“How long ago?”
“I couldn’t say, sir. That information isn’t available to us.”
I turn and run through the foyer, now a bustling hub of morning activity, flipping my head in response to any man standing about six foot two. No Mikal. Out the front doors and past the valet I run alongside the taxis cued in line, peering into each window, hoping against hope that I haven’t missed him.
But I have. I’ve screwed up royally. I can’t even blame him for leaving. I deserve it. I wander to a bench and take up a depressed residence, the only tourist not taking advantage of avoiding the rain under the hotel awning. The rain is coming straight down, a venerable deluge. And then suddenly it stops; well, at least over me.
“Umbrella, sir?”
I look up with so much joy it hurts. “Mikal! I thought you left.”
I grab him in an embrace so tight I’m afraid of hurting him. I also want to be sure he’s real and I haven’t gone delusional. “I’m so sorry. Oh my Antonio Sabato Junior, I’m so sorry.” I bury my face on his chest. The tears are welling up in my eyes, such a horrible mixture of joy and self-loathing. “I’ll never ever leave you again. I promise. I love you. I know I do. I love you and can’t bear the thought that I left you here.”
“It’s all right. I was just in the gift shop getting this umbrella. I knew you’d come back, babe.” He smiles and gives me a quick kiss. “I also bought a leash, just in case. Antonio Sabato…?”
“He’s my Bobby….”
He laughs, and I lift my eyes to meet him. He’s beautiful. And smart. And courageous. And funny. And he loves me. And I’m soaking wet and muddy. I love him right back.
“Look at you, my boy in the rain.”
Mikal leans in and kisses me. Full of promise. Full of complete devotion. Full of love.
“Wow. I forgot what that was like. Two hours is too long to be apart. I’m so sorry, I just….”
“Shh…,” Mikal says, bringing a finger to my lips. “It doesn’t matter. I know you love me.”
I smile and nod. “I love you, Mikal.”
“I love you, babe. Now that I found you, let’s go fly away.” Mikal kisses me quick on the lips, then on the forehead.
“Where are we going?”
“Miami, Victoria, Paris, New York, Neverland. But I’m holding your hand. We’re going together.”
More from Charlie David
Shadowlands is a collection of heartfelt and sometimes heartbreaking short stories from well-known actor and entrepreneur Charlie David that explore the passion and pain of gay sexuality. Ancient myths are re-imagined with an exciting queer twist, masterfully depicting the charged, fragile relationships of urban life today.
Story genres in this collection include romance, science fiction, fantasy/paranormal, horror, mystery/suspense, and poetry.
The host of the TV travel series Bump!, which now airs in over 55 million households worldwide, Charlie David has played many roles in M/M film and television, including A Four Letter Word and Kiss the Bride, Bravo’s Godiva’s, Showtime’s Reefer Madness, Sundance Channel’s award-winning Terminal City, and a starring role in the gothic gay soap opera Dante’s Cove.
In 2007 he started Border2Border Entertainment Inc., a production company whose award-winning films include Mulligans, Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride, and Judas Kiss.
CHARLIE DAVID is a gypsy. On any given week he could be found walking with cheetah in South Africa or unpacking his skis at the airport in Zurich. As host of the TV travel series Bump!, which aired in over 55 million households worldwide, he’s not looking to settle down any time soon!
Formerly in a rock band—okay, actually, it was a boy band—Charlie opened for Destiny’s Child, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Rick Springfield, and Black Eyed Peas.
If you like LGBT film and TV series, you may recognize Charlie from Paternity Leave, Mulligans, A Four Letter Word and Kiss the Bride, Bravo’s Godiva’s, Showtime’s Reefer Madness, Sundance Channel’s award-winning Terminal City, and starring in the gothic gay soap opera Dante’s Cove.
In 2007 he started Border2Border Entertainment Inc., a production company whose award-winning films and TV shows include Mulligans, Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride, Positive Youth, Judas Kiss, Coming Out, I’m a Stripper, and STUDlebity.
Charlie lives in Toronto and Montréal with his partner. Although they love claiming these cities as home base, their favorite activity is planning travel to escape the snow.
To dive into Charlie’s world please visit border2border.ca
YouTube: youtube.com/user/MrCharlieDavid
E-mail: [email protected]
By Charlie David
Boy Midflight
Mulligans
Shadowlands
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Boy Midflight
© 2016 Charlie David.
Cover Photo
© 2016 Ethan James Photography.
http://ethanjamesphotography.com
Cover Design
© 2016 Paul Richmond.
http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
ISBN: 978-1-63477-241-9
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63477-242-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016901600
Published July 2016
v. 2.0
First Edition published by Palari Publishing LLP, 2009.
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Blurb
PUER AETERNUS
Dedication
The greatest thing a man can learn is to love.
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