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

My friend! I could picture him standing in front of the door, guarding it like the angel Gabriel. Or whatever angel it was who stood guarding the gates of Heaven.


“Tough shit, because he’s going to.” My ears weren’t playing tricks on me. It was Wills.


“Matheson, you can’t go in there. He isn’t alone.”


I wasn’t? I looked around. It took a second for me to realize Paul was trying to discourage mylover…my former lover…from coming in.


“Listen to me, Paul. I haven’t slept in almost two days. In the past twenty-four hours, I’ve been in three different time zones, six different airports, flown four different airlines, and driven the rental car from hell.”


Did that mean…That had to mean he hadn’t been home. But then, who had I heard in his apartment? It hit me. His television. Lots of people had their TVs set on a timer when they were away so no one would know they were away and crooks would think someone was home and wouldn’t burgle it. Yeah, that made sense.


Chapter 71