I shook my head, pressing my lips together. Never mind the fact, talking to William was the exact
reason I’d come in as soon as I got out of classes. Now that he was here, I couldn’t bring myself to
ask about Theron.
“Will you at least sit down? You’re anxious about something, I can tell.” William guided me to the
bean bag and eased himself down before pulling me onto his lap. I should have told him no and
pointed out that it wasn’t right for him to touch me that way when he was seeing someone else. “Sam,
stop squirming.”
“But Corey,” I protested.
“Corey would cuddle you himself if he was here.” William wasn’t wrong about that. Both of them
seemed to understand that sometimes I just needed someone to hold me. They were safe. They knew
my secret and didn’t care. More than once, William had stepped in and told someone they weren’t
welcome at the club if they couldn’t respect me. William pulled out his phone, not bothering to hide
the screen from me as he typed out a message. “There. Now you don’t have to worry about feeling
like we’re doing something behind Corey’s back. There’s a difference between comfort and intimacy,
and Corey knows that. We’re going to sit here until you tell me what had you looking like you were
about to cry when I walked in.”
“I don’t want to be alone anymore,” I admitted quietly. My voice cracked and I despised how high
it sounded. Most of the time, I was able to keep my tone from drifting higher, but when I got upset, my
brain was too scattered to think about it. “I hate being scared all the time.”
“Oh, sweetie.” William held me tighter and kissed the side of my head. “I know it hasn’t been
easy for you, but maybe it’s time for you to take a chance again. Not everyone is like that dickhead.
There are people who would fall over themselves to love you just as you are.”
“But I’ll never be enough.” That was my greatest fear. Every night, I was surrounded by gay men
looking to either fall in love or fall into bed, but few of them gave me a second glance. It was is if
they were able to read me from across the room and found me lacking.
“You’remorethan enough, Sam. And when the time is right, some Daddy is going to come along
and he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure you never forget that.” When he said it, the
words sounded like a promise more than wishful thinking. If only I had as much faith that my time
would come. “Do you even realize there are men who already feel that way about you?”
“Doubt it.” I knew I was sulking, but I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want someday and someone; I
