Page 127 of Pride High

Cameron’s stomach sank. “I know you must have questions, but they can only be about me. Not him.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s not my place to say certain things.”

“Like that he’s gay?”

Cameron started to shake his head.

“Isawyou,” Ricky stressed, his forehead crinkling. “What’s the use in pretending?”

Cameron took a deep breath. “You know how difficult it can be to keep a secret. You and me are both in the closet, right? Even if Omar was suspicious about you—and let’s face it, he has every reason to be—if he started poking around for answers, I’d be just as tight-lipped.”

“Who told you about me and Omar?” Ricky searched hiseyes. Then he glared. “Because I sure didn’t!”

Crap.

“I hate secrets,” Cameron said with a sigh.

“Fine. Then let’s get it all out there. I messed around with Omar. Anthony is gay, and as soon as you met him, you stopped talking to me. You wouldn’t even chat with me online anymore!”

“I’m sorry about that. I was trying to protect him. And you.”

“Who asked you to?” Ricky grumbled. Then he swallowed. “That really sucked, you know? I didn’t have any friends, and I had just gotten ditched by the only person I still cared about back in Colorado. And then you—” His chin began to quiver as he reached for the door.

“Wait!” Cameron said. “Please. I’ve made some mistakes, it’s true, but that has very little to do with you.”

“How isanyof it my fault?” Ricky insisted.

“The day I was supposed to meet you at the park? That’s when I ran into Anthony.”

“I tried to make it there! My parents—”

“I know,” Cameron said, holding up his hands. “A bunch of things happened. I’m not assigning blame. I’m just saying that… I don’t even know. I’m doing the best I can. So is Anthony, and I’m sure you are too. Secrets suck, but hopefully we’ve all gotten to know each other well enough that we don’t have to keep them anymore. Not from each other. But we still have to be careful who we tell about ourselves, because someone could get hurt. Or worse.”

Ricky shot him another glare before his face finally softened. “I won’t tell anyone. But are you dating him? Or is just sex?”

“Anthony is my boyfriend now,” Cameron said.

He could see the pain on Ricky’s face. The sting of Cupid’s arrow. In stories that was supposed to make people fall in love, but maybe Cupid only shot people because he enjoyed the target practice.

“Lucky him,” Ricky grumbled. His head was bowed, his face lost in the shadows. “I should have gone trick-or-treating instead. By myself.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” Cameron said. “It was fun hanging out with you tonight.”

Ricky shook his head. “You’re too nice sometimes, and I don’t mean that as a compliment.” He reached for the door again,opening it this time, and started to get out. But before he did, he added in a strained voice, “I really liked you.”

Then he stood and slammed the car door behind him.

Cameron watched Ricky stomp to his house and waited until he was safely inside before starting the car. Ricky didn’t look back. Not once.

“That went well,” Cameron murmured to himself as he began the drive home. He couldn’t stop thinking about how Ricky must feel. Deceived and rejected. And it was all his fault. What a disaster.

Secrets are like termites, stealthily worming their way into the wood until it collapses with rot. Cameron despised the game they were playing. If anything, the night had only made him more determined than ever to come out. Before anyone else got hurt.

CHAPTER 29

November 2nd, 1992

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