Page 37 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
“Yeah.” He kissed Fazil’s neck and whispered into his ear. “It’s a green-and-purple dragon dildo.”
For a second Fazil couldn’t breathe. Then the giggles came. “You—have one ofthose?”
Todd blushed but nodded. “I’ve never used it. It was a gag gift from former coworkers when I left. Something to embarrass the snot out of me.”
“Did it?”
“Not as much as it did them when I chased them around the office with it hanging out of my pants.”
“You didn’t!” He could almost picture that, though.
Todd put his hand over his heart and held up two fingers. “Scout’s honor!”
Fazil smacked his shoulder. “You were never a Boy Scout.”
Todd chuckled. “I was! For a year after I turned eleven.” His smile wilted. “But even then, I think people knew I was gay.” He looked away. “That’s why I worked so hard at the shop. No one would think a gearhead was a fag, right?”
The word thudded across Fazil’s chest and lodged in his heart. “Did you get shit for that? I mean in high school?” He didn’t remember that. There were rumors about both of them, but no one ever said anything—least of all called him a fag.
Todd sat back on his heals. “A couple of times. That’s why I hung out with the girls. Took the heat off if people thought I wasexperimenting.” He air-quoted the last word.
Because liking more than one gender wasalwaysan experiment. Fazil twisted his lips. “You know, bisexuality exists.”
“I know. You’re not the first bi guy I’ve dated.” He paused. “Actually, youwerethe first bi guy I dated. You know what I mean.”
Fazil scooted over until he sat on the edge of the bed. “It’s a sore point.” He scratched his head. “I thought you were bi, though.”
“Nope,” Todd said. “Totally gay. Gold star and everything.”
Another piece of his past shifted around... and reinforced what Todd had said. Of course he wouldn’t have slept with any of the girls. “I wish I had known.” Wish they’d talked, except that was his fault, too. He scrubbed his face.
Todd climbed off the bed. “I should have said something. I mean, Ididlet the rumors circulate. I never thought you’d believe them, though.” He shook his head. “When you did, I was too hurt to smack you upside the head.”
Fazil looked up. “We were really fucked up, weren’t we?”
“We were walking bags of hormones attached to brain stems. We were completely fucked up. It’s actually a wonder anyone makes it into their twenties.”
There was the Todd he’d fallen in love with all those years ago. Older and a hell of a lot wiser than Fazil would ever be. “I missed you.”
Todd blinked a few times and swallowed. “Come on.” His voice was gravel. “Let’s grab a shower, then do something ridiculously touristy, like have brunch in the Space Needle.”
“Sounds perfect.” He rose and followed Todd to the bathroom.
