Cashing In

Thank you for choosing to read Cashing In. This story is part of a three volume series on the theme of betrayal and forgiveness. The other stories in this informal series are Salt Of The Earth by Morgan Starr and A Man Named Jax by Alp Mortal. Lino and Beth are on skid row. Beth is sick and can't work. Lino has no work. They are a day away from getting tossed out on the street, and everything they have worked for, and the plans to marry and have children are all about to be wiped out. A chance encounter with Art, a male escort, results in Lino getting invited to go gay-for-pay and earn himself some money. With no choice if he wants to stay eviction and get Beth her medication, Lino agrees. At the same time, he finds work in a new café opened by a young, enterprising gay man - Edgar. Things are suddenly looking up, especially after Lino gets paid for the first of Art's gigs. Except, going gay-for-pay isn't so much of a big deal for Lino as he would have you think. On top of which, he falls for Edgar, to whom he confesses his sexuality, who offers him a refuge if and when he chooses to come out to Beth. The powder keg's fuse is lit when Art decides that Lino hasn't been as grateful for his help as he thinks he should have been ...