Can We Tone Down The Homoeroticism in The Bilgewater Prose A Little?
"I had better words ready for this moment. Funny how they all went out the window as soon as I saw him." "Give him room, and he’ll pull your strings ‘til you don’t know which end’s your ass." "His slipperiness came in handy when we were partners." "For once, he’s got nothing cute to say." "but Malcolm couldn’t care less. I’m all he’s interested in."
There are ways to subtly hint at a romantic past. These lines feel a bit stilted, come off as forced, and I think going forward a bit more subtlety in your prose would be good.