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

I locked the apartment door, and we climbed the stairs to the third floor. “Let’s go to bed.” It was late for us.


“Good idea.” Paul yawned. “I could use some more sleep.”


And we headed for our separate bedrooms.


A couple of weeks later, Paul came in from the gym and brought the mail up with him.


“Anything interesting?” I asked as I made a light snack for us. We’d be going out to meet our johns for drinks soon. Some of our clients just preferred arm candy.


“Bill. Bill. Catalogue. TV Guide. Junk. Junk. Junk. This is weird.”


“What is?” I asked absently as I opened the electric bill. It was higher than last month’s. I’d have to talk to the boys about turning off the television and the stereo before they left for the night.


“It’s a letter to a Teodore Bascopolis. Well, I’ll just mark it ‘not at this address’ and put it out for tomorrow’s mail.”


Chapter 23