They stood there for a few moments. Bernard rubbed his back. It was comforting to stand here with a friend and share a moment of weakness.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
They both turned to face Rory in the doorway.
“Rory,” Bernard said.
“Just come get me when you’re done. I’ll be unpacking other boxes.”
Shit, what does he think happened?
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause a problem with you and Rory. It seems like he likes you,” Kelly said.
“What?” Bernard said. “No, it’s not like that. Rory’s straight.”
Kelly raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think he’s as straight as he claims.”
“Huh?”
“I just noticed things, but I won’t say anything to him. Please don’t tell him I said anything.”
“I won’t.” Bernard walked out of the bedroom. “I better go talk to him.”
Bernard found Rory in the room he’d left him in. He had unpacked a box with parts of a desk and was assembling them when Bernard walked in.
“Hey, Rory,” Bernard said. “You didn’t interrupt anything.”
“It looked like you two were having a moment,” Rory said. “I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Rory.” Bernard sat next to him. Tears streaked his face. “Kelly was telling me something about his past. He’s had a rough time, and I was consoling him. That’s all.”
“What happened?” Rory wiped away the tears.
“He asked me not to share,” Bernard said. It sounded absurd. He told Rory that Kelly was upset but couldn’t tell him why.
“I see.”
“I wish I could tell you more,” Bernard said. “But Kelly asked me not to say anything about what we talked about.”
“I understand.”
*
RORY DIDN’T SPEAKto Bernard for the rest of the day.
They finished unpacking and said good night to everyone.
Rory waited on the porch for Bernard.
“Rory, is everything okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You haven’t spoken to me since our conversation about Kelly.”
“I just needed time to think.”
Bernard watched his friend. His mannerisms had changed. He was somber and cold toward him.
