BANE

CHAPTER THREE - BLAME (Part 2)

"Corbin..."

"Don't 'Corbin' me like that! What are you trying to suggest?"

"You're my best friend, do you think I'd judge you?"

Corbin scoffed. "Um, yeah. You judge me all the time. What's your point?"

"The Australian."

"...I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you do. About eight months ago we all went out to a human bar and you 'happened' to bump into some good-looking Australian guy that had come into your restaurant earlier that night. You disappear and I get a text from you saying that if anyone asks, to tell them that you crashed at my place that night... but you didn't. And you sure as hell didn't go home that night, so..."

"So you assume because I had a conversation and a drink with one guy who was new to the city eight months ago that it means I'm secretly gay? That's quite a stretch, careful you don't pull a muscle," Corbin scoffed and moved towards the door.

"Corbin, come on! What's the big deal?"

"There is no big deal, you're the one trying to invent scandals that aren't there."

Victor cornered the shorter man at the door, blocking it so he could not leave. "Then answer this... You know Holden better than I do, you know he would never hurt Layla... So what made you angry enough to attack him today? Was it really that you thought he was preying on Layla, or were you hurt that he didn't choose you?"

"Fuck you, Vic. Let me go!" Corbin squeezed past his much stronger friend and gripped the doorknob.

"Holden kissed me tonight..."

Corbin froze. "Projecting much? Is there a mirror in that closet you're trapped in, Vic?"

"I'm just saying... it just seems to be something he does when his judgement is impaired. So, don't worry about that warehouse night, I'm sure it didn't mean a thing to him."

His jaw clenched and Corbin turned the doorknob. "Good to know. Tell Holden he's welcome to come back home in the morning. Good night Vic."

"Good night Corbin," Victor said with that same knowing smile, and closed the door behind him.

******

Victor awoke the next morning to a knock on his door. He cursed under his breath as he stood and stretched out his cramped body from sleeping on the much-too-short couch. "I swear to God, if that's Corbin again..." He flung open the door to his apartment. "What!? Oh! Hi Gracie," He smiled.

"Hey Vic. You okay? You look stiff," A tall woman with raw umber skin and short black hair smiled at him. She was wearing neon coloured track shoes, black shorts, and a blue tank top, and stretched her arms as she spoke.

"Late night, that's all. What's up?"

"I was just going for a run and was wondering if you..." Something beyond Victor caught her eye and she bit her lip. "...and the man standing in your kitchen in his underwear, you know what? I've caught you at a bad time, forget about it."

Victor glanced over his shoulder to see a very hung-over Holden helping himself to a cup of coffee. "Wait, no. I'm not—well, he is, but I'm not gay. Um, just putting that out there."

"Hey! Did you just out me to the stranger at your door?" Holden looked over as he poured his coffee, nearly overflowing the mug.

"Quiet, Holden! And put some damn pants on!" Victor shushed him before turning back to his neighbour, Grace. "Anyway, you were saying?"