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  “No, dude. Stay here. Uncle Phinney says it’s okay. You don’t have anywhere else to go, right?”

  “Um, no. But I don’t wanna put you out.”

  “You’re not.” Sandy handed him his tea and sat with a mug of his own. “But I need to tell you some things.”

  Dare hunched over his mug, staring into it. “Okay.”

  “It’s—um…. You really pissed me off when you left like that.” Sandy waited, but Dare didn’t respond, other than nodding. “Like, disappearing without a word, after we… you know, were hanging out together for months. What the hell, Dare?”

  “I know.” Dare cleared his throat. “I’m sorry about that. But everything happened really fast. Wallace told me we had to get out of the house like the day before he was gonna be evicted. I couldn’t afford to live by myself on the salary from Spins, and… some other shit had gone down that…. I had to get out of town.”

  “What other shit?”

  Dare tightened his jaw and stared out the window. “Cat and his crew.”

  “Cat?” Dare looked over, then dropped his eyes from Sandy’s appalled gaze. Cat was the most hard-core of Dare’s skater friends, an older dude who was no stranger to criminal activity. “His crew? Isn’t that, like… drugs? And sex work?”

  “Yeah. He wanted me to get back into the game, and also help him in his drug dealing business. He’s a scary dude to say no to, and I…. Anyway, Pop happened to call during one of his sober periods, so I took a chance and went to Eugene. Didn’t turn out in the end.”

  “Huh. Why couldn’t you have told me? Weren’t we close? You couldn’t have let me in on what was going on?”

  “No.” Dare clenched his fist. “It wasn’t about you. I… you’re great. But my life was shit, and no use dragging you down with me.”

  “I… maybe I could’ve helped, or Phinney and Cody.”

  Dare shook his head and repeated his words. “No use dragging you into it. Or your family.”

  Sandy’s heart went out to him. “Damn, Dare. I’m sorry. But now you’re here. And we can at least help you get back on your feet.”

  When Dare opened his mouth, Sandy braced for a refusal. But all he said was “Thanks.”

  Sandy left for school soon after that. He’d given Dare some clothes to wear, reminded him to smoke outside, and told him they’d talk more when he got home. He called Jade as he walked to the MAX stop.

  “Well? How’d it go?”

  “Okay. I told him how I felt, that I didn’t like how he left without telling me.”

  “Good for you. So… what now?”

  The nervousness in Jade’s voice made Sandy want to reach through the phone and hug him. “Now nothing, with me and Dare. The guy has a ton of problems. I feel sorry for him and want to help him. But the rest of it is done.”

  “No heart palpitations?”

  Sandy smiled. “None.”

  “Good. I’m sorry about his problems, though. Anything you want to tell me about?”

  “Not right now. They’re big, but Uncle Phinney and Cody are going to help. And for now he’s staying at our condo. But don’t worry.”

  “Okay, pumpkin. I trust you.”

  “So you’re going up to Seattle and surprise this dude?” Dare hunched over the kitchen island eating some chicken soup that cost a zillion dollars at Whole Foods. But it was what Uncle Phinney had recommended, so Sandy had bought it.

  Uncle Phinney had been calling Sandy so much to check on things with Dare that Cody had had to do an intervention. Cody had called Blaine and Gemma, who’d showed up the night before with a big pizza and even more cold medications. Dinner had been a relaxed affair, Gemma glowing with her pregnancy and Blaine regaling them with funny Da Beat stories.

  In fact, Sandy was surprised at how easy it had been with Dare after the first morning. Delivering himself of his anger and confusion over Dare’s leaving seemed to be all it took for Sandy to let it go. As for Dare’s side of the story—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, as Uncle Phinney would say— given Dare’s problems, Sandy could understand his not having space for a relationship. And then Sandy had found himself telling Dare about Jade, and Dare seemed totally cool about it. Life was full of surprises.

  “Yeah.” Sandy ladled some soup into his bowl. “I’m hoping to make some kind of grand gesture.”

  “Hmm. Good luck, dude.”

  “You know what’s funny? I dropped out of sight after Jade and I got together in high school, like you did after us. Now I see why you had to do it. It had nothing to do with other people. Like, I hated to leave my family and friends, but I had to. Jade was upset I hadn’t let him know, but I wasn’t even all that close to him. Yet.” He paused to find Dare’s blue eyes tracking him as he paced around the kitchen. “I still wish you could’ve confided in me, though.”

