“Because you liked him?” Mickey asked softly. “And you thought it was wrong to like him?”
“Yeah,” Patrick said quietly. “Exactly.”
Marcus scooted forward a bit and sat cross-legged. “Do you still think it’s wrong to like him that way?”
Patrick leaned forward and ducked his head, staring at the carpet. “I… I don’t know. I-I feel kind of confused right now.”
The two boys inched closer without crowding him. “It’s okay. Derek will give you time to figure things out. And now that you’re here, you can get to know him better. Maybe that will help.”
He was fast beginning to see why these two were so special.
Raising his head, Patrick smiled. “Maybe it will.”
The twins exchanged an uncertain look and Mickey asked cautiously, “Did… did Derek tell you about… all of us… here?”
Patrick shifted. “That… that you’re porn stars?”
“He told you?”
“No, I… I found out on my own.”
Marcus pursed his lips. “And you’re… okay with it?”
“I don’t really know how I feel about it,” Patrick mumbled. “But Derek is nice, and Gideon… and you guys. It isn’t my place to judge or tell people how to live their lives. I know how that feels and it…”
“Sucks?” Marcus smiled.
Patrick nodded, laughing quietly. “Yeah. Itreallysucks.”
Mickey started to speak, then looked past Patrick. “Derek.” He scrambled off the bed, dragging Marcus with him.
Patrick twisted around, his pulse quickening; had Derek heard them talking? He rose from the bed, his stomach fluttering.
“We’ll go, so you guys can talk.” Mickey glanced at Patrick, his smile a mix of sweet and impish. He and Marcus bounded from the room.
Derek laughed lightly. “Those two… they’re something else.”
“They’re sweet,” Patrick murmured. “It’s hard to believe they’re…” He faltered, looking away.
Derek chuckled. “It’s okay, you can say it. I have a hard time believing it sometimes. They’re so sweet and innocent.” Closing the door, he moved toward the window. “Since we’re on the subject… howdidyou know that I was…?”
“Brian and I volunteered to help clean up after Pride,” Patrick said. “I… I found one of the pamphlets with your photo.”
“Oh.” Derek rubbed his mouth. “Sorry about that.”
“Sorry?”
“It’s just that…” He laughed nervously. “… that photo of me and Lucas… I would’ve rather told you myself than have you find out that way.” He exhaled slowly, an anxious look on his face. “Did you think badly of me when you saw it?”
Patrick tried to recall what exactly he had felt at that moment. Shocked, for sure. But disgusted? No. “I-I think I was just shocked, mostly. But I didn’t think badly of you.” He chewed his lower lip. “I… I kept the pamphlet,” he mumbled. “Brian didn’t see me take it.”
Derek smiled uncertainly. “Really? You kept it?”
“Yeah. But I shouldn’t have.”
Derek’s smile wavered.
“That’s how my dad found out about you. He went through my room while I was gone and found it.”
