Franco’s fist caught him square in the jaw. Todd went down sideways, knocking into the desk on his way to the floor. He got one knee under himself, and Franco hit him again, harder, splitting the skin across his own knuckles. Franco crouched, grabbed a fistful of his collar, and held a finger an inch from his nose. “I’m not playing best friend. I am his friend. You say one more goddamn thing about him—just one—and I’ll make you wish you were never born.” He let go, stood, and looked down at him. “Now, where the fuck is he?”
“You really…hithim?” Katt whispered.
Franco’s mouth twitched. “Hell yeah, I did.” He massaged his hand. “Hurt like a bitch, but it was worth it.”
Katt stared at him. “Why?”
“Why did it hurt?”
“Why did you do it?”
Franco let out a soft chuckle and continued rubbing his hand, his eyes lowered. “I thought that was obvious.”
Katt swallowed. “Maybe not obvious… to some.”
Raising his eyes, Franco gazed at him. “Because you’re my friend. And no one fucks with my friends.”
“He was your friend first,” Katt said quietly.
“Casual friend,” Franco corrected. “Yeah, I knew him longer than I knew you, but I never felt thatbondwith him.”
Katt’s heart beat a little faster. “And with me…?”
Franco smiled. “I felt it the second we met. I’ve always liked you better than him. You’re a stand-up guy. He’s a douchebag. I think I always kind of knew that.”
Katt sat down on the stairs, suddenly aware of thesorenessin his body, especially in hisbackside. In retrospect, it was a wonder he was even walking.
Sitting next to him, Franco leaned forward on his knees, staring across the spacious entry hall. “So… what now?”
“What do you mean?” Katt mumbled.
“If you’re not coming back to our college—where are we transferring to?”
Katt frowned. “What?”
Releasing a short laugh, Franco looked at him. “You think I want to stay there without you? I quit the fraternity. I don’t want anything to do with Todd. I’dpreferto transfer somewhere else.”
Katt flexed his hands against his knees, lowering his eyes to the floor. “You still want to be friends with me after…” He licked his lips. “… after what you saw? Knowing… knowing what I am?”
Franco breathed deeply, then let it out slowly. “Ever heard that saying?” he murmured. “Birds of a feather… flock together?”
Looking up, Katt met his gaze. “What’re you saying?” he whispered, a slight quiver in his voice.
“I’m saying…” Franco leaned closer and brushed his lips across Katt’s mouth. “… I’ve been wanting to kiss you since the first day I met you.”
Katt trembled. “I think maybe… I wanted you to.” He touched heads with Franco and closed his eyes. “I just didn’t know it until now.”
22
“Have a seat.” Gideon gestured to the cushioned chair before his desk as he closed the study door. Katt sat and waited for Gideon to return to his desk. “So,” Gideon asked once he was settled. “How are you feeling?”
Katt shifted. “Okay,” he said. “Better… I think.”
“And Franco? Have you decided if he’s your friend?”
Katt smiled small. “He is.”
“That’s good to hear.” Gideon gazed warmly at the young man. “We could all use good, loyal friends in our lives.”