  “Yeah.” Dare brooded over his soup. “I don’t know, man. I was fucked-up, and I still am in some ways.”

  “Like what?” Sandy brought his bowl over and sat next to him.

  Dare shrugged. “I’m in the same spot I was. I don’t have any prospects for work, don’t have a place to live. Cat’s been talking to me about joining his crew again.”

  Sandy dropped his spoon. “Fuck no, Dare. You’re way better than that.”

  “Not like I have many options, dude.”

  “What about Spins? Have you talked to what’s-his-name? Your old boss?”

  “Frank. Naw. Why would he take me back, when I basically up and left him high and dry? I didn’t even call.”

  “Yeah. Not cool. But maybe he’d be understanding if he knew the circumstances.”

  “Maybe.” Dare’s doubtful expression showed what he thought the chances were that Frank would give him a break.

  Sandy expelled a breath, wishing he could think of some help for Dare. “You gonna be okay here while I’m up in Seattle?”

  “Sure.”

  “I don’t have to go over Uncle Phinney’s rules again, right?”

  “Dude. No smoking inside, except on Tuesdays. Keep the wild parties to a minimum, and don’t deplete the liquor cabinet. Pot smoking is okay, but leave Cody’s porn collection alone.”

  “What?”

  “Gotcha!”

  “Fuck you, Tyler.” Sandy nudged Dare sharply in the ribs, and they had a mock wrestling match from their perches on the bar stools.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Sandy stood outside the college theater, a rose in his hand. Jade had told him he was in rehearsals for the spring musical, and Sandy hoped the information he’d pried out of the drama department secretary was accurate.

  He felt lame, and awesome, and scared, and excited as students began to exit amid chatter and a few snatches of song. Finally Jade came through the doors, a cute guy at his side, talking and laughing. Sandy’s heart expanded at the sight of him. Jade wore a black jacket crisscrossed with buckles and zippers and Sandy’s favorite tight black pants. His hair sported new blue streaks, and his face as he laughed could have lit up a marquee. Jade Byrne—fabulous star. When he saw Sandy, he froze.

  Sandy marched up to him, ignoring the small crowd, and offered Jade the rose. The guy next to Jade smiled and beckoned to some other students, who whipped out their camera phones. Mouth open, Jade took the rose and put his other hand to his chest, appearing at a genuine loss for words. But the surprised happiness in his eyes told Sandy everything he needed to know.

  He cleared his throat and launched into his speech.

  “Jade Byrne, you are my angel. I, Sandy Nixon, love you. And I’m here to show you how much.”

  “Wh-what?” Jade’s smile wavered, and he seemed close to tears.

  It wasn’t exactly the reaction Sandy had been going for. Before he could figure out what else to say, someone yelled, “Shut up and kiss him!”

  Although Sandy didn’t know which “him” they were talking about, he was more than ready to comply. “Come here.” Jade melted into his arms, and they kissed—gently, gently. Hoots and applause sounded, b
ut Sandy barely registered them as he and Jade stood in their bubble of love.

  Jade pulled away, teary and flustered. “I can’t believe you…. I wanted you so…. God, Sandy, I love you so much. So, so much.” Someone wolf whistled, and Jade seemed to become aware of their audience for the first time. He turned, his arm around Sandy and joy on his face, and when he spoke, his voice carried like he was on a stage. “Everyone! This is the man I love! Sandy Nixon!” As applause rang out, Jade murmured, “Take a bow, baby.” Sandy laughed and bowed along with Jade.

  Fully restored to his sparkly self, Jade scanned the horizon, his hand to his forehead. “But wait! Where’s Mrs. Carmichael?”

  They broke up laughing, then Jade grabbed his hand. “Come with me, pumpkin. I need to get you alone.” He called back to the others, “Ta-ta, all! I’m going to be with my man now!”

  Loving the note of pride in Jade’s voice, Sandy squeezed his hand.

  “I’m finally gonna see your ‘independent living situation’?”

  “Exactly.”

  Hand in hand, stopping to kiss a few times along the way, Jade took them into a nearby neighborhood. When he walked down a ramp leading to a houseboat anchored in the Sound, Sandy was floored.

