Can We Really Get Away

Iago and Max walked briskly toward the hospital tent. Max knew Kevin and Rob would help them, take care of them, and protect them... somehow. They’d done it before and had promised to always be there for him. Unlike others he’d trusted, Max knew Kevin and Rob wouldn’t let him down. He could count on them almost as much as he could count on Iago. His parents and extended family may have been an inconsistent, at best, part of his life, but these three men always demonstrated unconditional support; and in Iago’s case, unconditional love.

“Max, I know you and I weren’t in touch, but Beni would have told me if something happened to you. He’s always known how important you are to me.”

“Come on. We have to figure out how to keep out of trouble, especially if Gonzalo really did screw up. He may have been followed. Who knows, maybe there’s already a member of the Barcelona Police teaming with the locals in Mozambique and we just haven’t run into him.”

Stopping abruptly, Iago turned to Max and grabbed his arm. “Tell me.”

“I don’t want you to get any more upset than you already are. Besides, whatever happened, it’s all in the past.” Max tried his best to put Iago off. He realized he’d revealed too much to Iago, and it would unfortunately now all have to come out.

“Let me tell you, what I’m imagining now can’t be any worse than the truth. What happened? Why did Rob and Kevin have to save you?”

Max sighed. Iago was more protective than Quim, Clara and Beni put together at the best of times. Max just hoped Iago would listen and understand the incident was history.

The two were nearing the medical encampment. Max took Iago by the hand and found a small, sparse patch of grass for them to sit on.

“Iago, I’m only going to tell you if you promise to remain calm and don’t overreact.”

Glaring at Max, Iago hesitated, then nodded his head. “Max, talk to me.”

“After I’d been here for six months, I finally got somewhat comfortable with the idea that I might never see you again.”

Iago looked away, squinting in the sunlight.

“You see, Beni told me about Gonzalo. He wanted me to come home, but I was being stubborn and wanted to be fair to you.”

“Fair! Fair would have meant being honest. I thought you stopped loving me.”

Max bit his lip. “I know. I was wrong. I never stopped loving you, and now I know you never stopped loving me.”

Iago remained thoughtfully silent.

“By then, I’d told Rob and Kevin I was gay. The few times I went out with them, as you heard, I always returned to my apartment alone.” Max huffed. “I compared every man to you, and no one ever measured up.”

“I’m still not hearing the part where they saved you.”

“I’m getting to that.” Max fidgeted on the ground until Iago put his hand on Max’s knee.

“No matter what you tell me, it won’t drive me away.”

Looking into Iago’s eyes, Max couldn’t imagine how he’d ever allowed them to be separated for so long. He had been a complete fool and had nearly paid dearly for it.

Iago brushed his hand over Max’s cheek and gazed into his eyes, waiting and loving at the same time.

“One night I decided I had to move on, in any way I could. I remembered when Enric tried to convince me to have sex with other men.”

“That jackass threw away the best man he ever had. He didn’t appreciate you.”

“No, he didn’t, but remember, his attitude about having an open relationship is what brought me to you.”

“I suppose, but I wanted you long before you showed up at the kiosk that night.”

Max blushed, recalling how bold he was. He wondered if Iago knew that was the night Max discovered he was falling in love.

“Go on.” Iago waited patiently.

Taking Iago’s hand in his own, Max continued. “There is one safe area where foreigners can gather. The straight and gay couples all dance, drink, and party there. One of the nights I went there with Rob and Kevin, I met a guy. We had some fun throughout the night, and when the time came to make our way back to the camp area I told Rob and Kevin to go on without me. I was determined to put you out of my mind for one night.”

Max felt Iago’s hand tighten, but he didn’t pull away.

“I let him kiss me and when we walked outside, my plan was to invite him to my apartment. He seemed really into me and kept kissing me in the moonlight.” Max choked. “But I couldn’t go through with it. He wasn’t you. Every time he touched me... you know.”

“I do know. I hurt Gonzalo because of it, but he knew too. If he had been honest with himself, he sensed it all through our short relationship.”

“Apparently, some locals spotted us kissing. It’s one thing to be who we are in our apartment, or in the encampment area. But gays are definitely not accepted into society here. A group of boys started to call insulting names. The guy I was with yelled fuck, and ran off like lightning. I was so taken by surprise that by the time I started to run, it didn’t take long for them to catch me.”

“Oh God!” Iago’s face paled. Max could tell he’d better finish before Iago panicked further.

“It turns out Rob and Kevin were enjoying the clear night so they hadn’t left the area. They must have heard me cry out for help. I’d only taken a couple of hits when they arrived.”

Iago spoke softly, his voice shaky. “Did they get hurt too, mixing it up with the mob of bigots?”

Max grinned. “No, not at all. Kevin carries a handgun when he leaves the encampment. It’s concealed so as not to draw attention, but he let it draw plenty of attention that night. In a voice I barely recognized, he forcefully told those jerks, get the fuck away from him or I’ll shoot your balls off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone run away so fast.”

“Except for the asshole who abandoned you to take on the mob alone.”

Max nodded and held Iago’s hand to his cheek. “Ever since then, I only go out with Rob and Kevin. I already confessed how many men I’ve brought home. Somehow I always imagined that someday the apartment would be ours.”

Iago moved to Max’s side and held him. “No one will ever hurt you again. I’ll make sure of it.”

“I don’t need you to be my protector; I need you to be my partner.”

“As your partner, I need to make sure you’re always safe.”

“The same for me with you.”

“Good.” Iago wrapped his arms tightly around Max.

Max knew he and Iago would have problems, like all couples, but he finally understood that being separated was no longer ever going to be an option.

“We’d better head off to see Rob and Kevin. I want to thank them again for taking care of you, and then they can help us decide what to do next.”

“Iago, if we have to leave Mozambique I’ll be sad, but I can’t be without you again.”

“I’m glad you said that. I know you love the work you’re doing here, but being away from you will not happen.”

Max heard the determination in Iago’s voice and it gave him confidence to face anything, including a new unknown destination if it turned out to be the only way to keep Iago by his side.