CHAPTER 12
Derek.
Patrick felt sick—how did his dad know aboutDerek?Andwhatdid he know?
“He… he’s just someone I met briefly at Pride.”
“Briefly?” his dad repeated skeptically. “You went on a date with him, that’s hardly abriefencounter.”
He knows about the date?Patrick had told only one other person…
“How… how do you know about that?” Patrick frowned. “How do you know about Derek?”
“That isn’t important. What matters—”
“Brian told you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?” Patrick swallowed. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he’s your friend and he cares about you,” his dad said. “He’s concerned about the path you’re taking.”
“Whatpath?I haven’t done anything wrong. I went on one date with Derek and all we did was have a soda and talk. I haven’t seen him since and I don’t plan to.”
“Is that why you continued to put off changing your number? Or why you called himafteryou changed your number?”
Brian told himeverything?
“I needed to apologize for something,” Patrick said. “That’s why I called him. But he wasn’t there, so I didn’t even talk to him. I don’t understand why Brian felt the need to tell my private matters to you. Nothing is going on between us. I barely know him.”
“Why don’t we discuss what youdoknow about him.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“Just this…” Alan Weber slid something from beneath his Bible and laid it on the table before Patrick. “EvenBriandidn’t know about this. Youdeliberatelyhid it from him. When people hide things… it’s usually because they don’t want to give it up.”
Patrick sat in shocked silence as he stared at thepamphletlying in front of him—the provocative imagescondemninghim.
His dad opened the pamphlet, revealing Derek’s photo andname.
“Will you try to tell me that it’s mere coincidence that this person’s name is also Derek?”
Patrick grew more nauseous.
“Did youknowhe was aporn starwhen you went out with him?” his father demanded.
How had he found the pamphlet? Had hesearchedhis room? When?
“Did you go through my room?”
“I asked you a question. Did youknowhe was a porn star?”
Patrick trembled; what was happening? He feltbetrayedby Brian—hisbest friend.The one person who had always been on his side, had his back. Or so he’d thought.
“Patrick.”
“Yes,I knew,” he returned much sharper than intended.
