edge of the bed and toed out of his shoes before sliding under the covers. Sam’s movements were
more tentative, and I think both Corey and I held our breath while Sam fought his desires. Finally, he
slid in next to Corey. I pulled the covers over both of them before bending down to kiss their
foreheads.
“Aren’t you going to stay with us?” Corey asked, reaching out to me.
“Not this time, sweetheart. You’re going to rest, and I’m going to make some calls.” The half-
baked plan from earlier was at the forefront of my mind, but to have any shot of it working out, I
needed to call in reinforcements for the night. Corey’s mouth drooped into a frown. When he stuck out
his bottom lip, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to laugh or scold him. I shook my head. “Don’t worry, I
won’t go far. Plus, I think Sam will be more comfortable if it’s just the two of you.”
Sam nodded; his eyes already heavy with the urge to sleep.
I sat in the chair next to the bed, watching them until I knew they were both napping. I turned on
the small lamp on the nightstand, just another of the small details Sam had insisted on, and backed out
of the room, closing the doors behind me. No one who might come in early needed to see them.
After setting up the bar, something I was able to do because of the number of times I’d
obsessively watched Corey for any signs he was too tired to make it through his shift, I poured two
fingers of whiskey and settled at the end of the bar. This would be the only drink I allowed myself
tonight, but I needed something to calm my nerves. In the years I’d been working with Jack, this was
the first time I could remember feeling the butterflies in my stomach. I knew damn well that was
because my heart knew there was more on the line than ever before. Yes, tonight was an exhibition not
unlike the ones I did three nights a week, but tonight, I hoped my helper would see this as the
beginning of something, not sixty minutes and then done.
But first, I still needed to make that call.
I didn’t want to call.
Although Doug was less crass than his partner, I doubted I’d escape their ribbing if I told them
why this was so important to me. I wanted Corey by my side tonight, not just during the exhibition, but
after. He needed a chance to talk to other boys, to see that he could have it all. And dammit, I just
plain wanted him close. If this was my only chance, I was going to seize it.
The phone didn’t even have a chance to ring before the call connected. “Hello?”
“Doug, it’s William.” We hadn’t talked much, but Jack had given me his number in case I needed
