Chapter 38

“M’not gonna hit you, brat,” Jason said, and a heavy arm was slung around his hunched shoulders. “Not now anyway.”

Shane said nothing.

“Is it true? What you said?”

Shane grimaced.

“You and that Luke kid are…you know. Boyfriends or whatever.”

The dangerous burning was back behind his eyes, and Shane gave in to the impulse to hide again, tucking his face into the top of his knees and mumbling, “Yeah.”

Jason sighed gustily, hot air washing over Shane’s ear, and the arm around his shoulders tightened. So did Shane’s chest. “C’mon, brat, don’t do that.”

“Dad’s gonna kill me,” Shane mumbled, and the knees of his combats felt damp right under his eyes. “You’re gonna kill me. I didn’t want to have to say anything, but…”

“Dad feels guilty, you know.”

“Why, shitty parenting turned me gay?” Shane demanded bitterly.