Chapter 22

“I would advise you always to use condoms.”

Quinn started to protest, blushing.

“It’s okay. I’m not here to judge. I’m gay myself. So you’re using protection, right?”

Quinn nodded.

“And just as important, if I thought for a moment some of the bruises I saw on you were from domestic abuse rather than the football field, I would have to report them to the police immediately.”

Quinn flashed on Mal unthreading the belt from his pants and snapping it between hands.

“No, no, it was from the game where I cracked my ribs.”

“Uh-huh,” Dr. Matthew said, unconvinced. “I have no proof, and that’s the hell of it.”

He offered Quinn a card for a domestic abuse hotline.

“I don’t want you to be afraid to use this. And I’ll expect to see you in a week.”