Chapter 29

It suddenly occurred to Joe that maybe this was new territory for Carlo. If so, he’d handled this entire situation completely wrong.

What else was new?

“I’ve kissed exactly two men in my life.” Joe ignored Carlo’s sharp gasp as he realized what Joe meant by that. “The first time Emmett touched me, I was sixteen. I didn’t know what to do with it. I just knew…it felt right, even when I knew it was wrong. You know what I’m saying?”

A mute Carlo nodded.

“Did you ever have an Emmett?”

Now it was a headshake. No.

“Anyone?” He had to know if he was the first.

“Not like what you had,” Carlo said. “But I’m not a virgin. You wouldn’t be taking advantage of me.”

Yes, he would, but Carlo was too young to understand why.

“I still love Emmett. I’ll probably always love him. And right now, thinking about being with you…makes me feel like I’m cheating.”

Carlo’s eyes widened. “I wasn’t trying—”