of the upstairs hallway. “Did you take these?”
“I did,” he confirmed. “It’s more of a hobby than anything, but photography is something I enjoy
almost as much as going for walks along the beach or spending time hiking in the mountains. There’s
something peaceful about being with nature. Do you like the outdoors?”
Theron opened a door and ushered me inside. I frowned when I realized this couldn't possibly be
the master bedroom. It was small, impersonal, and I couldn’t see anything that looked like it belonged
to Theron. Then again, maybe that was for the best because, as much as I wanted to fool around,
Theron taking me to his room felt like a huge step.
My breaths came in quick bursts as I followed Theron into the guest room. It wasn’t anything
special, but I instantly loved the space. It had the same soft gray paint on the walls as most of the
house, but the colors in here were brighter than everywhere else. The artwork on the walls held an
almost childlike quality. As I got closer, my heart skipped a beat when I noticed they were all
renderings of the older style Winnie the Pooh and friends. This space was subtle, but also obviously
created for a little.
I wasnotgoing to let myself wonder how many other boys he’d had here. When I caught myself
thinking about how I would stack up to the others, I stuffed a hand in my front pocket and dug my
fingernails into my thigh.
“Second thoughts?” Theron’s question snapped me out of my thoughts. He stepped in, sliding a
hand around to the back of my neck. “Something’s bothering you.”
I nodded. As much as it scared me to admit, lying wasn’t an option. Theron pulled me onto the
bed next to him. It sat higher than most beds and my legs dangled over the edge. It was silly, but I
loved that because it made me feel little. I could feel him watching me as I stared straight ahead. I
jumped when he placed a hand on my leg, instantly calming as I reminded myself that Theron wasn’t
going to make me do anything I wasn’t ready for. I’d talked to William and Jack about him, and both
of them said Theron was a great guy who wanted a boy to treat like a prince. That could be me; I
could be his prince, as long as I didn’t let my own issues push him away.
“Not second thoughts,” I clarified as I picked at a loose thread on my jeans. My skin felt itchy.
That wasn’t good. I remembered this feeling from when I was younger, and I hated it. I lifted my hand
to my mouth, but Theron pulled it away, holding it tight so I couldn’t chew on my nails. Stupid
nervous habits. “I think overwhelmed is a better way to say it. Like, I’ve thought about this moment
