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’d never had the chance to give her the tapes.


Her boyfriend was the prime suspect, even after his body was discovered on the sidewalk at the back of her building with his face smashed in, having apparently hurled himself from the roof and done a face-plant on the concrete below.


“Remorse!” the newspapers decreed. They had a field day, going into loving detail over the many knife wounds, any one of which could have been fatal and all of which had bled profusely.


Spike was as white as his hair. Paul looked sick. I felt hollow myself.


All the boys and girls of DC’s party community came to her funeral, and Babe, Delilah’s BFF, arrived from out of town with her little boy to be there to honor Delilah’s memory. Charles, who I’d wound up spending a single night with, stood on Babe’s other side. For a change he didn’t snark at me—he hadn’t taken our breakup well—but I hardly noticed him. Well, I was so blinded by tears I hardly noticed anyone.


Chapter 32