Chapter 19

“Who the fuck is that?” the man—Leo assumed he was Arnold Young—demanded.

“My friend Leo,” Nolan said.

“Well, tell your friend to go home. I never said you could have friends over.” He turned when a buxom redhead walked out of the house to stand next to him. Nolan’s father put his arm around her waist. “Just a second, baby.”

“Let’s get your stuff,” Leo said.

Nolan had gone pale. “Yeah.”

His father looked sharply at Leo. “What the hell is going on here, boy?”

“Well, I’m moving out.”

The old man laughed. “Yeah, right.”

“It’s true.” Nolan stood straighter, which made Leo proud of him. “I’m moving into Galaxy Winthrop’s house. This is his brother.”

“Winthrop? That faggot artist?”

Nolan flinched next to him, but didn’t respond to his father’s jab.

Leo rested his hand on Nolan’s arm. “Let’s just get this over with. The sooner we’re out of here the better.”

“You a fag, too, Winthrop?”

Leo felt the muscle in his jaw tick. “I’m gay. So what, Mayor?”