“Don’t you just adore Bette Davis?” Waldo continued, enthusiastically.

That earned him a smile from Mrs. Donohue who said, “What do you know about Bette Davis? She was way before your time.”

“I know everything about Bette Davis,” Waldo said. “My ma parked me in front of the TV when she cleaned the house and I saw all the old movies. Jezebel, Dark Victory and my absolute favorite, All About Eve.” He put his hands on his hips and declaimed, ‘I may have seen better days, but I’m still not to be had for the price of a cocktail, like a salted peanut.’”

Mrs. Donohue laughed. “What’s your name?”

“Waldo, missus. Waldo Kornowsky and you met my friend Billy Ryan. Don’t ask him about old movies, though. He don’t know Joan Crawford from Jean Harlow.”

She shook her head, her eyes mirthful. “Come inside, boys. I’ll make you some tea and we can talk about the rental.”

As they headed down the hill, key to their new apartment in hand, Waldo said, “Sure glad I let you do all the talking.”

Within the month, he and Waldo had moved into the spacious apartment above Mrs. Donohue, he sold his first house and earned his first commission, and he had two new listings in the neighborhood. He should have been happy but as he lay in bed watching Michael tie his shoes, sadness impaled him.

“I don’t understand why you won’t move in,” he said. “Your place is a dump and we’ve been going out for almost two years. It’s time.”

Michael looked up. “Time for what, Billy?”

“I earn good money and I got a nice apartment. You told me you wanted someone to take care of you. I can do that now, baby. Let me.”

Michael sighed. “Comes with too many strings. I like my freedom.”

“You like tricking with other guys, you mean,” Bill said bitterly.

“Yeah, hon, that too.”

“Don’t you love me?”

“Oh, Bill, stop with the guilt tripping. Yeah, I love you but if I lived here, you’d drive me crazy. Honestly, you’re so jealous. You should be the Mexican.”

“I want to settle down.”

Michael sat at the edge of the bed and took his hand. “It don’t mean anything if I trick with someone else. Don’t I always come back to you?”

“I don’t understand why you need to do it in the first place.”

“Oh, honey, this city—it’s like living in a candy shop and all the candy is free and you can eat as much as you want. Grab it with both hands and stuff your face. Don’t you ever want a taste?”

“I only want you, Mikey.”

Michael kissed his forehead. “You got me baby, but you got to share. I have a break between appointments at three. You come into the shop and I’ll cut your hair, okay?”