Chapter 6
Reconciliations
"Muh," said Doug the next morning, by way of greeting, as he slouched into the living room with a blanket around his shoulders and a grimace on his face.
Jack smiled and pressed a cup of fresh coffee and two aspirin tablets into his hands. "Take these," he said, "you'll feel better."
"Mungyuh," said Doug, which Jack decided to assume was thanks. Doug flopped down on the couch, popped the pills into his mouth, and took a generous swallow of coffee. Then he took a deep, fortifying breath and shook his head as though trying to shake water out of his hair. He closed his eyes and leaned back.
Jack sat across from him in the armchair, nursing his own cup of coffee. "Bad hangover?" he asked dryly.
"I don't know how drunks do this every day," said Doug.
Jack shrugged. "Practice."
Doug opened one eye and peered at him skeptically for a moment. Then he leaned slowly forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and placed his cup on the coffee table. "Look, Jack," he started, "about last night. I'm sorry-"
Jack held up a hand. "No apologies necessary. I know what you're going through. You were lost, you felt hurt and rejected. You were seeking comfort. Validation. I seemed like the best option. Trust me, I've done much worse."
"You're not angry?" asked Doug. "I mean, even after I called you like that after I've been such an ass lately..."
Jack smiled. "It's been tense. Neither of us have been really normal. I'm not exactly without blame either here. Look, can we just put all of this behind us? I mean, I miss the weekly card games. I miss having you around. You're a great friend, Doug. I don't want us to keep avoiding each other forever."
"You're right," Doug agreed, picking up his coffee cup and taking another sip. "We should just get over it, right?"
"Exactly." Jack nodded. "Sometimes you really need a friend who understands that you can lean on when you need to. Although, I have to say, after last night... Look, I don't want to be preachy or anything, and I'm sure you don't really need my advice, but I think you'd be a lot happier if-"
"Jack," Doug interrupted, "if you're going to say that I should come out, then save your breath. I'm not ready. I just don't want the world watching me like that. I don't like the idea of people knowing my business."
"It's not like you have to come out to the world," Jack persisted. "Maybe just tell Pacey or something. You know he'd be understanding, and he wouldn't judge you. Then at least you'd have someone else to talk to about things with. Family, even. You wouldn't have to be alone with your secret. I know what it's like Doug, and the more people you can talk to who support you, the easier it is. Besides, what if you need someone to take care of you like you did yesterday and I'm not around?"
Doug sighed, and was thoughtfully silent for a moment. "I suppose you're right," he said eventually. "I mean, I guess it would make things easier. I... I'll try. Why not, right? I mean, if nothing else, at least he'll get a good laugh."
"He'll understand," Jack assured him, surprised at the conviction in his own voice. "You know he will. It's Pacey, after all."