Chapter 7

Chris tries to laugh that off but Barry turns on his heel and shoves through the crowd,away from them.“Jeez,”Chris mutters,then raises his voice over the noise to holler,“Barry!Wait!”

He doesn’t.

Before he can disappear Chris heads after him,leaving Lee behind with the girls.He pushes strangers aside,catching elbows in his side and ducking under arms stretched out as if to stop him.Ahead,Barry hits the exit door with one hard fist and ducks out into the brightly lit hall beyond.Chris is only a few steps behind him;the door doesn’t manage to latch before Chris rams through it.Barry’s ahead,and with no crowd to impede him,Chris races to catch up.“Barry,please.Stop.”

When his hand falls on Barry’s shoulder,his boyfriend shrugs it off.He turns,his face lit with torment,his eyes wet with unshed tears.“What the fuckdo you want,Chris?”