“So, you’re just going to walk away from what could be the love of your life?”
The love of my life.It shocked Derek how good that sounded. Under other circumstances, he could imagine himself falling head over heels in love with Patrick Weber. As things stood, though… it couldn’t happen.
Lucas crawled off the bed and pointed at Derek’s phone. “Call him… and see where it takes you.” He smiled and gave an encouraging thumbs-up and left the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Derek picked up his phone and ran his thumb over the smooth screen. Hecravedthe sound of Patrick’s voice—so soft and sweet. And hisheavenlylaugh. Derek whimpered. Lucas wanted him to go for it and Derek wanted it just as much. But reality was reality. Just because Patrick had beentemptedby Derek—maybe—it didn’t mean he was ready to reexamine his entire outlook and belief on the matter of gay sex.
Just let him go. You’ll cause more harm than good by pursuing this and you know it.
Yeah, he did.
“Fuck,” Derek whispered as his throat knotted and an emptiness settled in his chest. “Just get it the fuckover with.”
He brought up Patrick’s name and number and stared at it for a long moment before finally sending out the dreaded call.
. . .
?God’s not dead, he’s surely alive, he’s living on the inside, roaring like a lion?
Patrick jumped when the ringtone went off, seeming toblastthrough the room. His feet rooted to the carpet and heart slammed his chest wall. Patrick’s breath turned erratic as slight dizziness struck him.
Maybe it isn’t him.
Maybe it was.
An explosion of terror and excitement surged through Patrick, filling him with confusion. The terror he understood—but why theexcitement?He didn’t want Derek to call. He didn’t want to hear his voice again. He reallydidn’t.
So, why’re you about to hyperventilate?
Uprooting his feet, he moved forward with effort, eyes glued to his cell. Drawing closer, he saw the I.D. readunknown caller.The numbers of everyone he knew were stored in his phone. He couldn’t remember the last time he received an “unknown” call.
It’s Derek. You know it is. Who else would it be?
Patrick stared down at the phone, hands flexing.
Don’t answer it. Don’t talk to him. End it right now by not answering.
Tremors shook him and his throat began to tighten, his vision blurring. His pulse raced faster, harder. Why was this happening? Why was this affecting him so deeply?
He pressed his fists into his eyes and choked out, “Just go away… go away.”
At the last second, his hand darted out and snatched up the phone.
. . .
Derek started to hang up when a tentative“Hello”came through the phone. His anxious pacing ceased as his heart kicked up. After a few rings, he hadn’t expected Patrick to pick up.
“Hello?” Patrick’s voice trembled, barely audible.
Derek swallowed. “Uh, hey, it’s… it’s Derek… from yesterday at Pride.”
“I-I remember,” Patrick replied with just a breath of a nervous laugh.
Derek tried not to think about Patrick’s full, perfect lips—not after so recently getting blown by Lucas. “So, um… about that date…” He paused, giving Patrick a chance to speak his thoughts on them going out.
“Yeah, uh…” His voice shook. “I-I’m not sure I… I can make it.”
Disappointment jabbed Derek’s heart. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, okay, I-I understand.”
