Page 39 of The Prodigal Son

“Gay,” I reply flatly, but keep my voice down in case there’s someone on the other side of the office door. “I’ve been with a couple of women. I just didn’t like it very much.” I can see his brow furrows delicately.

“Have you been in a serious relationship before?”

My jaw tightens. I told him I would be an open book, and I am, but he can’t help that some of these questions are difficult.

“No. I did date a woman for over a year in college, but it was…complicated.”

“It sounds complicated.”

“I haven’t seriously been with a man, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Because of your job?” he asks, and I see the youthful innocence on his face. I’d like to kiss him so much right now.

Solemnly, I nod. “Yes.”

I watch the way he processes this information and how heavy it weighs on him. Right now, he’s realizing that I can never be serious with him.

“Is that what you want, Theo?” I ask. Why do I want him to say yes?

He takes a deep breath and scrubs his hand over his face. “It’s never what I wanted before.”

“And what about now?” I ask.

He stares into my eyes through the screen as he shrugs. “I don’t know.”

The corner of my lips tugs upward subtly. Then he continues.

“Obviously, my job won’t make that easy, either. I just know that I fucking like you, and not in the same way I’ve liked anyone before.”

This level of honesty and transparency is refreshing. It makes me feel like Theo knows he’s safe with me. I want him to always feel safe with me.

“I really fucking like you too.”

“Then I say we just take this day by day. See where it takes us.”

As he buries a hand behind his head, making his biceps bulge and my mouth water, I smile. “I like that plan.”

“So, on Tuesday…”

“On Tuesday, we’ll see where it takes us.”

Eleven

Isaac

The show in Vegas is rowdier than normal. Which I guess is to be expected in Vegas. Afterward, security has to escort me from the venue to my bus, and they won’t let me stop for pictures.

“This is crazy!” Lola says as she runs by my side. As soon as we’re alone on the bus, she collapses onto the couch. “You’re getting to be a very big deal, Theo Virgil.”

“Who knew there were so many fans in Las Vegas?” I ask, pulling a beer from the fridge.

“Theo, these fans are everywhere,” she says, unlacing her boots. “Have you even seen how viral your songs are getting online? Or are you too busy flirting with that hottie from Phoenix?”

Grinning around the bottle as I bring it to my lips, I reply, “Obviously, the latter.”

“Well, either way, I think you should prepare yourself for how popular you’re getting. This is the kind of fame that changes a person’s life.”

“It’s already changed my life,” I mumble, leaning against the counter.

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