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

Tim growled and cuffed Paul’s head, but his growl was really a laugh and his cuff was a more a caress. “Just don’t you go falling in love with any of them.”


I didn’t need to burn his words into my memory. I’d been in love once, and this was where it had gotten me. Oh, hustling brought me decent money, and sometimes the john I was with even made sure I felt good. And it also got me Paul, who I loved like a brother, and the other boys, who I liked well enough. In another lifetime I would have been madly in love with Tim, who was sexy as hell, as well as a good man, but….


I’d never give my heart to anyone ever again.


Time passed. Days, weeks, months, and then all of a sudden it was September, 1991, and I’d been with them a year. We no longer lived in the tiny apartment Tim had first taken me to, although Paul and I still shared a bed. It wasn’t that the apartment wasn’t large; it was just there were a lot of boys.


Chapter 16