Quiet and imaginative, Derek O'Reilly spends a lot of time watching a movie in his head. His fiancé Nathan wonders why Derek hasn't taken any interest in their wedding planning, and Aunt Fran -- his spiritual guru -- would like to know when her guilt-tripping nephew became a kept boy. When she drops Derek's childhood journal on his lap, he's forced to remember the name he's been trying to forget since he was twelve years old. Nicolai Lund. Nick was Derek's neighbor ... and first love. Weeks before Derek's engagement party, a chance meeting with Nick catapults Derek into the past. But Nick isn't that seventeen-year-old rebel anymore. He's a man hardened by invisible scars. A man struggling with grief. As Derek reads through his childhood diary, he realizes what Nick was to him, still is today, and yet might be ... NOTE: This edition has been expanded and substantially edited.

Split

David hesitated, but Nick tossed his chin up and whispered, “Better do what she says.”


David’s body seemed to harden and his mouth looked hungry for something. “Nick, you forgive me then?”


“Yeah…” Nick tensed. “Now, go.”


David’s lips formed a strange smile and he disappeared into the house. Seconds later, the front porch light went off.


“Get in the car.” Johan had opened the passenger door for Nick. “Derek, Terry, get in the back.”


Johan drove Terry home. On the way there, none of us said a word. I could hear Terry swallowing beside me, that’s how quiet it was. When we got to his apartment building, Terry leaned in between the front seats. “Thank you, sir. Have a good night, sir.”


Johan didn’t say anything. He waited until Terry was safely inside his apartment and drove away slowly.


Chapter 20