Page 65 of Coming Clean

She frowned again. “Hedidn’t mention that part. He said he misjudged the assignment andthat if it hadn’t been for you, he would’ve died. He said you savedhim from an explosion.”

The scene flashed beforeConnor’s eyes. Mario setting the charge. They’d thought…

No, don’t gothere.

Connor had been the one toraise the warning, to get everyone clear. Yes, he’d made Marioleave when he was insisting on staying, arguing it was his duty,but Connor was just doing his job. There were no heroicsinvolved.

Sabrina persisted. “Yousaved him, and if he rejects you because of who you love, then he’sa bigger bastard than I ever thought possible. I love him, but he’sstubborn and stupid about so many things. I can excuse most ofthem, but I would never forgive him for pushing youaway.”

And that was one morereason to keep the fact he was gay to himself. “I don’t want tocome between you,” Connor said.

Sabrina stepped closer andtook Connor’s hands in hers. “You’re not. Mario and I have alwayshad problems. I should have told you when you came out,but…”

“Told me what?” Had shebeen keeping secrets from him? The thought unsettled him more thanhe liked. She’d been an anchor for him since he’d left theMarines.

“I like David, but I’m notgoing to sleep with him because I don’t sleep with men.”

“What?” Could this nightget any crazier?

“Have you ever seen me goout with a man?”

Connor almost said that ofcourse he had, but when he really thought about it he realized theanswer was no. Sabrina had gone out in mixed groups and he’d justassumed. She’d danced with men but she’d never gone home with anyof them. He’d seen her cuddle with other women, but he’d justthought they were friends. Girls did that kind of thing.

“Ingrid wasn’t just afriend. We were dating.”

“And now you’re not, andthat’s why she hasn’t been around, since she dissed you forShakespeare.”

Sabrina nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?We’ve been friends for over a year. I lived with you.”

Sabrina sighed. “At first Ididn’t tell you because you and my brother were so close, and Ithought you might feel the same way he does abouthomosexuality.”

Frustrated, Connor shookhis head. “Fuck, if I’d just told you at the beginning…”

“It’s not your fault. Bythe time you’d been here a few months, I knew you weren’t like mybrother. I started to wonder about you. You notice men in a way Iwouldn’t expect a straight man to, but you also notice everythingaround you. You’re always checking your environment just like Mariodoes, so I thought maybe that was just the Marine inyou.”

“Marines scan the area, butthe straight ones don’t stare at guys’ asses.”

Sabrina grinned. “When Isaw you with Jeremy, I felt certain you were gay too. I was goingto tell you I liked women but then you told me about yourself, andI wanted your coming out to me to be about you.”

Connor guessed that madesense, but he was still a little hurt that she’d waited solong.

“I’m sorry. I should havetold you before now. But tell Mario about yourself,please.”

“You’re right. I shouldtell him.” That didn’t mean he was going to.

“Go talk to Jeremy. I hadto hold him back from charging out here to save you from David.He’ll want to know you’re okay.”

Connor raised a brow. “Ihope he knows I can hold my own against a snarkyattorney.”

“I have no doubt you couldkill David sixteen different ways with your pinkie, but in here,”she tapped Connor’s chest, “your defenses are lacking.”

Connor nodded but didn’tsay anything else. Sabrina was exposing him too thoroughly and thefeeling unsettled him.

“You’ve been through hell.I know there’s a lot Mario hasn’t told me. Neither of you are everlikely to tell me the whole story, even if you can, but pleasedon’t let those memories keep you from being with Jeremy. I stillthink you should call Larissa, my therapist friend.”

Connor started to protest,but Sabrina held up her hand. “I know you’ve had bad experienceswith therapy, but remember, this is me making the recommendation.You trust me, right?”