Page 79
Chapter 79 of "Heartbreak Honey" begins the action: Once Mikeâs brought up all their stuff, Skyler asks him if he minds running to... Discover the next part!
Once Mikeâs brought up all their stuff, Skyler asks him if he minds running to a cafĂŠ down the block to grab them some sandwiches. After coming back with them, Mike says heâll be downstairs if they need anything.
âIs he just going to wait around for us?â Trevor asks as he and Skyler eat their sandwiches on tall swivel chairs at the breakfast bar, the sunlight beaming in and reflecting off everything.
Stellaâs already found her happy spot, sprawled on the floor belly up right in front of the window.
âNo,â Skyler mumbles around a mouthful of roast beef. He finishes chewing and then says, âI bought another apartment in the building for him and Hal to share for when they come here with me. Itâs convenient.â
Trevor gives him an assessing look. âDo you buy everyone you know apartments?â
âWhy? Do you want one?â
âNot funny.â
Skyler shrugs casually. Like he doesnât care if itâs funny or not. Like it may have been a joke, but he really would buy an apartment for Trevor if Trevor wanted him to, and heâd do it without blinking an eye.
And Trevor doesnât want Skyler to buy him anything. Doesnât need him to. But he still finds himself overwhelmed sometimes by the depths of Skylerâs unfailingly generous heart.
They spend the afternoon getting used to each other in a new space, and although this apartment couldnât be considered small by any normal personâs standards, Trevor canât help feeling a little trapped. A part of him still wants to be at home waiting for the worst. Instead, heâs here waiting.
Later, they sit on the couch to watch a movie, and since itâs what theyâd be doing if they were at Skylerâs house, it almost lets him forget that theyâre not in L.A., andwhytheyâre not in L.A. Almost. But as Skyler searches for a movie, asking Trevorâs opinion, he finds he couldnât care less what they watch. He probably wonât be able to concentrate on it anyway.
After he gives a noncommittal shrug to four of Skylerâs suggestions, Skyler chooses for them. He picks something old, like really old, and Trevor gives him a skeptical look. That's a far cry from the romcoms Skyler loves.
âMy dad got me into older stuff,â Skyler explains, setting the remote aside. âThey donât make movies like this anymore. Theyâre kind of soothing.â
Trevor nods. He could use soothing.
As the opening credits start, he turns so his back is resting against the arm of the couch. He pulls his feet up on the cushion, knees bent so as not to kick Skyler. Wordlessly, Skyler grabs his feet and pulls them over his lap, one hand remaining wrapped around Trevorâs ankles. Soothing.
He zones out a bit after the first couple scenes, but Skyler brings his attention back by squeezing his ankle.
âDid you know he was gay?â
âWho?â
Skyler juts his head toward the screen where an attractive man with a charming smile is holding out a rose to a woman. âTaylor Bucannon.â
Trevor eyes the man another moment. He only vaguely recognizes his face, but heâs definitely heard the name. Taylor Bucannonâs regarded as one of the biggest movie stars of his time. âHow do you know?â
âItâs something I heard at a party,â Skyler says. He rubs his thumb up toward Trevorâs calf and back down to his heel. âA lot of film industry people were there, and I donât know how the topic came up, but they talked about how it was sort of an open secret in the industry at the time.â
He shifts awkwardly, pulling his leg away. Not totally out of Skylerâs grasp, but enough to make him stop rubbing. Heâs plenty familiar with secrets like that.
Skyler frowns and lets his hand simply settle around Trevorâs ankle again. âThey said he had a relationship with the director of one of his movies.â
Glancing at the screen, Trevor asks, âWasnât he married to an actress?â He vaguely remembers that the guy starred in a bunch of movies with his wife.
âHe was. Uh. . .â Skyler clears his throat. âRumor has it their marriage was to protect his secret and promote their films. They say he was still with the director for years after he got married.â
Trevor stiffens. He turns to the screen again, trying to hide his discomfort, but Skyler notices anyway.
âShit. Iâm sorry. I shouldnât haveâI mean, I wasnâtââ Skyler lets go of his ankle. âDo you want to watch something else?â
âI donât care, itâs just a dumb movie,â he snaps.
âOkay,â Skyler says, barely above a whisper. He makes no move to push Trevorâs feet off his lap, but it takes him an awkward moment to figure out where to put his hands so theyâre not touching any part of him.
And Trevor feels bad, because heâs not mad at Skyler, but how did Skyler expect him to react to that story? Itâs shitty how Taylor Bucannon had to hide who he was. And frustrating to know that some things havenât changed in fifty years.