Read Losing Faith for Free Online Page B

colors, all with white scroll work and lattice trim. After three more miles, he turned right onto South Atlantic Avenue and started working his way down to the Riverwalk. As soon as he rounded the corner, he could see the water off in the distance, and his heart started beating faster in anticipation of what he would find when he got there.
    When Cullen was about a half mile from the water’s edge, he started his sprint. He was tired of the building anticipation, and it was time to know if Abel was there or not. He pushed himself as hard as he could and sprinted across East Bay and into the park. He took to the sidewalk and almost stopped dead in his tracks when he rounded the turn and saw a guy sitting on one of the park benches. From the guy’s body language and the sun reflecting off of his reddish-blond hair, Cullen could tell it was Abel. By the time he got there, his heart was nearly leaping out of his chest, and he was having a hard time breathing.
    “Hey,” Abel said, handing him a cup of coffee.
    Cullen waved him off and dropped down next to him. He lowered his head between his legs and tried to catch his breath.
    Abel laughed. “You don’t have to fake fatigue this time.”
    “Not… faking.” Cullen gasped for air. “Sprinted… the last… half mile.”
    Abel stood and put the two cups of coffee on the sidewalk. “Do I really need to call 911 this time?”
    Cullen waved his hand in the air. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.” No matter how out of breath Cullen was, he didn’t miss how great Abel looked. He appeared to be very comfortable in a dark green V-neck sweater that really brought out the color in his eyes, blue jeans, and brown leather driving shoes with no socks. He’d been handsome in his suit, of course, but this was a different kind of handsome. More relaxed and youthful.
    “If you say so.” Abel sat back down and picked up his coffee cup.
    Cullen stood and paced back and forth on the sidewalk. Three minutes passed before he started to regain some sort of even breathing. When Cullen looked up, Abel was smiling and sipping his coffee.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “You.”
    “Me?”
    “Yeah! Why do you torture yourself like that?”
    “Oh, please,” Cullen smirked. “I do it to try and compete with age and gravity. Why do you do it?”
    Abel chuckled and once again offered Cullen the second cup of coffee. “I don’t.”
    “You apparently do something. You’re in great shape.” Cullen accepted the cup.
    “Thanks. The gym is my poison. Most days, at least an hour. Maybe two.”
    “Well, it shows.” Cullen held up his coffee cup. “By the way, what’s this?”
    “A peace offering, I guess.” Abel paused. “I really hoped I’d see you again before you left so I could apologize for being an ass last night.”
    Cullen sat next to Abel on the bench and nodded. “Yeah? What was that reverend crap all about? You know very well I’m retired and on not so good terms with the man upstairs.”
    Abel turned and looked Cullen in the eyes. “I’m really sorry. It was just an attack of paranoia.”
    Cullen tilted his head. “Paranoia? I don’t understand.”
    Abel hesitated.
    Here we go again. “Look, Abel. My plan is to leave Southport this morning. I came by here for one last opportunity to see if I could help you in some way before I left. But if I have any chance, you’ll have to open up to me. If you don’t feel comfortable enough to do that, then I’ll be on my way. It’s that simple.” Cullen looked away. “I have my own demons to fight, ya know?”
    “Please, don’t go.” Abel said it so low Cullen almost didn’t hear him.
    “Abel.” Cullen sighed.
    Abel took another sip of his coffee.
    Cullen did the same and waited patiently.
    “Last night at Bible study….” Abel’s voice trailed off, and he cleared his throat. “We were debating homosexuality and the Bible. Pastor Williams argued against it, of course, and I was appointed to argue on its behalf.