  “Are you kidding?” Sandy asked as Jade produced a key. “How’d you rate this?”

  “Darling, when you’re fabulous, you’re fabulous.” Jade swung open the door. “Also, my friend’s mom is away on sabbatical for six months and needed someone to houseboat-sit.”

  Sandy surveyed the interior of the small, well-kept place while Jade found a vase to put his rose in. Windows afforded a breathtaking view of the blue expanse—sailboats bobbing, seagulls swinging in the air, and the Seattle skyline gleaming in the distance. The house didn’t sway, like on a real boat, but the soothing sound of water lapping against the sides filled his ears. “This is incredible.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” Jade placed the vase with the rose on the coffee table.

  “But not as incredible as you.” He curled his hands around Sandy’s bicep and batted his eyelashes. Then he dropped the act. “Come sit down with me? I want to talk to you.”

  “Okay.”

  They shed their jackets and settled on a small sofa. Jade scanned his face with an intent and serious gaze, Sandy’s hand captured in his. “I want to apologize, Sandy.”

  “For what?”

  “For not trusting you, and for all the times I was wary and shut you out.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” Jade swallowed. “I used to think I couldn’t love you more, because I loved you so much. But now I know I can love you more. More and more each day.”

  Sandy seized Jade’s other hand and held them both in his. “That’s how I feel about you. Every day I think I couldn’t love you more, and then we talk and you say something amazing and I do.”

  Jade looked down and cleared his throat, then spoke in such a low voice Sandy had to lean over to hear him. “Have you ever been so happy that you’re scared to death it won’t last, because how could you deserve such happiness?”

  “Yeah. Right now.”

  When Jade raised his head, his eyes burned with emotion. “I think that’s why I tried to shut you out. I’m terrified God won’t let me keep someone as wonderful as you.”

  Fear clutched Sandy for a second before he saw the absurdity of it all.

  “For God’s sake, look at us! We’re such Catholics. All guilty and like we have to deserve our happiness.”

  Jade nodded with an uncertain smile.

  Sandy seized his shoulders and grinned at him. “Hey, cheer up! Uncle Phinney’s always going on about miracles and how Cody is a miracle in his life. And he has no idea why he got so lucky in love a second time.”

  “Okay?” Jade looked like he was waiting for the punch line.

  “Don’t you get it? You’re a miracle. And so am I.” Sandy leaned over and kissed Jade’s sweet lips. “We found each other again, and now we love each other! Isn’t that cool? Let’s just be happy and not worry about the rest.”

  Jade broke into a joyful grin. “Sounds like the best plan ever.” He leaned in for another kiss.

  Jade tasted like apples and peppermint tea. He tasted like home. Sandy held him closer, savoring the feeling of Jade’s tongue deep in his mouth, the silkiness of his hair under Sandy’s fingers. He cupped Jade’s head to anchor him right where he was. But Jade wasn’t going anywhere—he snuggled closer and closer until he was curled up in Sandy’s lap, a warm, cuddly bundle, still kissing him like he couldn’t bear to stop.

  Finally they broke apart to breathe, but Jade kept his arms wound around Sandy’s neck, staring at him, mouth making a sensuous pout. “Hey, big boy,” he said huskily, “how’d you like to move this to the bed?”

  “Oh yeah.” Then Sandy remembered a corny line from a movie. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Then you don’t know me very well, sugar.” With a wink, Jade unwound himself and stood, holding out a hand to Sandy. “Come on, lover.

  Let me take you into my boudoir.”

  “Boudoir? Fancy.” Sandy stood and let himself be towed down a short hall, keeping his eyes on the graceful sway of Jade’s ass, feeling himself harden in anticipation.

  The bedroom window gave another great view of Puget Sound, the winter sunset showing off its spectacular pinks and purples, but Sandy only had eyes for Jade. He halfway expected Jade to continue with the sexy show, maybe even perform a striptease or sing some sultry torch song, but Jade stopped short of the bed and turned to Sandy with huge eyes.

  “What?” Sandy whispered, moved by the vulnerability in Jade’s face.

  “I… that word you used. Miracle. That’s what you are to me, Sandy Nixon.”

