“Apparently, appearances can be deceiving. He wasn’thooked.”Not true—at all. But now that he was away from Patrick Weber, the horny haze was clearing, and he was thinking with the right head again. He might be a slut like most of the other guys, but he wasn’t entirely without integrity. Just because Patrick Weber was a walking, talkingwet dream—didn’t mean he was free for the taking. The boy was aChristian—with sexual morality. Of which, Derek hadnone.And to be honest—wasn’t looking to develop any.
Lucas snorted. “You’re so full of shit.”
“Why would I lie?”
“Good question.”
“Fuck.” Derek chuckled. “We just didn’t hit it off, all right? Turns out, we’re not really each other’s type.”
“He’s not your type? He was hot, young, and gay—what else do you need for someone to be yourtype?”Lucas gestured at the other guys. “You all buying this?”
“I’m not,” Jack said.
“Some people just don’t click,” Garrett offered.
“You shut up.” Lucas pointed at him. “You don’t get a voice.”
Garrett smiled. “Why not?”
“You’re a cock blocker. It’s fucking annoying.”
“How am I blocking cock now?”
Lucas waved him off and turned on Derek again. “I saw the way he looked at you. He was ready to take you balls-deep in theorificeof your choice.”
“As I said,” Derek murmured, “appearances can be deceiving. He’s a no-go, so drop it, all right?”
“Fuck, whatever.” Lucas threw up his hands. “I’m about to go out for another stroll, though.” He grinned slyly. “If I happen to run into him, maybe I’ll askhimwhat went down. Then maybehe’llgo down.”
He brushed past and Derek grabbed his shirt, jerking him around. “I said drop it. Leave him alone. He isn’t one of us.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
Derek stared at him, then released his shirt. “Nothing. Just… forget about him.”
“Fine.” Lucas held up his hands and backed away, grinning. “There’s plenty of other hot gay boys roaming the streets today, just begging to be violated. I’ll accommodate them.”
“You do that,” Derek mumbled, not feeling the humor as he normally would have. He left the others and walked over to the temporary “stage” where Nicky and another of Daniel’s dancers were showing off their stuff, drawing a decent crowd.
Garrett caught up to him and clapped him on the back. “You all right? Don’t tell me you’re actually letting Lucas get to you. I thought you were immune by now. He’s just beinghimself.”
“Lucas is fine.” Derek smiled small and watched the show as his mind wandered until he no longer saw the two strippers—but Patrick Weber.
“Look,” Garrett murmured, “if something happened with that guy and you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
“Thanks, but… I’m good.”
“All right.” Garrett pursed his lips and nodded as his eyes drifted to the strippers. “It’s just that… you seemed kind ofoffwhen you came back.”
“No,” Derek mumbled. “Just… ready to go home.”
“So soon? You usually ride these events into the wee hours—like most of us.”
Derek shrugged, not understanding his sudden disinterest. Helivedfor these Pride events. “Guess I’m just not feeling it this time.” He was starting to scare himself. Why the fuck would his brief encounter with Patrick Weber have this effect on him? If only he could turn time back just a tiny bit, zig instead of zag, and avoid the collision altogether… he wouldn’t even know Patrick Weber existed—and he’d still be having the fucking time of his life.
