Summary

Cam is a young Black man who has returned to Houston (his hometown) from Los Angeles, where his boyfriend, Kai, recently died. Cam’s former best friend, TJ, comes to the gay bar where Cam works. Cam notes that when “[his] parents died… [TJ’s] family took me into their lives” (3). Cam and TJ have not spoken in years. Cam asks TJ if he is “finally out” (5). TJ appears concerned about Cam in the wake of Kai’s death. He brings Cam pastries from his family’s bakery, where Cam once worked. After reuniting with TJ, Cam has sex with a random man he meets online.

Cam recalls his time with Kai in Los Angeles. Kai worked as a translator and spent time in Japan. He asked Cam about TJ and asserted that Cam “loved” (11) TJ. In the present, Kai’s ghost occasionally...