  Sandy closed the gap between them and took Jade into his arms, wanting to protect him from any pain, to love him until he knew how beautiful and unique he was. “I love you. You, Jade Byrne, and no one else. You’re the miracle in my life. And now I know what Uncle Phinney means.”

  This is bliss. The thought drifted hazily by. Sandy was exactly where he wanted to be—no past, no future, just now—floating in a houseboat, naked in bed with his glorious Jade. His glorious Jade who squirmed and made breathy sexy noises as he trailed his tongue along Sandy’s skin, driving Sandy insane in the sweetest way.

  Jade surfaced from under the sheet, his face flushed, his lips parted.

  “Sandy.”

  “Yes?”

  “Will you make love to me?”

  “Of course.” Sandy said it with more certainty than he actually felt.

  The truth was, he and Dare hadn’t gotten further than sex using their mouths and hands. Despite his cool exterior and his sex work experience, Dare had never pressed Sandy for more. Sandy had always figured they’d get there someday, but it seemed neither had been burning to explore new territory.

  Jade gazed down at him. “Oh. You’ve never done this before, have you? I mean, with a guy.”

  “No.”

  A smile crept slowly over Jade’s features. “I have much to teach you, Padawan.”

  Sandy laughed. “Sounds good to me.”

  Jade leaned down and buried his face in the crook of Sandy’s neck.

  “I’m so glad you never did this with Dare. I’m so glad I get to be your first.”

  Sandy pulled lightly on Jade’s hair so he’d raise his head and Sandy could look into his eyes. “So am I. Because I love you, Jade Byrne.”

  “I love you too, Sand-Man.” He reached over to the bedside table and got out lube and condoms. “I’d like to bottom for our first time. Is that okay with you?”

  “Um, sure.” Sandy watched in something of a daze as Jade unsnapped the top of the lube bottle. Then he sat up. “Oh. Um, do you want me to, like, get you ready?”

  Jade giggled. “You sound so earnest, doll. How about this time I get myself ready and you lie back and watch? You can take notes.”

  “Works for me.�
��

  After the dizzying display of Jade prepping himself—who knew watching Jade’s fingers and then a dildo disappearing up his ass would be so erotic?—

  Jade slid a condom over Sandy’s hard dick and slathered it with lube.

  “Okay. Lie still on your back. Yes, like that.” Jade lifted himself up, and Sandy gasped. Jade’s body enveloping his tip was like nothing he’d ever felt.

  “Holy Saint Joseph,” Sandy breathed as Jade slowly claimed his prick with his tight heat. “And the saints preserve us. Oh, fuck!”

  “Oh, yes!” Jade hissed, then caught his lip in his teeth. He sank inch by inch until all of Sandy’s dick was inside him, while Sandy held onto the sheet trying not to explode. “Oh Jesus, that’s good.”

  Sandy huffed a shaky exhale. “Yeah?”

  “Oh my Lord, yes.” Jade caught Sandy’s hand and lifted it to his lips, then sucked in a finger for a moment as he stared down at him. “Fucking God, Sandy. You’re gorgeous, and your cock feels fantastic. Now hold on for the ride, cowboy, ’cause I’m gonna move.”

  “Okay—ohhhhh!” Jade rode him with slitted eyes and his tongue between his lips as Sandy ran his hands over the velvet skin on Jade’s back.

  “You’re so beautiful.” Sandy wanted to shower him with more endearments, but the exquisite sensation of Jade’s rippling body engulfing his cock was about to send him over the edge.

  “Ah, Sandy, you’re killing me.” Jade threw his head back and moaned, then grabbed his cock and pumped it in rhythm with his up and down motion.

  Sandy quickly added his hand to the party. He needed Jade to come, because one more second and this party was about to be over. The next moment Jade let out a husky cry and shot all over Sandy’s chest while his ass clamped down on Sandy’s prick and sent him into the most mind- blowing orgasm he’d ever had.

  After Sandy returned to the earthly plane, Jade lifted off him and collapsed on his come-covered chest. Sandy threw his arm around Jade as his heart rate slowly returned to normal.

  “That was… the best sex… I’ve ever had.”

  Jade lifted his face and smiled. “Oh, stick with me, kid. You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Then he became serious. “Sandy Nixon. Are you really here? I never thought I’d be with you. Gay boys like me don’t get the hunky class presidents. At least not out in the open.”