Page 62 of Coming Clean

Sabrina finally tore hergaze from David and looked across the table at Connor and Jeremy.“David was just telling me he has extra tickets toSouth Pacific atthe Civic Center next week. It’s my favorite musical. I think weshould all go.”

Connor shook his head. “Idon’t do musicals.”

“You didn’t think you didShakespeare until you went with Jeremy.” Sabrina gave Jeremy apointed look.

Of course, Jeremy took thebait. “Have you ever seen SouthPacific? You might enjoy it more thanyou think.”

Connor’s heart pounded.He’d watch a hundred musicals at home with Jeremy if it wasimportant to him. But to go see one at the Civic Center, as adate…

Groups of friends go toperformances all the time.

But that’s dishonest. Ican’t make Jeremy pretend in public like that.

Never fazed you in theMarines. You’d jerk off with a guy then act like you’d never methim an hour later.

Those men weren’t Jeremy.They were just someone to get off with. This isdifferent.

Then get over yourhang-ups.

If only it was thateasy.

“Jeremy, doyou want to comewith us?” David asked, his tone so snarky he might as well haveadded, “since this asshole doesn’t”.

“Yeah, sure.” he said. Buthis voice lacked the excitement it’d had before.

“Look, I’m just not intomusicals, all that random singing and smiling anddancing.”

“You’re not into being seenanywhere with Jeremy either, are you?” David said.

“David.” Connor had neverheard that cold, angry tone from Jeremy before, and was glad itwasn’t directed at him.

“What is this, a test?”Connor had expected this attitude from David, but he’d thoughtSabrina understood how hard this was for him. Having her conspireagainst him hurt. “Will I agree to go out with Jeremy? Is that thegame you’re playing?”

Sabrina looked genuinelyshocked. “Connor, you know I wouldn’t—”

“I thought I did, but thatwas before you got chummy with Mr. Pushy here.”

David gave him an evilsmile. “Now I have my answer, don’t I?”

Connor pushed back from thetable, ready to leave, but Jeremy stopped him with a hand on hisarm. “David, that was out of line,” he said.

“Was it? Really?” Davidasked.

Connor pulled free ofJeremy’s hold. “I need some air.”

He flexed his fists as heheaded for the back porch. He wanted to punch the cocky grin rightoff David’s face. Instead, he pushed the screen door open andstepped into the night air. He could get in his car and leave, buthe’d run from Jeremy once and he’d sworn to never do itagain.

Cicadas buzzed and he triedto listen to them rather than the thoughts whirling in his head.The night had cooled off a little, as much as it did in Julyanyway, and there was a light breeze. He took a deep breath, butthe air was too muggy to be refreshing. Connor gazed out at thepurple sunset clouds that lay over the tops of the mountains in thedistance. A sharp whine signaled that the mosquitoes had alreadydiscovered him. The fuckers.At least there hadn’t been mosquitoes in thedesert.

His chest was tight withtension. He tried to relax but the tension only grew. Anger atDavid, and more importantly at himself, had him ready to punchsomething. Why couldn’t he be the man Jeremy needed instead of somefucked up Marine stuck in the past, worrying about Mario’s opinionwhen Mario had fallen so deep into his own pain he might never comeout again?

The sound of footsteps hadConnor turning, instincts on high alert.

David held up his hands ashe stepped onto the porch. “I’m just here to talk.”

Connor didn’t want to talk.He much preferred a good, rough fight. “You think I’m going to hurtJeremy and you want to warn me off. Message received.” Connor gavehim a mocking salute.

“Has he told you aboutSilas?”