“And?” Cody wrapped an arm around Orsen’s shoulders and steered him toward the parking lot. As Cody didn’t drink, he’d driven them to the club, and once the car came into sight, he slowed down. “Did something happen?”
“No, it was nice, but it didn’t feel right, and I was hard. You know, like my dick was hard. I mean, who wouldn’t be with all those hot men, but I only want him.”
“Yeah, I understand.”
“I felt like I was cheating even though we’re not together. He doesn’t see me that way. I’m still a kid to him.”
“Hmm. I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” Cody nodded to Santino, who was walking over to them. “Don’t let him off easy.Make him work for it. I’ll stay in the car in case you need me.” Cody hugged Orsen, then pointed two fingers at his own eyes before pointing them at Santino.
“He seems to have forgiven me,” Santino mused.
“Why are you here?” Orsen folded his arms over his chest and stared at Santino.
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“By coming to a club? How did you know where I was? And anyway, I’m doing what you wanted me to do, so why are you here?”
“I made a mistake.”
“Tough shit,” Orsen snapped, then sucked his lips in. He wanted to apologize but didn’t. They weren’t together now, so he could say whatever he wanted and there was nothing Santino could do about it. “I think you should go now. There’s a nice blond in there who kisses really well.”
“If you’re saying that to make me jealous—”
“No, and why would I? We’ve both moved on. Go and find a man closer to your own age and let me have lots of sex with strangers, so I get the experience you think I need.”
Orsen saw Santino’s face harden, and he took a step back, then straightened. No, Santino had no right to say anything now. They were over and Orsen was going to find a man who could accept him for who he was and accept his age, too. It didn’t matter that it hurt him to want Santino, who didn’t want him, but he would move on and—
“I love you.”
Orsen’s internal dialogue screeched to a halt. He loved Santino too, but what did it matter? “I’m still eighteen. I’m always going to be younger than you. I’m always going to have less life experience.” Orsen muttered ‘life experience.’ “Thank you for being kind to me, but I need to find someone my own age, likeyou said.” Orsen turned and managed to take two steps before Santino grabbed his arm.
“Wait. Please let me speak.”
Orsen glanced over his shoulder as he shook Santino’s arm off. “About what, exactly? You told me so many times you struggled with my age, except when you had your dick in my ass or vice versa, so why should I listen to you now?”
“I only wanted you to live a life you hadn’t been able to because of how you’d been brought up, but it appears I keep comparing our lives when we’ve had vastly different ones. I judge your experience by my standards and not by your own. I look at my past and feel you should have one like that and even when you told me that wasn’t what you wanted, I had difficulties accepting that.” Santino paused and Orsen licked his lips. Turning, he faced Santino, who gave him a small smile. “It isn’t easy for me to… understand how someone at your age would want the same things someone my age would want, but that’s my issue and not yours.”
“It is,” Orsen murmured.
“I don’t want to lose you, but I will make mistakes just like you will. You asked me to move in and I said not yet. I said to give it time—”
“You said ‘You’re only eighteen’,” Orsen reminded him.
Nodding, Santino agreed. “I did, and I apologize. I want the same things you want. A place to call home and a man who is mine. A family. Give me a chance to make it up to you. As I said, I will make mistakes, but I would like us to talk about them when either of us makes one. We’re human and therefore fallible.”
“I didn’t like being away from you,” Orsen admitted. “It was only a few days, but I hated it. Having said that, I can’t have you throwing my age in my face all the time. I know I’m younger than you. I know! Stop using it as some way to stop being serious with me.”
Santino looked away and Orsen thought he’d said too much. Glancing back at Cody in his car, Orsen shrugged, but Cody gave him the thumbs-up. “You’re right, and again I apologize.” Santino looked around the parking lot. “Can we go back to my place to talk about this? Please.”
Orsen bit his bottom lip, then nodded. He was asking Santino to treat him like an adult, so he had to act as one. “We can. Let me tell Cody.” He walked over to Cody’s car as Cody wound the window down. “I’m going back with him to talk.”
“Don’t take any shit, but the makeup sex is great.”
“Not sure that will—”
Cody burst out laughing. “Please. Once you’ve done the ‘I’m sorry’ and the ‘I love you,’ you’ll be screwing like bunnies. Enjoy it, too. I’m going to go home to my man and have some fun as well.” Cody waved and drove off, leaving Orsen smiling after him.
Meeting Santino by his car, he got in the passenger side. “I’m still angry at you, but I’m glad you came here.”
