Что значит "He holds his lovers, like they're quarters for payphones" ?

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It's an interesting phrase if for no other reason than it talks about someone using a pay phone.

I remember the days before phone cards, when you always had to have coins at hand in case you needed to make a call from a pay phone. So in this case, I think the writer is talking about how this character keeps his lovers at hand, not "spending" them until he needs to. They are there, in his pocket, always available to him, until he has a use for them.

And they are quarters. They are of no great value and easily replaced with other coins, but he keeps a few on hand, just in case.