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Paul crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes. “I don’t have to explain anything.”
“Normally I’d agree with you, but you’re the minister of this church. So it is our business. No one is accusing you of anything, we’re just concerned with the appearance of impropriety.”
“There’s nothing inappropriate about it.”
Mike leaned back in the chair. “Then my suggestion would be you help Ian find himself another place to live. People might stop talking about this.”
Paul shook his head. “I’m not doing that.”
“I’m trying to help you. I don’t think you understand how serious this is.”
“You don’t think I do? You want to know what’s inappropriate? This is inappropriate,” he said, poking the desk top with his index finger, “you coming in here and telling me who I should be friends with and who can stay in my house.”
“If there is nothing going on, what would it hurt for him to have his own place?”
“He’s fine where he is.”
Mike shook his head, and after a pause, said: “Paul, I’m just going to ask you this directly. Are you having a sexual relationship with Ian?”
It would have been the easiest thing in the world for Paul to lie. It might have changed everything, or at least bought him some time. But he didn’t like lying. He preferred to avoid the truth.
“I can’t believe you just asked me that.” He stood up and gestured toward the door. “I think we’re done here, Mike. Thanks for coming by and bringing this to my attention.”
Mike shook his head again. He got up and walked to the door. Before he turned the knob, he looked back.
“I’ve been to your house, Paul,” he said. “You don’t have a guest room.”
Moments after Mike left, Paul experienced a state that can hardly be called an emotion at all. It was the blinding tension of his fight or flight instinct kicking in. His stomach was tight, his nerves were raw, and he couldn’t think. He had to get out of the church.
“I’m taking the rest of the day off,” he called to Julie as he passed.
“What about Ian?” she asked.
“What about him?” Paul barked. He’d had enough of people asking him about Ian.
“How is he going to get home?”
Paul pinched the bridge of his nose. “Right,” he sighed deeply. “Can you take him home?”
“Sure,” Julie said.
A few hours later, Ian arrived back at the house to find Paul sitting on the futon with a mostly empty bottle of wine.
“Wine,” Ian said.
“I thought I’d be done with it before you got home.”
Ian picked up the bottle and eyed its contents. “You came pretty close. I’ve never seen you drink before.”
“I didn’t want to drink in front of you.”
“Being drunk in front of me is okay, though, huh?” He was smiling when he said it. “This is an interesting turnaround.”
“I’m sorry I left you at the church,” Paul said. “I just had to get out of there.”
“I know. Julie explained it to me.”
“She did? How did she know?”
