hugo stood in the doorway, holding the piece of stained glass. I stared up at the window and saw he had replaced it with clear Plexiglas.
"Take your guilt and go home," he said, handing me the multicolored art piece. "I don't want you or your bribes in here."
"Hugo..."
"Leave. Go to Steve and don't come back."
