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 waited to see what he would do, if he would offer to hug me. He hesitated for a moment before holding out his hand, and I felt deflated.


They left, and I went into the dining room and began clearing the coffee cups off the table. Wills took the dessert plates and silverware into the kitchen.


“Your sister is nice.” He rinsed off a plate and put it in the dishwasher.


“She always was.” Although with seven years between us, we hadn’t hung out together or had mutual friends.


“I don’t want to talk about him.”


“Do you think he needs to be punished more?”


That hadn’t been what I was going to say, but, “Yes. No. Shit. I don’t know, Wills. Would you?”


“I don’t know.” He met my gaze. “I probably would.”


I stiffened and turned away, feeling hurt and somehow betrayed. He put his arms around me.


“But I’d never forget, babe.” He rubbed his cheek against my hair. “And…”


Chapter 107