Throwback Thursday

Today I'm offering a snippet of my m/m/m romance set in San Sebastian, Spain. I'm feeling nostalgic because I was supposed to visit this month but I decided to cancel due to the coronavirus. Spain is not on the list of countries to avoid, but there are a lot of plane rides and airports between here and there. In any case, I hope to re-book my flight for later in the year. In the meantime, here's a sample to whet your appetite. You can purchase  MY SEMANA GRANDE for $2.99 or read for free on KU.

My Semana Grande
Mickie B. Ashling 2019
All rights reserved.

ED DIDN’T know what to expect as he followed Patxi through the busy streets of Gros. It was early by Spanish standards, barely seven o’clock in the evening, yet the bars were beginning to fill up with customers, overflowing to the sidewalk tables and chairs. When he asked why there was a crowd, Patxi said this was normal for the month of August. Semana Grande, a local festival that kicked off on the fifteenth and lasted ten days, attracted tourists from all over the world. Celebrations included free concerts, marching bands, street entertainment, food kiosks, and nightly fireworks.
There was a definite party atmosphere in the air and it might be exactly what Ed needed to snap out of his lethargy. He was pleased that his Spanish hadn’t been entirely forgotten. It was obvious he needed to hone his skills, but at least he wouldn’t be starting from zero. Maybe he’d strike up a conversation with some people so he could practice. Being forced to speak a foreign language was the best and fastest way to learn.
Patxi continued his conversation in Spanish interspersed with Euskara, the Basque language, fully expecting Ed to understand every word. In truth, Ed was still processing the information he’d received about Javi and was barely listening. What in hell could have caused the gregarious and friendly surfer he’d known to turn into a recluse?
He slipped into doctor mode automatically and went down the list of possible scenarios. Midlife crisis? Love affair gone wrong? Job issues? There were any number of reasons that could result in Javi’s condition, and Ed couldn’t wait to find out the particulars. He hoped it was something simple so he might help.
They stopped in front of an unfamiliar building, and Patxi fumbled with his key to the portal. Ed could see the old man’s hand trembling slightly, and he assumed it had to do with age, not the fact that he was showing up at his son’s doorstep with a ghost from his past. Ed hoped Javi would react favorably to his unexpected visit. Was he married? Who was taking care of him? All of a sudden Ed hesitated, unsure of his next move. Reaching for Patxi, he stopped him just as he was about to turn the lock.
“Are you sure I’m not intruding?”
“Of course not,” Patxi insisted.
“What about his wife?”
Patxi blinked at him owlishly. “Wife? You’re joking, right?”
Ed shrugged. “I haven’t had any contact with Javi in thirty years. I don’t know anything about him.”
“People don’t change, Edu. The only women in Javi’s life are his sisters. My wife, Teresita, passed last year.”
Ed vaguely remembered the lovely woman who’d been Javi’s mother. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said woodenly. “What did she die of?”
“Cancer.”
Ed nodded. “My wife also passed away five years ago of brain cancer.”
Patxi stared. “You were married?”
“Yes,” Ed replied. “I have twin sons who are just finishing college.”
“Huh… how strange. I didn’t think people like you could do that.”
Like me? Great, Ed thought. Patxi’s image of him was one-sided. But what else had he expected? Back in the day, he and Javi were draped around each other like Spanish shawls. Ed should have taken the time to explain that his attraction to Javi was unforeseen, albeit enjoyable, but definitely an isolated incident. Right then, though, he wasn’t in the mood to dissect his life. Not when he was a few steps away from the man who’d turned his world upside down.
“Well, we’re here,” Patxi said, swinging the door of the flat open. “Follow me.”
The apartment was dark, lit by a solitary lamp in the living room. The overall atmosphere was starkly uninviting.
“Javier,” Patxi called out in a loud voice.
“I’m in my room,” Javi replied.
“I brought you a visitor.”
“Who?”
“Are you decent?” Patxi asked.
“Why? Did you bring the king to visit?”
“No,” Patxi replied, chuckling. “I brought someone better.”
“Aita, stop kidding around.”
“I’m serious,” Patxi said. “Edu is with me.”
The silence was telling, and for one awful moment, Ed wanted to turn around and walk away, but then Javi called out in halting English.
“Is it really you, my friend?”
Ed’s throat burned, and for some inexplicable reason, tears flooded his eyes. He coughed and replied in what he hoped was a normal tone of voice. “Yup, it’s me. Can I come in?”
“At your own risk,” Javi said, reverting to Spanish.
Well, shit. It wasn’t the most enthusiastic reply, but it was better than an outright refusal. Ed headed toward the bedroom, grateful that Patxi didn’t follow. He didn’t want an audience for this homecoming, not when he didn’t know how they’d both react.
At this time of the year, sunset didn’t start until well past eight o’clock in the evening, and the room was in shadows as waning daylight filtered in through the paned window. Javi sat on a chaise facing the door, his legs covered with a light cotton throw. He was wearing a white T-shirt that depicted an aging hipster hanging ten on a surfboard, gray hair tied back in a ponytail, a goofy look on his face, and the caption Surf Till U Check Out in big block letters. Years of sun worship had left its toll, Ed noticed. Tiny crow’s feet radiated from Javi’s limpid hazel eyes and deep commas bracketed his generous mouth. Fortunately, he hadn’t gone bald, and the reddish-brown hair, tucked behind his ears and curled around his neck, made him look younger than his years. Ed had loved finger-combing through the strands, tugging on the thick mass at the height of passion, and helping Javi tie it back when it got in the way of his sport. He’d begged him to keep it long whenever Javi had threatened to buzz it off, and from his spot near the door, Ed felt ridiculously pleased that one thing hadn’t changed. An unexpected surge of tenderness clogged his throat, and he blinked back the tears as he stood there soaking up the sight of his former lover.
“Come closer,” Javi said softly. “I won’t bite.”
“Promise?” Ed croaked, trying for some levity.
Javi smiled and the years dropped away in a flash. “Acércate, cariño.”