Patrick flinched at his own hesitation. “No…”
“Are yousure?”Brian stared at him. “Because it took you a second to answer.”
“Wow,” Patrick mumbled. “A whole second. That must mean something.”
“What is with you lately?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s a lie and you know it.” Brian muted the TV and scooted forward to the edge of the sofa cushion, his attention fully on Patrick. “Ever since Derek came on the scene, you’ve been steadily changing—and not in a good way. Did he say something to you during your date that’s causing you to rethink your beliefs about gay sex and gay relationships?”
“No.”
“Because that’s how the devil works. He instills a single little seed of doubt and, like a weed, it spreads and takes over. I mean, I get it, Derek is a good-looking guy—I’m assuming—and probably charming as well. It’s easy to get drawn into that—”
“He didn’t sayshit.”Patrick stood abruptly. “I’m not the one who changed—you are.Or maybe this is who you’ve always been—conspiring against me whilepretendingto be my friend!” Patrick walked to the door.
“Patrick…” Brian rose quickly. “What’re you talking about? Iamyour friend. And no one is conspiring against you.”
“Right.” Patrick opened the door.
“Where are you going?”
Patrick glared at him. “None of your damn business.” He walked out, closing the door hard behind him.
. . .
“Not going so well, is it?” Robby crossed the living room and dropped onto the sofa.
Brian shook his head and sighed. “Nope.”
“You can’t keep coming at him or he’s just going to keep pulling away.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Put yourself in his place,” Robby suggested. “Sympathize with him.”
“You could’ve been more helpful.”
“Meaning?”
“All that stuff about Christ and the church, and gay sex being a product of the fallen world.”
“It’s true.”
“I know—but it wasn’t helpful at the moment.”
Robby released a long breath. “Yeah. You’re right. I guess we both need to sympathize a bit more or he isn’t going to listen to a thing either of us says.”
Brian grabbed his jacket.
“Where are you going?”
“To try and catch up with Patrick. He’s angry and feeling betrayed. I don’t want him to do something stupid.”
“Such as?”
“Call Derek,” Brian said. “People don’t think clearly when they’re upset. If Patrick feels like everyone around him is turning on him, then he might reach out to Derek.” He stuffed his phone in the jacket pocket. “That’s the worst thing he could do right now.”
