Hey, LEX...
Ryan had waited until Lex's current girlfriend, Anneke, was away from the theater on an errand that he knew would take at least an hour. Then he'd sought out Lex on one of the other man's frequent smoking breaks.
They were in the parking lot. Ryan tapped Lex on the shoulder, from behind.
Lex nearly jumped right out of his skin. "Jeeze, Bullock, don't DO that!"
"Why not? Guilty conscience about something, Lex?"
Lex tried to look innocent, which basically accomplished nothing except to demonstrate why his acting career hadn't taken off, so far.
"Haven't seen Kaitlin around in a while. You two break up?" Ryan asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Um,n--Y, yes, we did. She didn't think a long-distance relationship would work, yanno? And she really wanted to take that gig in Washington." But Lex was still avoiding Ryan's gaze, and fidgeting.
"But you took the train up to D.C. just last weekend, didn't you? See, that sticks in my memory. 'Specially with Anneke phoning me at midnight to talk to you, thinking you were gonna be watching the game with me and the guys. Sounds like you two have been doing a bit more than the occasional dinner and movie nights together."
"So? That's, if we are, what business is that of yours?" Lex fiddled with the collar of his shirt.
Ryan's face hardened, though his tone stayed mild. "I'd say you made it my business when you made me a cover story for your lying ass, buddy. So. If I phone Kaitlin or e-mail her, she's going to tell me you two aren't still dating or intimate? That the truth?"
Lex was blinking rapidly, a nervous twitch that was his curse, had been for years. "You wouldn't do that."
"*Bzzzt!* Wrong. 'Cause, see, I am sure of a few things, and one is that Anneke didn't volunteer to play 'rotating beds' with you or anyone. She doesn't play that sorta game, unlike some people I could think of." Ryan stared him down coldly. "Of course, if you told her and Kaitlin the truth about whatever's going through that alleged mind of yours, I wouldn't have to tell either of them. Would I."
Lex's face was an interesting shade of red. Ryan just waited.
"I--I suppose, but--" Lex faltered. "Ryan, it wasn't like that. I don't want to hurt anyone. I still don't. It's just--"
"Lex, that ship's sailed." Ryan cut him off. "You know damn well it has. Grow up. Girls aren't a freaking cookie jar. You can't help yourself to whatever you want. You can talk to them, or I will. 'Cause someone who cheats once will do it again. You're not giving Anneke or Kaitlin AIDS, or something, 'cause they trusted the wrong guy."
Silence. Lex nodded, looking at his sneakers.
Ryan turned and walked back inside, letting the door slam shut behind him.