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

“Hey!” Cris walked into the kitchen. “Should I be jealous?”


“Asshole.” Tim let me go, went to him, and hugged him.


I could tell just by looking that the hug was different. “Have some cake.”


There was one boy from another stable—Charles—who kept giving me come-hither looks…He put a dab of whipped cream on my nose, then licked it off…The thing was he had a love ‘em and leave ‘em rep among the boys, although I had to admit I was curious. Well…perhaps another time.


We partied until the wee hours of the morning. Oddly enough, or maybe not so oddly, no one paired off to slip into any of the bedrooms.


Tim and Cris’s things had already been shipped ahead. The next day they followed them.


It was noon on a Wednesday. “That was great,” I sighed in repletion. It was almost the truth.


Chapter 17