Change comes to all of us. For Theo Bascopolis, the first time is when he's fifteen. He finds his life falling apart when his father discovers Theo is gay and orders him to become straight or leave. Having no choice, in spite of what his father might think, Theo leaves. But where can a fifteen-year-old go? Especially when it starts to rain. He thinks things are looking up when he meets a striking man named Franky, who seems very attracted to him. However, once again Theo's life changes when he learns all Franky wants is for him to hustle. And so Theo becomes the rent boy Sweetcheeks. However, Franky underestimates Sweetcheeks, and the results of the ensuing fight sees Sweetcheeks fleeing to Washington DC, where he crosses paths with a group of rent boys who take him in. Finally Sweetcheeks has a family, a home, and an additional source of income in the form of apartments they're able to rent out. His life changes again a few years later when a mysterious tenant by the name of Mark Vincent becomes the reason behind the assault on one of Sweetcheeks's boys. Vincent visits the boy in the hospital, bringing with him his equally enigmatic trainee, William Matheson. The instant attraction blindsides Sweetcheeks. In spite of knowing love isn't for rent boys, he hopes Matheson can see beyond the body he's offered to so many. But Matheson has secrets of his own. Can Sweetcheeks overcome his insecurities enough to believe in the quiet man who's come into his life? Can Matheson keep his actual occupation a secret without it jeopardizing their budding relationship?

Pick Up the Pieces

He looked me over. “You saved Pretty Boy, and we owe you. If you want, you can stay with us fora while.”


“Thanks,” I said gruffly. “I appreciate it.” It would give me a respite.


“Tim, now that the excitement’s over and Pretty Boy’s okay, Bud and I are gonna head out.” The two boys looked enough like each other to be twins.


“Okay, Mick,” Tim said. “Keep a low profile. If that pig knows Pretty Boy’s with us, he might go after you all too.”


“All right.” He turned to me. “Come on. We’ll catch a bus and get out of here. This neighborhood sucks.”


I went with them to the apartment they all shared.


“I’ll give you a quick tour of the place, but then me and Mustang—” he nodded toward the big blond who hovered around him. Tall and muscled, he didn’t look like someone to screw with. I saw the way he looked at Tim, and I wondered if they were boyfriends—“have to get to work too.”


Chapter 10