“So,Dillinger’s let you go because they’re slow?” Ethan asked when the silenceconsumed them long minutes later.
Atleast the subject had changed, and Ethan didn’t sound like he was ready tostrangle him.
“That’swhat Ralph says. Now I’m starting to wonder.”
Beauremembered Ricky’s statement from yesterday:
Toldyou he was a queer, Ralph.
Atthe time, Beau got the impression Ricky had been talking abouthim, notEthan.
“Wonderabout what?” Ethan looked up. “It’s not like they know you’re gay.”
Beaupicked his sandwich up, then put it back down. Part of him agreed with Ethanbecause he wasn’t sure how anyone would know. Well, no one other than Zane andV. And now Ethan. And maybe Blake. “How do you figure that?”
“Nevermind.”
“No.Answer me.”
Ethanpeered up at him, his eyes wide as though he couldn’t believe Beau had thenerve to talk to him that way.
Well,the man would have to learn soon enough… Beau wasn’t the submissive type. Andhe hoped he was going to get to prove to Ethan just howun-submissive hereally was.
Chapter Fourteen
??
Whetherit was because of the conversation or because of his nerves from sitting thisclose to Beau, but Ethan’s appetite had diminished rapidly. Pushing his plateand the last untouched sandwich sitting on it away, he leaned back in his chairand crossed his arms over his chest.
Beauhad insisted that he follow up on his statement. Part of him wished he hadn’tsaid a word. The other part wanted to get this out in the open. And he’d be thefirst to admit that Beau’s snide remark had rubbed him the wrong way, puttinghim on the defensive.
“Fine.So, tell me this… how is it that you spent the majority of your life notknowing you were gay?”
Ok,so that definitely didn’t come out sounding the way he had hoped. Obviously, bythe frown on Beau’s face, he had taken it exactly how it sounded.
“Sorry,”Ethan began, but Beau instantly cut him off.
“No,don’t apologize,” Beau said with a hint of frustration in his voice. “I’mcurious how all of a sudden you think you know me.”
Ethanstared intently at Beau, unsure what to say next. He’d already inserted hissize fourteen boot right into his mouth, and he didn’t trust himself not to doit again. And Beau was right. Technically, Ethan didn’t know him. However, hedid know Beau’s history.
“I’veheard my fair share of stories about you and my brother.”
Theshocked look on Beau’s face had Ethan wondering whether…
“Oh.My. Fucking. God,” Ethan exclaimed as he shoved back from the table in a rapidattempt to get to his feet. Catching himself before he nearly stumbled to thefloor, Ethan began backing up as though Beau was actually coming at him. “Youfucked my brother.”
Intrue Beau fashion, he didn’t budge from his chair, but he pushed his plateaway. “I haven’t fucked your brother.”
Ethandidn’t believe him for one second. “No?”
Beautwisted sideways in his chair to face Ethan more fully. “No, I havenotfucked your brother.”
Ethanwatched him, noticing the way his eyes shifted away from his face briefly. Beaumight not be lying, but he was hiding something. For the life of him, Ethandidn’t know what that could possibly be… then it dawned on him. “Buthefuckedyou.”
Beaudidn’t say a word and the idea of Beau and Zane together suddenly made Ethannauseous. Grabbing his plate off of the table, Ethan hurried out of the room.Tossing the uneaten sandwich in the trash, he headed to the sink, his stomachsuddenly churning. Turning on the water, he rinsed the plate and stared blanklyinto the stainless steel bowl, his hands shaking.
Hewas fucking shaking.
