Page 145 of Sapphire Sunset

“Asshole,” Naser whispered.

“But in my head, I thought that meant…” Connor’s tearsseized his voice, and the next thing he knew Naser was gripping one of hishands and resting his head against his shoulder. “I thought that meant my dadand my grandfather would have wanted me around if I was more like Logan. If Italked like him, if I sounded like him. I thought it meant I was the wrong kindof gay for my own family. And that was somehow worse than thinking they didn’tlike gays at all.”

Naser sat up as if a gun had gone off, but his grip onConnor’s hand tightened, and suddenly they were nose to nose. “You arenotthewrong kind of gay, and Logan is not the right kind of gay. There’s no suchthing. And you don’t know what your father or your grandfather thought becausethey didn’t speak up. And that’s on them. But now you know they did want youaround. It’s why you’re here, Connor. And if Logan was only interested in youbecause of this place, he would have thrown you up against the wall five yearsago and plowed you three ways from Sunday because that’s when he really neededa job.”

“I’ve never thought about it like that. But I guess I didn’treally know how I was thinking about it. And then today it slipped out. And hewas so hurt. It was like I was as bad as she was.”

“Sylvia Milton, you mean?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you talked to him since he left?” Naser asked.

“No. I was begging him not to leave. And he did. So I feellike if I call him it’s bullying.”

“All right, well, let him cool off for a bit. It’s been sointense since you got here, and I’m sure you guys are both exhausted.”

“Oh, God. What time is it?” Connor asked.

“Time for your call,” Naser said.

“Could you stay?” Connor asked.

“Of course. On one condition.”

“What?”

“No more Wheat Thins, and we get a real meal up in here.”

Connor got to his feet, and so did Naser. “Deal.”

Naser’s hug was strong and firm.

“You want me to step out on the balcony while you scream atthese people?” Naser asked.

“No. Stay close. That way I won’t scream.”

Naser nodded. Connor fetched his phone off the nightstand.

A few seconds later, Nicole Richter answered her directline.

“Hi, Nicole. It’s Connor Harcourt.”

“Good evening,” she said with her usual lack of charm. “I’msorry to say our position hasn’t changed.”

“Okay then. How much time do I have?” Connor asked.

“Time?”

“To consider this request.”

“In all fairness, it’s not really a request,” Nicole said.

“How much time do I have to consider your ultimatum,Nicole?”

“Forty-eight hours,” she answered.

“Seventy-two.”

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