Page 87 of The Invisible Roommate

After he started, it occurred to him that while he remembered the feel of the lyrics and their main images—roads, lights, and a love that can save you—he didn’t know them by heart. This didn’t prove to be a problem, because Kellen started singing along to Emory’s mediocre strumming, and Angie joined him with a harmony. Suddenly, all three of them were jamming together, and his spirits lifted.

Later, when he put the guitar away, a quarter folded piece of paper resting inside the hard-shelled case caught his eye. It was a note from Gerard that read:

Dearest Emory,

I’m writing this quickly before I hop on a helicopter back to New York for Nomeys rehearsal.

You were right (about a lot of things). My old life found me.

I wanted to be here to welcome you home with bells on, but as we both learned when I moved into an apartment that I thought was uninhabited, life has a lot of unforeseen circumstances.

Too soon for invisibility jokes?

I just wanted to lighten the tone so you didn’t think I’d left and wasn’t coming back.

I’ll always come back, Emory.

I told my dad and brothers about my autism, my queerness … and you.

That I love you.

I love you.

I’m entrusting Pascal to your care. Don’t forget to feed him, water him, and strum him at least once a day. You’ll be a maestro by the time I see you next.

Speaking of that, have you ever been to an awards show before? They’re mostly awful. They go on forever in loud rooms with lots of schmoozing, but you get to dress up, and they give you a gift bag full of expensive shit when you leave.

I’m in need of a date. What are you doing next Sunday night?

Love,

Gerard

40Gerard

Seeing Emory Griffin for the first time was mind-boggling. Seeing him outside of Iping Island and in New York City, of all places, was astounding. But seeing him in a tailored designer suit with his hair tamed and his shoes shined nearly stopped Gerard’s heart.

Cause of death? Handsomeness.

Of course, he didn’t need to worry about mortality at that rate. His genius scientist boyfriend could’ve easily come up with a solution to galvanize him should he keel over. Their love alone felt like a life-giving agent set to never expire.

Gerard wanted nothing more than to squish Emory in the biggest, warmest hug, but the hair and makeup teams would be bitter if they had to redo their hard work. He had already sprung a surprise guest on them, and he wasn’t keen to push his luck any further. After tonight, many of them would be rehomed to Garret’s solo team or hunting for new work.

“Do I look okay?” Emory asked, stepping farther into the lavish hotel suite high above the bustling streets of Manhattan. Midafternoon sunlight trickled in through the picture windows, casting a lemony glow over the exploding-with-color garment rack the stylists had wheeled in, giving them each options in their respective sizes.

Usually, Gerard would’ve gone with the most basic selection— a loose fabric, a muted color, something easy to tear off and forget about at the end of the night as he avoided looking at the Getty Images of him on the step-and-repeat that would be attached to emails from their publicist. But with Emory by his side, those were photos he was likely going to cherish forever. The urge to leap outside his fashion comfort zone won out, especially since he and his brothers were predicted to be award winners, too, by the end of the night.

Dress for the part you want, he thought.

Emory was dressed for the part of love of Gerard’s life. Gerard’s heart beat in double time as he inspected Emory.

“You look incredible,” Gerard said. The bow tie Emory wore was slightly askew, but Gerard resisted the impulse to reach out and fix it. He worried if he touched Emory, he might vanish again. Everything about that day already sat at a tipping point. Once the Nomeys were over, his whole life was going to change, and there wouldn’t be much opportunity to backpedal.

Emory thanked him before adding, “I love that color on you.”

The double-breasted jacket—under which he wore no shirt and relished the feel of the softness against his bare chest—was made of a luxurious emerald satin. “The color reminded me of chameleons and the Chesapeake.”

“It brings out the undertones in your hazel eyes,” said Emory, moving closer. Gerard’s whole body reacted kindly, tipping in. “I can’t wait to see you standing on the sand on Iping when the weather gets warm.”