Chapter 58

“You proved it’s all true, freaky faggot! Get away!”

Frank moved back. He knew that he must, as another shiver signaled another lightning strike to come. “It wasn’t Vaughn who changed me. It could just as easily have happened to you—to anyone.”

Renny shook his head. “Fuck you! Fuck you, freak! I could have loved you,” he said. “I did love you. Maybe I still do.” He wiped his face with his shirt, once again showing contusions on his torso. “Don’t look at me.”

“I can’t help it. Did I…? God! I love you too. Tell me I didn’t hurt you.”

Renny huffed. “Why should I tell you anything?” But then he did. “He tried to beat the sissy out of me. That’s what he called it.”

“Who?”

“We could get out of here and be together. We could have got away from my father as soon as I was old enough, but you left without me.”

“Did he do that to your chest? Is some of it old? Surely he doesn’t still…at our age…?”

“Shut up.”

“How much of it happened just now? From me?”