THE BEST DAMNED THING by B.A. Tortuga

THE BEST DAMNED THING by BA Tortuga

A Charity Short Benefitting the It Gets Better Project

Jim sure doesn't want to get into the middle of it when the guys on his construction crew start messing with Collin, the new, and queer, guy in town. He will if he has to, though, because he doesn't believe in letting anyone call a man out for being gay. Foreman Walker doesn't like the idea any more than Jim does, but he's perfectly happy to let Jim get in the middle with him and Collin...

Author's Note: This is Torquere Press' Fourth Year of doing short stories for charity and I couldn't be more pleased to participate. I want to especially thank J. Rocci for all of her work and support of the project. It wouldn't have happened without her. You rock, sweetie!

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~Excerpt~

"Don't be a fuck, Jim. You want to fight or something?" Dale's Coke went down a little harder than his.

He twisted his lips. He'd fight if he had to. He didn't back down from assholes like Dale.

A huge, solid hand landed on his shoulder, and he knew it was Walker, the foreman. The boss stared at everyone, especially Jim and Cooter. "You asshats got issues?"

Listening to that voice made him shiver a little, deep inside. "Not me," Jim said, shaking his head. His cheek brushed the side of Walker's hand.

"Just seeing if old Jim here was a fudge packer like that little queer coming out of the coffee shop."

The hand on his shoulder didn't move. "Is Mr. Marten causing y'all problems?"

"What?" Dale looked like he was fixin' to swallow his tongue.

"Collin! You causing my boys problems?" The boss' voice rang out and Collin Marten stopped, looked over from across the way.

"Walker? Why on earth would I do that?" Collin took a step closer, and Cooter spit on the ground again.

"I'm going back to work; fucking fags."

"Watch your mouth, Cooter, or you can get your shit and go. I don't put up with that kind of crap on my crew, and you know it."

"I ain't working for a queer. You queer, Walker?"

Well, shit.

Jim stood there, his teeth in his mouth, trying to figure out what the fuck to do, to say before the shit hit the fan. He'd been subcontracting for Walker for five long years, and he'd never seen the man back down from a fight, never seen the man lose one, either. He'd never pondered Walker's sexuality too hard, either. That way lay madness.

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