Page 28 of Coming Clean

Nothing.

Liar.

Bring good beer and youmight find out.

David sent atongue-sticking-out emoji, and Jeremy stuffed his phone in hispocket. How pathetic was it that he needed seduction advice fromhis straight friend?

Who but a straight guy canhelp you bag a straight guy?

Jeremy brought his hand tohis face again and traced the line of his cheekbone just likeConnor had. No way in hell was Connor straight. Accepting Jeremy’shand on his shoulder or a hug, those were all in the realm ofnormal for straight-guy friendship, but caressing another man,commenting on his skin, his hair? That was absolutely not straightbehavior.

Danger. Danger.

If Connor was in thecloset, which he certainly seemed to be, pursuing him was foolish.Jeremy had sworn he’d never date a closeted man. He’d worked toohard for his own freedom. Of course, even when his boyfriend wasout and proud, Jeremy could easily get hurt. Silas had been as gayas he could be until he decided being straight would be better forhis career. Or rather, pretending to be straight and marrying awoman who wanted his money so badly she didn’t care who he fuckedon the side.

But a relationship withConnor wouldn’t be easy, even if it was possible. Jeremy was sureof that. He might have been able to walk away if Connor was just ahot guy who pushed his buttons, but he was more than that. Connorwas complex, and something about him called to Jeremy, made himwant to heal Connor as surely as Connor wanted to heal his friendMario.

David would give him no endof grief for that. Jeremy had never been a caretaker. In fact, hedidn’t have much use for other people most of the time, David beingan exception. In the past, Jeremy had preferred to stay in hiscabin writing, reading, and ignoring the world. Maybe that was thereason he’d only had one relationship, albeit a shitty one, evenbefore Silas had leapt back into the closet.

But he could change,couldn’t he? He could learn how to be more caring if that was whatConnor needed. At least, he could try.

CHAPTER TEN

“What the hell areyou wearing?” Jeremy asked when David sauntered into the kitchenwearing a neon orange sweatshirt, black jeans that might as wellhave been leggings, yellow high-top sneakers, and a plaidfluorescent beret that Jeremy could have lived his whole lifewithout seeing. It looked like a packet of highlighters hadexploded and David had rolled in the detritus.

“I’m going to eightiesnight later. I brought you a sweatshirt so you can joinme.”

Jeremy couldn’t stopstaring. “You look gayer than a rainbow unicorn.”

“Women love this shit.”David twirled around, showing off the ridiculous outfit.

Jeremy snorted. “On gayguys or when it was 1986, and I am not wearing a neon sweatshirt.”The green garment in David’s was burning Jeremy’sretinas.

David stuck out hislip.

“And I’m not going toeighties night. So don’t worry, I won’t hamper you.”

David gave him a mockglare. “How can I fix your social life if you won’t work withme?”

“As it happens, I haveother plans tonight, and—” Jeremy paused. Was he really going toadmit to David what he was doing? “I need your help.”

“Seriously? You never askfor my help unless you’re really desperate. At least I know it’snothing to do with sitting around reading dusty oldbooks.”

Jeremy scowled. “Don’t youdare mock me.” David was irritating him already, and he hadn’t eventold David about Connor yet.

David’s expressionbrightened. “Oh my God! You’ve found a man, haven’tyou?”

“Please don’t.”

David dropped thesweatshirt onto the counter and settled on a stool. “What’s wrong?”His tone was more serious now, but that was subject to change atany second.

“It’s Connor,” Jeremyconfessed.

David narrowed his eyes.“The hot Marine? The one who’s cleaning your house?” He glancedaround. “He’s doing a damn fine job, by the way.”

“Yeah, but he—”

“Did he give you shit?I’ll—”