This week, on Don't Look Back, the confusion continues as Marshall and Lee discover they're on You Tube! Wonder what that means? Don't miss this week's chapter! And don't forget to see what the other Briefers have to offer. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!
“You Tube? What the hell are you talking about?” Marshall
asked.
“Boy, what have you been smoking?” Slim demanded to know, and
everyone laughed. Everyone except Denver, who pulled out his phone, indignation
shining in his eyes.
“I’ll show you what I’m talking about. Hold your horses for
just a minute, willya?”
Marshall leaned in to Lee, lowering his voice for his ears
alone. “I bet he’s going to pop up with some kind of birthday video or
something, and then yell surprise.”
“You never know, that might just be it,” Lee agreed.
Marshall caught a hint of something in Lee’s voice, though, something that wasn’t
entirely amusement. Before he could ask what was wrong, he heard Denver’s cry
of triumph.
“Found it!” He pushed his phone at Marshall. “There it is.
Just press play. I turned up the sound already.”
Marshall took the phone, holding it between him and Lee, so
they could both watch. He heard the scrape of chairs as the others rose and
grouped behind them, everyone’s attention on the phone.
Marshall pressed play, prepared for anything. What he saw
was the familiar crowded dance floor of Partners. People were moving back, out
of the line of sight of the camera, to a respectful distance from a couple. The
camera shifted, focusing on that couple.
Marshall realized with a start that it was indeed him and
Lee. They were dancing together, and the crowd was watching appreciatively,
shouting encouragements, along with whistles and catcalls.
Marshall remembered
the dance, of course, and the way Lee had bent him over and kissed him long and
hard. He even remembered people taking pictures of them. What he hadn’t
expected was to end up in a video on You Tube.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” Only after the clip ended did he notice
the title given it by whoever had uploaded it: Two hot men and a great kiss at Partners. He felt his cheeks go
warm, but he wasn’t exactly displeased about the video. Not like he was
embarrassed about his love for Lee, or of having people see them together. Then
he looked at the view count. Holy shit. “There’s almost a million views on this
thing.” He looked up to find Denver grinning widely at him.
“Oh yeah, you’re quite the sensation. I think they call that
going viral. You two are gonna be famous.”
Marshall snorted with laughter, until he caught a glimpse of
Lee’s face. Lee wasn’t smiling, and he didn’t look very happy. Come to think of
it, neither did Roy.
Marshall pushed the phone into Denver’s hand. “The answer is
still no,” he responded to the unspoken question he could read in Denver’s
eyes. “Still got plans. It’s our anniversary, you know.”
“I know,” Denver grumbled, pocketing the phone. “Can’t blame
a guy for trying.”
Everyone laughed, as they resumed their seats. Marshall took advantage of the momentary
confusion to whisper in Lee’s ear. “Is something wrong?”
Lee didn’t answer immediately, heightening Marshall’s
unease. He pulled back enough to look at Lee’s face. “What is it?” he asked.
Lee’s brows drew together before he relaxed his expression
and forced a smile. “Probably nothing,” he admitted.
“Afraid I’ll get famous on You Tube and take off for
Hollywood?” Marshall joked.
Lee leaned forward and kissed him. “I think I know better
than that.”
“I should hope so. You know I was just kidding, right?”
“I know that. Look, we can talk about it later, okay?”
“Okay. Good.” Marshall felt somewhat relieved. They’d talk
about it, whatever it was, and Lee would make everything all right, like he
always did.
“Hey you two, break it up!” Slim’s voice broke into their
moment. Lee slid an arm about Marshall’s shoulders and grinned at their friend.
“What’s the matter, Slim? Tell us how you really feel!”
More laughter. Slim raised a glass of beer. “Kinda hard to
make a toast if you’re not paying attention. To Lee and Marshall! Happy
anniversary, and happy birthday to Marshall. May you always be happy and
together.”
Glasses were lifted around the table, and everyone echoed
the sentiment. A short time later, Lee rose, reaching for Marshall’s hand. “Time
for us to go,” he said in his no-nonsense way, “but we’ll get together again
soon. Agreed?”
They made their good-nights and said their thank yous for a
fine evening. Roy left with them, citing the need to work the next day. He
accompanied them to their car, leaning against it as Lee unlocked it. A look
passed between the two men that Marshall didn’t understand. His unease, which
had subsided, began to return.
“Doesn’t have to mean anything,” Roy said.
“Yeah, I know that. But then again, it might.”
“I know.” Roy removed his hat and scratched the side of his
head before replacing it. “I’ll get on it soon as I get home, Lee, ‘kay?”
“I appreciate that, Roy.” The two men shook hands before Lee
opened the door and motioned Marshall inside. Marshall started to ask a
question, but decided against it, and let Lee close the door without comment.
Roy headed to his car and Lee slid behind the wheel.
They drove in silence for a few minutes, Lee staring out at
the highway, once they left Tucker Falls. Marshall gazed out his side window,
but there wasn’t a whole lot to see at this time of night. Finally, he couldn’t
wait any longer.
“Want to tell me what’s going on? Something about that video’s
got you spooked. What is it?”
Lee took a deep breath, then let it out. “Just don’t like
having us out there on the Internet like that.”
Marshall was sure there was more to the story than that. “We
advertise on the Internet, that’s how we get a lot of our business. What else
is there?”
Lee hesitated. “I just don’t want our past catching up with
us, that’s all.”
Suddenly Marshall understood, his stomach knotting. “Oh hell
no,” he whispered.
to be continued
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