Alan Weber stared at him, a flurry of emotions smoldering in his eyes. “And you find thatdecadentlifestyleacceptable,is that it?”
“No. I…” Patrick was having a hard time collecting his thoughts.
“Thenwhydid you go on the date?”
“I don’t know. He… he’s a nice guy. We didn’tdoanything.”
His dad looked at him the way one would look upon a naïve child. “People who embrace worldly lusts are pawns of the devil—and he uses them to corrupt the godly. I know you’re smart enough to understand this, so why are you allowing yourself to be blinded?”
“I’m not blinded,” Patrick whispered. “I’m notdatinghim. We’re not even friends. I haven’t seen him or spoken to him since last Saturday.”
“Still,” his dad murmured, “you went on a date with himknowinghe was a porn star. I recognize that as a red flag even if you don’t. People like you are extra susceptible to the devil’s ploys because you’re already balancing on the fringes of God’s order.”
“People like me?” Patrick frowned. “You mean…gaypeople?”
“Yes. Theonlything preventing your eternal damnation is your commitment to God to deny your fleshly lusts. Butthis.”Alan Weber smacked the pamphlet, making Patrick jump. “This is a ticket straight to hell.” He pulled his hand away as if thesindisplayed in the pamphlet actually burned him. “I fear for your soul, son. Because homosexuality is in and of itself an abomination, a sin against nature… claiming it at all will rot the soul. I’ve allowed you to go on living here even though you identify as a gay man, but the events of these last few days suggest I need to step up as your father and the head of this family and insist that changes be made.”
Fear webbed Patrick’s heart. “What kinds of changes?”
“We’ll discuss that later. Until then, I think you should turn over your phone. Temporarily.”
“What?” Patrick stared at him in shock. “Why should I do that?”
“As a precaution. You’re not thinking clearly right now, and we don’t want to take the chance that you’ll call this Derek again.”
Had they passed into the Twilight Zone?
Patrick slid his chair back and stood. “I’m not giving you my phone. And who I call ismybusiness. I’m not a child. You can’t ground me and take away mytoys.”
“I can take away sometoys.”He reached into his pocket and retrieved a set of keys.
Patrick frowned hard. “Those are my car keys.” He kept his keys in his bedroom. He’d had them when he’d gone to sleep last night. “Did you take them while I was asleep?”
“Your car is on my insurance.” Not an answer.
What is going on?!
Confusion reigned in Patrick’s head. “What are you saying—that I can’t drive my car?”
Alan Weber tucked the keys back into his pocket. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“Why?”
“Because this is not the time for you to be out of the house unsupervised. Remember… the last time you were supposedly outdriving around, you were actually on a date with a porn star.”
Patrick was starting to panic—what was happening here? Did his dad think he could just take over his life and dominate his every move and decision?
“Fine.” Patrick stepped away from the table. “Hold my keys hostage. I’ve got two legs—I canwalkout of here.”
“No need to walk.” His dad cocked his head, listening. A car pulled up outside. He smiled. “You have a ride.”
Patrick recognized the sound ofBrian’scar. He scoffed. “I would rather walk.” He turned and stormed from the kitchen to the front door and outside. Brian was out of his car and headed up the walk. He started to smile, then faltered when Patrick brushed past him and turned down the sidewalk, leaving him behind.
“Patrick?” Brian followed. “Hey! Wait up.”
Patrick quickened his steps.
“Wait!” Brian broke into a jog and caught up, grabbing Patrick’s arm. “Stop.”
