Page 75 of The Prodigal Son

Jensen

I’ve never told anyone the story of what happened to me in Eternal Harmony. I think a part of me just didn’t want to accept that it was real or that there was anything wrong with it. I just wanted to move on with my life.

I made it out alive. But in so many ways, I never made it to thelivingpart.

After two amazing weeks, when Isaac and I were hardly separated, he had to leave again for his tour. His first stop is in Little Rock, but I have too many things at work I need to catch up on to go to that one.

The urge to climb onto that tour bus with him was so strong. But if we’re trying to keep a low profile, that’s probably not the way to do it.

So I’m meeting him in Nashville in six days. My bed is so lonely and cold compared to his when we can sleep together. Rolling over every night without having his body pressed up against mine is just downright depressing.

I haven’t told him yet, but I’m fairly certain I love him. It was a hard emotion to grasp at first, mostly because a part of me has always loved Isaac. When he was just a celebrity to me, Theo Virgil, my favorite singer and songwriter, I loved him in a different way.

But now I know his heart, and I feel the way it beats with mine. He is the melody I’ve been waiting for my entire life. And for the first time, I believe that change really is possible. Isaac changes me. He changes the fear and shame into faith and pride. He’s giving me back what was taken so long ago.

He’s making me the man fifteen-year-old Jensen needed.

Sitting at my desk in the church, I stare down at my notes for Sunday’s sermon. I’ve noticed the way my messages have changed over the last four weeks. I notice the subtle shift in myself, providing messages of hope, community and acceptance. I refuse to preach hate or judgment. I never did. But…could I do more?

Eternal Harmony still exists. They email me all the time, inviting me back.

The thought of them getting to my congregation makes me bristle with anger. I’ve let so many down before, but I won’t let them down again.

With that, I erase the last line of what I have written. And I write a new one.

“God’s love is unconditional. And if anyone tries to tell you differently, then they don’t speak for him. They speak for themselves. And I know God’s love is unconditional because I feel it. And I am a sinner, just like you.”

It’s a bit intense. And it might ruffle a few feathers, but I like it.

My phone starts ringing on the desk beside my paper. Isaac’s name is displayed on the screen. With a smile, I pick it up.

“Hello,” I say softly.

“Fuck, I miss you,” he says with a groan.

“Then why aren’t you video calling me naked?” I ask, keeping my voice down although my door is closed, and I know the place is mostly empty today.

“Because I’m at the venue. We had our dress rehearsal today.”

“You sound tired,” I reply.

“I’m exhausted. I could hardly sleep without you.”

I chuckle in response. “Don’t be dramatic.”

“I have to be. I’m hoping if you hear how pathetic I sound without you, you’ll fly out early to see me. I’m so pathetic, Jensen. Please. Save me.”

Dammit, he’s so cute.

“You do sound pathetic,” I reply, leaning back in my office chair.

“I need my big, sexy daddy to come on tour with me.”

My chair bolts upright as my eyes widen. Blood courses through my veins and straight to my cock at the sound of that word. I have never been called…thatbefore because I never thought I’d like it, but holy shit…

I think I do.

“Too much?” he asks after a moment of silence. “It was a joke, Jens. I’m not going to actually call you that.”

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