The twins moved in close to Samson, taking his hands, watching Katt worriedly.
Garrett came closer. “Katt… who was that?”
The twins exchanged confused looks. “Who?” Mickey asked.
“The young man in the doorway,” Garrett answered.
Marcus frowned. “I didn’t see anyone.”
“Me neither,” Mickey said.
Samson glanced toward the studio door, but the young man, along with Gideon, was gone.
“Katt?” Garrett touched his arm. “Who was he?”
The tremors intensified, and Katt thought he might fall apart. “It was… Franco.” He turned from the window, panic slowly welling in his gut. “Why is hehere?How did he even know…” He swallowed hard. “How did he know where I was?”
“I don’t know,” Garrett said.
“When… When did he get here?” Katt flexed his hands, trying to dispel the shakes. “DidGideonknow he was here? I-I mean, he had to know, right?”
Garrett nodded. “I assume so,” he murmured.
“Why didn’t hetellme?” The panic was rising. Franco had seen him gettingfuckedby Samson!
So what? Why do you care? You were through with Franco as well, right? With college? With everything? Who cares what he saw?
“He shouldn’t be here,” Katt shoved his hands through his hair, his heart racing. “I don’t want him here.” His body was still humming from Samson’sruining—that whole thing unresolved, unexamined, barely even real to him yet. He hadn’t had a moment to just lie there and let it settle into him. He’d wanted that. The slow drift back into himself, the quiet of figuring out what he now was on the other side of it. Instead, he was standing here, shaking, and Franco was somewhere in this house, and the fact that he hadn’t been allowed that time felt like something stolen.
Gideon returned to the studio and approached Katt.
“Why didn’t you tell me he was here?” Katt blurted out before Gideon could speak.
“I’m sorry,” Gideon offered sincerely. “He arrived while you were in the middle of the shoot with Samson and the twins. Hewasn’t supposed to see the shoot. I had asked him to wait in my study.”
“Where is he now?” Samson asked.
“Down in the rec room with the others.” Gideon looked at Katt. “I won’t try to tell you what to do, but I stronglysuggestyou talk to him. He came all the way out here to see you because he was worried about you.”
Katt looked away. “How did he know where to find me?”
Gideon cleared his throat. “You should ask him.”
Shaking his head, Katt mumbled, “I don’t want to see him. Tell him to leave.”
“Katt…” Garrett intervened. “Maybe you should talk to him. Do you really think he was in on it with Todd? ‘Cause it doesn’t sound like it to me.”
“It doesn’tmatter,”Katt snapped back, his throat working. “HesawSamsonfuckme. Even if he was my friend before—he won’t be now.”
“How do you know?” Gideon murmured. “Don’t be so quick to make assumptions. A true friend will support you no matter what.”
Katt wasn’t convinced. “We haven’t been friends that long,” he whispered. “We were still getting to know each other.” He swallowed. “Maybe this isn’t something he wants to know about me.”
“Only one way to find out,” Gideon said gently.
Katt sniffed. “What… What did he say after he saw me…?”
“Not much,” Gideon said. “Mostly, I think he was shocked. But not necessarily in a negative way.”
