ANGEL: When Angels Cry (18 page)

When Dane pulled the car into a parking space
to the side of the club entrance, he made no move to get out, but
seemed to be waiting for Angel to exit the vehicle. “Aren’t
you…coming in?” Angel whispered.

Dane looked out the side window. “No.” he
murmured, his mouth resting against his hand.

What did I do? Why are you being like this?
Angel’s
eyes filled and he grabbed the door latch, popping open the
passenger door. What he
wanted
to say, he couldn’t. And beyond that…what
else was there to say?

He shoved open the door, barely containing
the sobs squeezing his throat. He could feel the tears seeping out
into his lashes, ready to drip down his face.

“Angel.” Dane stopped him and his heart leapt
with hope.

“Yes?” he whispered, afraid to try and speak
any louder, certain his emotions would break and he might throw
himself at the man, begging him to not shove him away.

“I, uh,” Dane cleared his throat but still
wasn’t looking at Angel. That wasn’t a good sign. “I had a good
time tonight.”

Licking his lips slowly, uncertain where this
was heading, he said quietly, “So did I.”

Dane rubbed his mouth, his elbow resting
against the driver door as he stared blankly at the outside of the
club building. “I like you, but…”

But? No…

“I’m not really looking…” his words faltered,
seemed unsteady, but then he neutralized them again. “…for anything
serious. And with us being co-workers…maybe we shouldn’t do this
anymore.” His lips tightened and he continued to stare out the side
window. “I’m not trying to hurt you, but…I don’t want you to think
that we’re…together.”

Angel stared at his hands and had no control
over the welling tears as they rose up and rolled down his face.
He used you. Just
because he didn’t abuse you…doesn’t mean he’s any different than
the others. Except he got to fuck you for free.

***

The boy stepped out of the car and closed the
door quietly. He didn’t say a word, didn’t ask any questions. He
just…
walked
away
.

His lean frame blurred as Dane watched him
enter the club, arms wrapped around his waist, shoulders weighed
down by Dane’s words. A quick swipe of Angel’s hand caught tears
off his cheek as he was surely attempting to appear that nothing
was amiss when he walked inside.

Dane shifted his wet eyes to the rearview
mirror and stared at himself. The emptiness inside him consumed his
mind, his heart, and hollowed him out. How could heaven turn to
hell so suddenly?

An ache wound up through his face and stabbed
into his eyes, drawing out more tears as he backed the car out of
the parking lot and drove away, thinking maybe he could just keep
on driving and never stop. Maybe outrun all the pain inside…and all
that he’d caused outside.

-THE END-