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.I shook my head.Of course he didn't agree with it, Ithought.The word incorrigible came to mind.It didn't takelong to figure out that Isaac rarely thought he was wrong,57 Blind Faith N.R Walkerand I wondered just how much it hurt him to apologize tome.It made his apology just a little more meaningful.Isaac handed me an empty plate and waved hisother hand toward the chicken salad."Please, helpyourself.""Sure," I answered, and filled his plate too.As Ihanded his lunch back to him, I said, "And I shouldapologize for& well, for telling you that women were notmy type."He put his plate down on the countertop.He openedand closed his mouth, then a light blush crept over hischeeks."Don't apologize for that," he said quietly."I'mglad you told me."He was glad I told him?Before I could respond, he quickly changed thesubject."There's a jug of water in the fridge, can you get itfor me?""Of course," I told him and did as he asked, whilehe got two glasses out of the overhead cupboard to hisright.I poured two glasses of water and, putting one infront of him on the countertop, I took his left hand andgently wrapped his fingers around the glass.He blushed, and his voice was barely a breath."Thank you."58 Blind Faith N.R WalkerAnd it clicked into place.He was glad I told him Ididn't like women, he blushed when I touched his hand,Hannah telling me he liked me.As in liked me, liked me.Figuring I had nothing else to lose, I took a deepbreath and asked, "Isaac, are you gay?"His face jolted around toward me, shocked at myblatant question, then he blushed a deep scarlet.I didn'tgive him time to be embarrassed.Instead, I chuckled."So,seeing anyone?""Not for the last eighteen years," he deadpanned."Oh, shit," I cried, as I realized what I'd just said toa blind man."I didn't mean seeing as in seeing, I meantseeing as in seeing someone."Isaac laughed at me."Oh, that makes sense," he saidwith a sarcastic laugh."You mean as in dating?""Yes, dating!" I cried."Shit, I'm sorry."Isaac laughed again."It's fine, Carter, really.I wasjust kidding.You're allowed to say things like 'you shouldhave seen it' or 'are you seeing anyone.' I'm not offended bythat."I exhaled, relieved."Jeez, I'm sorry," I told himagain.He grinned at me."Stop apologizing and have adrink of water," he suggested."It might help wash that footdown."59 Blind Faith N.R WalkerI rolled my eyes at him, though of course hecouldn't see it.Still smiling, he pushed his plate across thebench top, then walked around me, pulled out a stool fromunder the kitchen bench and sat down."We can sit at the dining table, if you'd prefer?""No, this is fine," I told him, and pulled out thestool next to his and sat down for lunch.Isaac had a few mouthfuls, then said, "And theanswer to your question is no.""No?""No, I'm not dating anyone."Oh."Are you?" he asked, before he took anothermouthful of lettuce and tomato.I swallowed my food and took a sip of water."No,not for a while," I admitted."There was a guy for a while,but that ended about a year ago."Isaac nodded, playing it cool."What was hisname?""Paul.""Why'd you break up?"Jeez, he wasn't shy on asking point-blank questions."Um, we wanted different things." That was a diplomaticway to put it.60 Blind Faith N.R Walker"What kind of things?" Isaac pressed on."Career,family?"I speared a cherry tomato with my fork."He wantedto sleep with other people apparently."The fork in Isaac's hand stopped halfway to hismouth."Oh."I chuckled at his expression."Yeah, it wasn'tpleasant.""Oh," he said again.He took another mouthful ofchicken and chewed thoughtfully."Is that why you movedhere, and took on the new job?"I shook my head, but then remembered I had to saythe word out loud for him."No.No, not at all.Like I said, itall happened a year ago.I was over that ordeal long beforethis job came up, but when it did, I thought it was theperfect time to move on with my life.""Fair enough," he agreed."What about you?" I asked again."Ex-boyfriends?"He shrugged."Not for a long while." Then heamended, "I used to spend time with a guy in school.Iguess you'd say it was dating.""What was his name?" I asked.He looked hesitantso I added, "Fair's fair, I told you mine."He smirked."Daniel.""What happened to Daniel?"61 Blind Faith N.R Walker"They moved away," Isaac said."We were youngand not sure what we wanted, really."I smiled."You just fooled around andexperimented?"Isaac's mouth fell open then promptly snapped shut.He shrugged, "Mmm, maybe."I chuckled at him."Does Hannah know?"Isaac finished the last of his salad and nodded."Yes, of course.I can't hide much from her."I found myself smiling."Where is she?""At her house."I had to think about that for a second."Doesn't shelive here with you?""No," Isaac said, shaking his head slowly."Sheused to, but she got married last year, and now has her ownplace.Her husband, Carlos, is a really nice guy.""You live here by yourself?" I asked, incredulously."Is that safe?"He lifted his chin and spoke as though he'd had thisconversation a thousand times."It's perfectly safe.Hannahis here from breakfast 'til dinner every day except Sundays.I have the best security system, this place gets locked downat night, and I'm a grown man.I'm an adult, twenty-sixyears old, I'm allowed to live by myself."62 Blind Faith N.R Walker"I didn't mean to offend you," I told him sincerely."It just amazes me how independent you are, howproficient you are at doing stuff, at looking after yourself."I huffed and shook my head."Jesus, I'd be hopeless.""Well, I didn't really have a choice," he told me."Icould have either crawled into a hole and died, or got onwith my life."I shook my head."You're an amazing man, Isaac."He shrugged one shoulder, and I could tell he didn'tbelieve me.After a moment, he pushed his plate away."Carter, can I tell you something?""Sure."He took a long second, as though he was trying toget the words right in his head before he spoke."I live herealone, and I'm completely blind," he said quietly."So I'msure you can appreciate how difficult it is for me to justinvite people in."I nodded, then again, remembered I had to say mywords out loud."Of course."Isaac spoke softly.It was the most vulnerable I'dever seen him
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