“You little devil.” Brian grinned. “Youlikehim. Did he ask you out?” This was all good-natured ribbing—Brian didn’t actually believe there was adate,with good reason.
Patrick didn’t answer.
“Hedid?”Brian suddenly sobered as all humor died away.
Patrick nodded.
“Are you… going out with him?” Brian asked doubtfully.
“I…” Patrick sighed. “I don’t know. I kind of said I would, but… but I don’t think he’s actually going to call, so…”
“Why did you agree to go?”
“I don’tknow.”Patrick rubbed the back of his neck hard. “It just… he caught me off guard.”
“Is he a Christian?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Does he know where you stand on relationships and such?”
I think he got the memo.“He looked at some of our literature,” Patrick mumbled. “I explained the differences between Side A and Side B.”
“And did you tell him which side you were on?”
“Not in so many words.”
“Why?” Brain asked. “That should be the first thing you tell a potentialdate.And while we’re on the subject… I thought you weren’t interested in dating. Why would you agree to go out with some random guy you met at aPrideevent? No offense to our LGBTQ brothers and sisters out there, buta lotof people come to these events for sexual purposes. I mean, who is this guy?”
“His name is Derek,” Patrick whispered.
“And?”
“And what?”
“Is that all you know about him—his name? Did he even give alastname?”
“No. But… I didn’t ask.”
Brian rubbed his eyes and sank down on one of the stools. “I’m not trying to dictate your choices,” he murmured. “But you have to be careful. Most people date with the intention of things turning sexual. You know that as well as I do.” He reached out and grasped Patrick’s hand. “We have to stay the course, Patrick. Wecan’tallow ourselves to be led astray. I know ourSide AChristian brothers and sisters believe it’s acceptable to engage in physical relationships… but I just don’t think it is. And I know you don’t, either. And I, for one, am not willing to bet my immortal soul on it.” He squeezed Patrick’s hand. “Are you?”
Patrick stared at him as Derek’s face lingered in his mind. Why had he agreed to go out with him? It made no sense. He sighed. “No… I’m not.”
Doesn’t matter anyway—Derek is long gone, and you’ll never hear from him again.
. . .
“So, when’s your fuck-fest with the little hottie?” Lucas inquired the second Derek was in earshot. “Or did you alreadydohim?”
Derek glanced at the other guys standing around—all grinning and eager for his reply. Garrett shrugged and sighed. He did that a lot around Lucas. Derek cleared his throat. “Sorry to disappoint you, but there isn’t going to be a fuck-fest. I struck out.”
Every eye drilled him skeptically and he understood; when was the last time he struck out with a guy? Derek couldn’t even remember. He wasn’t sure he ever had.
“You struck out?” Jack chuffed. “You?”
“Yeah. Not proud of it, but… what can I say, it happens.”
“Not to you,” Garrett said. “And we saw him—you totally had him hooked.”
