Silver and Gold by Devon Rhodes

Geoff’s voice had been like a knife in Abe’s heart. Had he ever heard that tone of voice directed at him?
    “Can’t wait to see you either, Jess. Bye.”
    The door slipped from Abe’s hand and clicked shut, and Geoff had turned around and smiled at him. As if he hadn’t just said all those things.
    When he finally got Geoff to leave, after that bone-melting kiss that he couldn’t help but return in full measure, the sound of the door closing had been way too symbolic and triggered the bitter outlet of tears that currently wrapped him in their cathartic flow. As he cried, he whispered out loud one more time, “Goodbye, Geoff.” It rang through the still room like a death knell in his heart.

Chapter Six
     
    Abe gratefully accepted the huge latte from Kim and tried once more to convince her to leave. He had thought he’d been successful on the phone in persuading her not to come see him, but she had bribed him with an “extra” coffee that she just happened to have.
    Abe, you’re such a slut for coffee, and apparently everyone knows it.
    “I’m fine,” he repeated yet again. “Really.” And he smiled to emphasize how “fine” he was.
    “Abe, get that ugly excuse for a smile off your face and tell me what’s wrong. What happened with you and Geoff?”
    “Tenacious little thing, aren’t you?”
    “Tenacious, yes. Little, hell no. Thing ?” She gave him an arch look.
    “Sorry, babe. You were the one who insisted upon seeing me before I’m caffeinated.”
    “Meow. That actually almost sounded like the real you.” She softened her expression. “What happened, Abe?”
    Just like that, Abe found himself telling her the whole story, not pulling any punches when it came to his own stupidity in falling for a man who was already in love with someone else, not to mention sleeping with him in the first place. When he came to the part about the overheard phone call, Abe thought Kim was going to burst a blood vessel.
    He finished cautiously, “So he left it where he’ll be seeing me again soon… after going off to boink the love of his life. As if I would consider sleeping with him again knowing that he’d been practicing with me for another man.” He absently raised his empty cup to his lips, frowning when nothing came out, smacking it down on the end table. “Fuck, we both know that I’ll more than see him when I see him. Who am I trying to kid?”
    “Well, all I can say is my former boss won’t be getting any ass from you if it takes having to duct tape you to my bedroom door.” She pulled out her phone and dialed, her eyes flashing.
    “Shit, love, don’t quit on my account!” Abe was regretting ever picking up the phone this morning.
    “Don’t worry, I’m not quitting. I’ve decided I’m going to stay and make his life a living hell while I run his business into the ground.” She gave Abe an evil smile and left a terse message saying that she would be using a sick day and hung up.
    Abe watched her warily. “What are you doing?”
    Kim smiled more naturally. “Just going to help you pack for your trip and keep you company until you leave.” She waited a beat. “And keep you from going to his office, and him from coming up here,” she admitted.
    Abe gave her a hug. “You’re a good friend, my dear.”
    She hugged him back. “You don’t hate me because I fixed you two up?”
    “Not even close. One thing I’ve learned lately is that sometimes things just happen, no blame involved. It was hot while it lasted. More than just sex would have been… nice.”
    Nice? Try wonderful, fantastic, over the moon….
    Abe continued, talking as much to himself as Kim, “If he comes back wanting to pick up where we left off, I’m not sure that I’ll say no.” Kim started to protest, and he cut her off gently, “ But if I say yes, I’ll make sure he pays for what he’s put me through, and knows in detail what can and can’t happen in the future. Fair enough?” He gave a nod, encouraging