“A pleasure to meet you.” Derek shook his hand.
“Oh. Pastor.” Patrick took out the small manila envelope with Gideon’s check and the guys’ donations. “This is for the project.”
“Oh, wonderful.” Pastor Keller opened the envelope and removed the bills and the check. His face went deadpan for a moment when he read the amount of the check. “Praise the Lord,” he whispered in shock and looked at Patrick. “And who is this generous benefactor?”
“A good friend,” Patrick said softly with deep affection. “He would like to speak to you when it’s convenient, about doing more for the project.”
Keller grinned, his eyes lighting up with joy. “Hallelujah.”
“Sounds like good news,” a quiet, hesitant voice spoke from behind them.
“Oh, it is, Brian,” Keller exclaimed. “Glorious news!”
Patrick stood unmoving, gripping Derek’s hand, as the pastor showed Brian the check.
“Wow,” Brian murmured. “That’s… that’s great.”
The pastor agreed and left them to go spread the good news to the others.
“Hi… Patrick.” Brian moved slowly around in front of them. “I was hoping you’d be here.”
Patrick swallowed and met his friend’s eyes. “Why?”
Brian’s eyes darted to their hands and away. “I… I wanted to know that you were okay.”
“I am. Derek and his friends have been great. I’ve been invited to stay with them for as long as I want.”
Clearing his throat, Brian murmured, “And you think that’s the best thing?”
“I do.”
Derek left the talking to Patrick, but his grip on Patrick’s hand let him know he was ready to take a stand if the situation called for it.
The fleeting looks Brian cast at Derek told Patrick he wished the guy would go away and leave them to talk in private. Patrick didn’t ask Derek to leave. He wasn’tafraidto speak privately, there was simply no point. Brian had his agenda and wasn’t willing to listen to Patrick.
Brian forged ahead anyway. “Patrick… I’m worried about you. I… I understand if you don’t want to do the…” He glanced uneasily at Derek. “… the conversion therapy, but at least stick to the Side B path.”
“Why, Brian?” he whispered, choking up suddenly. “Because it’s asinfor us to fall in love?Expressour love?”
Tears glossed Brian’s eyes. “Yes. It’sdestructive, Patrick. It…” His chin trembled. “… it takes away and doesn’t give back. It causes nothing but pain and misery.”
“Is that what you felt with your boyfriend… before John died?” Patrick looked at him with sympathy. “When he held you… told you he loved you… did that cause you pain and misery? What did he take from you… that he didn’t give back?”
His throat working, Brian shook his head as tears welled. “You know what happened.”
“I do,” Patrick said. “And it had nothing to do with the love you shared with your boyfriend.”
Brian backed away, tears barely holding. “That’s not true. Youknowit’s not true. What’s happening to you, Patrick?”
What’s happening to me?Patrick faced Derek and slowly reached up, caressing his fingertips along the contours of his handsome face. “I’m beginning to learn what you used to know,” he whispered… and pushed up on his toes, brushing his lips across Derek’s mouth.
Derek’s shock prevented him from responding—only for a fleeting moment—then he pushed into the kiss, gently, tenderly, his hands resting tentatively on Patrick’s waist. Passion and emotion crashed over Patrick in waves and he wilted against Derek, lightly gripping his shirt as their kiss drew him in deeper and deeper. He felt weightless… sure that he would fly away if Derek let go of him.
Tender moans rolled up Derek’s throat as he very slowly drew out of the kiss. His lips lingered close, touching Patrick’s mouth, both breathing unevenly, staring into one another’s eyes.
With the sounds of the event pressing back in, Patrick released a shaky breath and looked around.
Brian was gone.
“What is it you’re learning that Brian used to know,” Derek whispered, his brow resting against Patrick’s head. Beneath Patrick’s palm, his heart beat wildly.
Patrick turned his face up to him, their lips touching, trembling for another kiss. “Thatalllove is beautiful.”
