Page 1 of Jack Frosting

ONE

CLAYTON

“You better not tell him why I left, Clayton!”

“He’s thirteen, Jill, and you’re abandoning us!” I yelled into the phone. “I think he’ll figure it out on his own!”

“I’ll send a service for the rest of my things.”

“Wonderful.”

And that was it. No ‘Goodbye’, no ‘See you at Christmas’, no ‘Take care of Henry’. My wife of nine years and the mother of our child had hung up.

After discovering her in bed with her chiropractor a month ago, she handed me the already-prepared divorce papers the next day. His family was in California and she was tired of New England winters, and also, apparently, her familial obligations.

I held back tears as I resisted the urge to hurl my phone through the wall. I needed a drink. Several drinks. If Jill didn’t want to explore my bisexuality together, then I was about to go fucking do it on my own.

Trying to dial Eli while my hands were shaking turned out to be a problem, so I set my phone down on the kitchen table, sat down, and hit the buttons with one finger. He picked up after one ring.

“Hey, Clayton, everything alright?”

Eli and his boyfriend Gareth had become my close friends lately. Once I could feel Jill pulling away, I pretty much wanted a queer presence in my life, and I chose them. Of course they knew everything, including the reason I sought them out. I needed someone to talk to about these things, and my son Henry was best friends with Eli’s son, Trey.

It was embarrassing when they clarified that they were not an open couple, but after that conversation, I could see how my approach might’ve led them to think that was my intent. Like I had a shot with either of them! They could’ve been paid models for Sean Cody – even Eli who was almost forty – whereas I’d be lucky to make the sixth page of an L.L. Bean catalog.

“Jill left. I need a drink. Can you pick up Henry from lacrosse practice for me?”

“Is that all? Of course! Do you want him to sleep over? I know Trey wouldn’t mind.”

I hadn’t wanted to ask, but that’s exactly what I wanted. Assertiveness was never my strong suit. Another critique brought to my attention by Jill.

“That would be amazing. Thank you,” I said.

“Gareth is actually heading into the city tonight, so if you need a ride home, give him a call.”

“That’s too generous of you, but I’ll keep that in mind. And I’ll pack a bag for Henry and leave it on our porch if you want to swing by and grab it.”

“Sounds great, Clayton. If you want to come over for dinner this weekend or whenever, if you need to talk, our door’s always open. Call me any time.”

“Thank you, Eli.”

“I’m so sorry this is happening, but…I hate to say this, from what we’ve talked about prior, it was inevitable. She didn’t love you anymore and now you can focus all your energy and attention on Henry instead of dealing with…other things.”

I knew he wanted to say ‘her’, but he was still trying to be polite about the situation.

“Plus, you’re thirty-five. I’m older than that and found Gareth. It-”

“It won’t be that easy for me. Trust me.”

“It’s literally day one, man. Go out. Have a drink or two and just let your mind go. Do whatever you want. Just be safe. And remember-”

“Call Gareth if I need a ride.” I paused. “You do realize I could Uber too, you know?”

“I know what Uber is, but a friend’s a friend, and if you get wasted, I’m pretty sure drivers can refuse to take you now.”

I had heard that as well, but I’d deal with that when I needed to. I felt like a shit father not spending this night with Henry, but I was not in the right headspace. I was afraid I’d make it worse for him if he saw me like this.

“Call me if you have any problems with His Royal Highness, Eli.”