“Hey,” Patrick mumbled as he took a seat on the sofa. Brian walked into the small kitchen, alookpassing between the two young men. Was Robby part of this as well? An entireconspiracyinvolving everyone Patrickthoughtwere his friends? Robby Marx had come off as laid-back, easygoing, someone who displayed a genuine Christian spirit. He’d shown care and concern for the LGBTQ community and had been in favor of the shelter. He even attended Brian and Patrick’s church.
Watching Robby and Brian now, Patrick felt caught in one of those sci-fi horror movies where the people looked like themselves but were actually pod people.
“Coffee?” Robby asked Patrick.
Patrick stared at him as if he were a total stranger. Maybe he was. “No.”
“Something else?” Brian asked. “Cold tea? Soda?”
“No.”
Robby smiled as a frown crinkled his brow. “You okay, bud?”
I’m not your bud.“I’m fine.”
Sighing, Brian sank into one of the two kitchen chairs. “He’s upset with me.”
“What heinous thing did you do?”
Another discreetlookslipped between them. Robby knew exactly what had gone down, Patrick was sure of it, he wasplayingclueless.
“That’s between Patrick and me,” Brian murmured. “But we’ll work it out.” He cast Patrick a warm, caring gaze. “That’s what friends do.”
Patrick looked away as a lump formed in his throat and tears stung his eyes. A “friend” wouldn’t have done this to him. Still, he struggled to convince himself that he was making an issue out of nothing. He didn’t want to lose his best friend, but suddenly… Brian Thompson didn’t feel like his best friend anymore.
Brian’s cell phone vibrated, and he dug it from his pocket. He looked at the screen and shot Patrick a quick glance, then walked into the tiny kitchen alcove out of sight as he answered the call. He spoke in hushed tones, too low for Patrick to hear.
Knots of tension balled up inside Patrick as he became convinced he wasbehind enemy lines.
You’re being crazy. No matter what he did—Brian is not your “enemy.”
Patrick didn’t know anymore.
He didn’t knowanything,at this point; who were his friends, his enemies, who he could trust.
Thoughts of Derek filled his head, and he was shaken by the sudden longing to run toDerekforrefuge…because he no longer felt safehere.
