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“A big campaign for political donors,” Jesse said softly. Noel looked over the picture and then handed the phone back. “Doesn’t look like he stood up for you very much if he was out with his father on the campaign trail, acting like the good little gay son.” Jesse stood and pulled Noel into a hug. “I’m sorry. But guys like that will always do what they have to do in order to keep up appearances.”
Noel closed his eyes and tried to put that picture out of his mind. But the evidence was there right in front of him. David got what he wanted and made a big show of fighting with his family over how they treated Noel, but then just like that, he was back with Daddy, making nice and toeing the family line. Noel knew he didn’t really have a reason to be hurt. This is what he should have expected. He and David had some fun—okay, mind-blowing sex that had Noel thinking he’d seen God at least twice.
“I’m sorry,” Jesse whispered.
Noel nodded. “So am I.” He lifted his gaze. “I thought that maybe David really liked me and that he was willing to see me for who I was instead of a guy who takes his clothes off for money.” Dammit. He pounded the top of the counter, the other guys jumping in the mirror. Noel should have known, but he’d let himself rush way ahead.
The showswere over, and Noel, dressed in street clothes, sat at the bar, and ordered a whiskey.
“You sure?” Salvatore asked before pouring one. “You don’t usually drink out here. The others do.”
Noel lifted the glass and then downed the entire shot in one go. “Guy troubles,” he mumbled. “Why is it that I think I found someone nice, and he turns out to be like all the rest.” Noel sighed at Salvatore. “Why can’t more of them by like you?”
“What? Tall, dark, and handsome?” Sal asked with a wicked grin that got him tons of tips, Noel was pretty sure.
“No. Humble and self-effacing,” he retorted. “But I’d settle for someone kind.” He wanted a refill, but hesitated before pushing his glass toward Sal who added a little more. “You know,” he said, lifting the glass of amber liquid. “I thought I found one….”
“What?” Sal asked as he wiped down the bar.
“A nice guy. Hell, I thought I might have found Prince fucking Charming.” He rolled his eyes. “I should have known better.” He held his glass, staring at the liquid before downing the drink. “Thanks, Sal. I think I better get home.”
“It’s a cold one out there tonight. You want me to call you a ride?”
Noel shook his head. He had walked home in worse, he was pretty sure, and maybe the cold would freeze away this mopiness. “I’ll be okay.” Noel knew that. He had been through a hell of a lot worse than a guy feeding him a line of bull. But this hurt. Noel had actually thought David was sincere. He sure talked a good game and the way he’d been with Noel… their times together had felt like more than sex. Maybe that’s what had him so mixed up. “I just….” He stood at the bar, looking at Sal, who he’d once thought was so handsome. “I don’t get it, you know? I thought I had good radar for this sort of thing. For the last two years, I hung out with the other dancers, but I never got involved. I kept the customers at bay too. Some were nice, and I might have liked them, but nooooo… I stayed away. Then, a few weeks ago, I let this guy drive me home, and the fucker acts like a gentleman, a real nice guy. He didn’t try anything, and then I saw him here, and he was nice again. Took me home, treated me nice—even came to our rescue with the cops… caught me when I fell….” He smacked the bar. “Maybe that’s it. The next time I get too close to the front of the stage, just let me fall, and maybe I’ll break my neck, and I can be out of my misery.”
“That would be a real waste.”
Noel instantly knew the voice behind him, and he stiffened. “What are you doing here?” He turned slowly, trying to be dramatic, but his ankle hurt, and he winced, ruining the effect. Swearing under his breath, he sat on one of the bar stools.
“Drink?” Sal asked.
“Diet… something, please,” David answered, and took the stool next to him. “You started school this week?”
He nodded. The two of them had texted on and off during the week, but with classes beginning, Noel had been busy, and then tonight, well… everything had gone to shit, and he figured if he sent any message, it would be something awful that he couldn’t take back.
“You’ve been quiet all day, and I thought I’d check you didn’t need a ride home. It’s cold and snowy,” David said as Sal set David’s glass on the bar. He passed over a bill, and Sal took it with a nod, heading away. “Is something wrong?”
Noel thought of just leaving and getting it over with, but he pulled up his phone, looked up the pictures from the event, and showed it to David. “I thought….” He shrugged. “I don’t know what to think. I see you standing next to your father and….”
“Yeah. I did one more event for him. If you look, it’s a children’s charity event, and I couldn’t turn it down.”
“I see. So all that stuff you said at your house?” Noel was so tired and just wanted to go home.
“Was the truth. I made it clear that I was through with his events. I already had a ticket to this one, on my own, because I support the cause. They do a lot with LGBT youth. So I went, and this photographer gathered us together. That’s all there was to it.”
Noel turned away. “But that isn’t all there is. You go to these events all the time.” He pivoted on the stool. “What are you going to do? Take me with you?” Noel suddenly realized why he was truly upset. “Take a look around. Do you really think you’d ever take me to one of those events and hold your head high?” He patted David’s hand. “Your father and stepmother would whisper behind my back the entire time, and you’d be worried I’d say something wrong.”
“Hey.” David drew closer. “I’m not ashamed of you, and yes, I will take you to the next of these events that I go to. I have one in the spring, and I bought two tickets.” The heat washed off David’s body, setting Noel on fire.
“You’d really do that?”
“Of course I would.” David seemed perplexed.
Noel bit his lower lip. “And what are you going to do if someone finds out what I do here? You know they will, and there will be snide comments and even people treating me the way your father and stepmother did. Are you prepared for that?”
David leaned closer. “The real question is… do you know first aid? Because if someone does act that way, you may need to be able to stop the bleeding.”
“What are you going to do? Hit everyone?” Noel asked.
