Page 73 of Thin Ice

Liam was in the kitchen with his mom, doing dishes. He'd squeezed my shoulder on the way out and said "take your time" and closed the door.

I pressed call.

Three rings.

"Hello?" The voice of a person deciding whether to answer a number they don't recognize.

"James. It's Alex."

Silence.

"Alex Harrington."

"I know which Alex." A breath. Then, quieter. "Wow. Okay."

"I should've called a long time ago."

"Yeah. You should have." Not angry. Just the flat sound of a fact he'd made peace with. "Hold on, let me — David, can you turn that down? Sorry. We're watching something."

"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."

"How are you, Alex?"

"Not great. How about you?"

"I'm good, actually. What's going on?"

"I'm like you."

"What?"

I was having a hard time saying it. I took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry for not calling until now… it's just that…"

He must have heard it in my voice because his tone changed. "Alex, what's going on?"

Then it came out. "I'm gay."

He went quiet. I could hear the TV volume drop to nothing in the background. A long pause.

"They disowned me."

"Oh no…"

"Four days ago."

"Jesus. Right before Christmas. Assholes."

"I told him I was gay, and that I was with someone, and he cut me off. I'm staying at my boyfriend's mom's house."

"I'm sorry, Alex."

Then there was a very long pause.

"James — "

"Sorry. I'm processing. You said your boyfriend's mom's house. Are you safe? Are you okay?"