On the Edge

Evan Miller, 20, from Fang, Texas, was discovered yesterday in a mall parking lot in the 2200 block of Sanger Avenue. Miller had a deep stab wound to the abdomen and underwent several hours of surgery. He is currently in serious condition, but he is expected to survive.

I’d read the little blurb from the town’s on-line newspaper when my brother gave it to me after I’d regained consciousness. Now the police were showing it to me.  

“What can you add?” asked Detective Doris Mitchell. She looked too butch to be straight, but I knew for a fact that she was married to the assistant chief and had six kids. Six kids! She was one of the best detectives on the force.

I looked over at the younger stud in uniform. He had to be straight. He was so gorgeous that I would have married him that very minute. But first, and not that it mattered, I had to admit to him that I’m a slut.

“He told me his name is Greg. No last name,” I added.

“Do you often sleep with guys whose last names you don’t know?”

I looked over at Officer Handsome; he seemed embarrassed. Was it for me, or for himself? I looked away, suddenly really ashamed.

“As often as I can.”

“What else?”

“He had an old Chevy pickup, kind of a medium blue. It had a white cap on the bed. With blackout curtains.”

“You went with him willingly?”

“Yes. I had joked with the guys playing pool that I would only play against a gay guy.”

“Yeah,” she said. “We heard about that.”

“Well, he told me that we wouldn’t have to play pool first and that he had a place where we could… um…”

“Engage in sexual activities?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Why did I suddenly want to cry?

“Did you do or say anything that he could have construed as hostile?”

“No, after I fu… after the sex was over, I told him that I enjoyed it and wanted to see him again. That’s when I saw his arm move and heard him stab me.”

“Heard it?” asked the younger officer.

“Like a piece of raw chicken dropping on the counter.”

The officer’s eyebrows drew together and he made a frown.

“I don’t remember being moved out of the truck.”

“Based on your bruising,” the detective continued, “you were tossed, pushed, or dropped out. Unfortunately, someone cleaned you up before we were able to take any samples, so we have no DNA evidence.”

I looked at my right hand. When he had come, I got some on my hand. It would have been perfect for testing.

“Did you remember something?” It was Officer Handsome again.

“No, I was…” I looked at my hand and then at him again.

He seemed to know what I was thinking. “Oh.” And then his face got red again.  

“OK. Let’s wrap this up. You remember anything else, you contact Officer Murphy. He’ll probably interview you again in a few days.” She started out the door.

Officer Handsome handed me a card. “It’s Kyle. Kyle Murphy.”

“Thanks.”

Officer Murphy touched my hand and nodded. Suddenly, I wished that I had never fucked anyone. I wanted to be cherry… for him. Was I an idiot? I tried to move to get a better view of his leaving the room, his butt in that uniform. Pain like I’ve never felt before shot through me. I clenched my teeth and grimaced. I didn’t want my father to hear the pussy boy screaming in pain.

My brother stood by my side. “Your father isn’t here, Evan,” he told me.

“You always know what I’m thinking.”

“Until two days ago, I thought I did. I thought you always played it safe.”

“I did. I do. I always wear a condom.”

His face became angry. “You’re not being selective.” He turned away. “I love you, bro. You scared me.”

Two days later, I had an excruciating physical therapy session. My brother arrived soon after. “Steven, I’m so glad to see you. I need some pity. They are so mean to me here.”

Steven just rolled his eyes. “You just hate exercise. But you’re going to have to strengthen those abdominal muscles. Boohoo for you.”

“Well, thanks for coming anyway. The news is about to start.” I shushed him as I turned up the volume. There was the usual section about the weather, hot and humid, but then, my jaw dropped.”

“Another man found stabbed in a parking lot. Police are not releasing the name of the victim who was found early this morning in the parking lot on Easterly Drive. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene. While there are similarities between this case and another from several days ago, police are not saying they are related. In that case, 20-year-old Evan Miller from Fang was found naked and stabbed in a parking lot. An unnamed source from the police department indicated that the Miller case may involve a drug deal gone bad.”

“What the fuck!” I tried to get out of bed. “I wasn’t doing drugs.”

“Evan, calm down.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m calm.” I grabbed my cell phone. I had not called Kyle Murphy, but here was the perfect opportunity to text him.

Text to Kyle: Why are the police saying I was involved in a drug deal?

I guess I was looking for an immediate response because I just kept staring at the phone.

“For heaven’s sake, Evan, give him a chance to read the message. You know, he’ll never go out with you if you act like a lunatic.”

“He’s not going to go out with me because he’s straight,” I countered.

“You don’t know that. I saw him touch your hand the other night,” added Steve.

“Plus, he knows now that I’m a slut.”

“Aren’t most men sluts until they find the one to spend their lives with?”

“You’re not.” I shook my head.

“But don’t you think I’d like to be?”

“I don’t think of you like that.”

“But I am. If I only look at women who are within five years of my age and eliminate the married ones, I probably want to fuck about fifty percent of them. The real difference between us is that you have the confidence to actually do it. Probably because you’re good at it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard the ranch hands earlier this year. You fucked two of our five ranch hands.”

