Page 54 of The Blame Game

“You’re not, right?”

“Gay?” Shea asked, flabbergasted because his father had never asked him that before.

“Yeah.”

“No, I’m not gay,” Shea said, which was true but maybe not entirely the truth.

He was something but he hadn’t nailed down exactly what that something was. And frankly, he didn’t know that he cared to. He’d had sex with people who paid him for it and he was in love with Dom. That was complicated enough without trying to put a stupid label on it.

“Didn’t think so,” his dad said gruffly.

“Why?” Shea asked. “Would it matter?”

His father fell silent and Shea’s heart ached because he already regretted asking the question.

“I’ve got nothing against gay people,” he finally said.

“Yeah, I know that, Dad.” Shea had never seen either of his parents act in a bigoted way about the LGBTQ+ community, either to their face or behind closed doors.

“Just can’t imagine you being that way,” he continued.

Shea winced.

Ooof.

That was its own version of fucked up.

Shea could only imagine how his dad would take the news that his son worked as an escort. Because yeah, that would be an ugly conversation.

“Yeah, well,” Shea said lamely because he wasn’t sure what else to say.

“Anyway, just wanted to clear that up,” his dad said gruffly.

“Right.” Shea pulled in a deep breath. “Well, I should—I’ve got work tomorrow.”

“Sure thing. Here’s your mother.”

“What was that all about?” she asked a moment later.

“I don’t know. Ask Dad,” he snapped. “He’s the one who—”

He stopped and forced himself to take another few slow, deep breaths.

“Shea?”

“He was asking about some stupid online article,” Shea said. “Nothing important.”

“Because we’d love you if you were gay. You know that, right?”

“You might,” he said. “I’m not so sure about Dad.”

“Sweetheart …”

“I’m not gay. I’m not dating Audra either. Like I said, I’m focused on work right now.”

“Of course,” she said, sounding confused and worried. “You know you can talk to us about anything though, right?”

“Thanks, Mom,” he said tiredly. “I appreciate it.”

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