“Shit, I didn’t think he knew that.”

“Well, they were comparing notes about you. They said you were one of the best they’d ever had. And I know that once you’ve recovered, you’re going to keep on fucking guys until you find your match. Unless that police officer is your match. But I think you missed something important in that report.”

I looked back at the TV.

“Someone else was stabbed, and he died.”

He was right; I didn’t know how to respond. My phone buzzed, so I didn’t have to come up with one.  

Text from Kyle: This is the first I’ve heard of it. Unlikely for you to do drug deal with no clothes on. Fake news. :-) Kyle.

I looked at my brother. Kyle doesn’t think it was a drug deal because I was naked.

My brother looked at me and smiled. “So it’s Kyle.”

“That’s his name.”

My brother’s grin got wider.

“Fuck you, Steven.”

“Not in your lifetime.” He kissed me on the forehead. “I’d ruin it for everyone else.”

I grabbed his head and held him to me. “I love you, big brother.”

“You get better,” he told me. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I watched him walk out.

My phone buzzed again.

Text from Kyle: OK if I stop by when I get off work?

I stared at the text. ‘He only wants to question me,’ I told myself.

Text to Kyle: Anytime is good. I’m not going anywhere. ;-)

Oh, shit. Why did I send the winking face? It must be the pain medication. I turned off the TV, pulled up my phone and began reading a book from my Kindle app. I was three chapters into a Henrie O mystery by Carolyn Hart when I heard a gentle rapping. I looked up to see Officer Kyle Murphy standing in the doorway. He was still in his uniform. He was smiling at me, but he looked tired.

I smiled back. “Thanks for coming.”

He walked up to my bedside. I reached out my hand to shake his. He took my hand in his and held it there. I never realized how warm and comforting someone’s hand could feel. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m doing much better now.” I looked at him directly. I squeezed his hand. “Help me sit up.”

He lowered the bar on the bed so I could swing my legs over and sit. My abdomen hurt like hell, but I wanted to sit to talk to him. “Do you want to sit down?” I patted the bed.

He looked at the spot. “Probably best if I sit in the chair, you know.” He pulled the chair closer to the bed. “We need to stay professional during the investigation.”

“And then?”

I saw his cheeks turn red. “I’m sorry; I’ve always been too forward.”

“You’re more apt to get what you want that way.” His voice was low and soft. “It doesn’t work for everyone, though.”

“What works for you?”

“Maybe that’s a discussion that needs to take place over dinner and a glass of wine.”

“I’m not sure how to respond to that,” I said. Did I see a bit of sadness cross his face?

“Honestly, I suppose. You struck me as quite honest the other day. I got the impression that you are always straight up with people.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Then, tell me what you’re thinking.” Kyle leaned forward.

“I think you’re a really handsome guy, and I’m attracted to you, but it’s not in the usual way. That confuses me a bit.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean. I feel something, too, but I want to get to know you better.”

“Usually, when I find a guy attractive, I just want to fuck him. I’m sorry, that’s crude. I mean, …”

“So sometimes you see a guy, and you’re sexually attracted to him.”

“Yeah, that’s it.

“Do you ever meet someone you just want to have as a friend, or do you want to fuck everyone you meet? Sorry for the f-bomb.”

I smiled at him. I think he really was sorry.

“Look. I realized when I was a teenager that I was good looking. I had girls and guys tell me so. When I was horny, I could usually find someone willing to…” I started to realize how shallow I seemed. I looked at Kyle and wondered whether he’d agree with my brother.

“Evan, you seem a little sad telling me this.”

“It’s just that I’m concerned that you’ll think less of me because I’ve slept around a lot.”

“Actually, I’d be surprised if a man as handsome as you had not slept around. The thing is, once this case is over and we’ve had our dinner, maybe that will change.”

I felt a warm feeling come over me. “Are your feelings right now strong enough to think that?”

“They are, and they are even stronger after this brief talk.”

“Mine are too. We need to change the subject before I walk over to you and give you a kiss, Officer Murphy.

At that, Kyle turned beet red. “Well, I wanted to get you up to date on the case. I am permitted to tell you that we believe your case is related to the new case, but no additional information about your assault has been uncovered.

“Now, let me help you get back into the bed.” Kyle helped me get my legs back on the bed. His hand brushed up my leg. How I wanted him to get in bed next to me. I wanted to kiss him, to explore his body, to feel him inside of me.

Wait, I told myself. How was it that I wanted to bottom for him. I was a top. I’d been a top since my first experience. I’d never let anyone top me.

Kyle dimmed the lights. “I want you to get plenty of rest, and work really hard to get your strength back.” He touched my cheek. My pain medication took over, and I was fast asleep.

There was a haze when I opened my eyes. I was sure that I had heard a sound that was out of place. At first, I thought the nurse had come in to check on me, but the smile threw me off. It was a nice big smile that made me fear for my life.