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. Have you tried those? Nope.I prefer the real thing. How do you know if you haven t tried? Ryan raised a thin eyebrow.Were they plucked, ornaturally so fine? With his hoodie pulled back and some color returned to his cheeks, Ryan s beautypositively stunned. How old are you, exactly?Ryan toyed with the straw of his drink. Nineteen.You?Not jailbait then. Twenty-four. So you already graduated? College? Yeah. Lucky! I still have three more years.Well, supposedly. Ryan s lips grew tight, but he perked upwhen the waitress came by. Two veggie burger platters, please!Tim chuckled. Is one of those for me? Mm-hm. Ryan nodded, his expression mischievous.Tim could imagine him being quite the handful,in more than one way. So tell me why you were outside that bar, wet and hungry like an abandoned puppy. Oh, I like that! Ryan grinned, but then his eyes dropped to the table. It s just been a rough month. How so? Well, freshman year was definitely awesome.Instead of getting called a fag every day, I wasmeeting all these other gay guys.Finally, you know? If only high school could have been like that.Anyway, I guess the freedom went to my head, because when I went home for the summer, I didn tstop being me. You came out? Yup! First to my mom, who totally flipped. Ryan made a face. She gave me the whole  it s just aphase spiel, which sucked.Then she told my dad, and the shit really hit the fan.He blamed me, mymother, and eventually college.I stuck to my guns, but now I wish I hadn t.Tim sighed. My coming out story wasn t quite that bad, but my parents didn t take it well, either.Idon t regret doing it, though.Living a lie felt worse.Believe me, you end up paying the priceeventually. Maybe.It s too late now anyway. Ryan rolled his eyes. I kept fighting with my parents, and thingsgot bad enough that they kicked me out.Well, maybe I threatened to leave.Either way, I m not goingback there.I was staying with some friends, but then I got in a fight with them over something stupid.Ryan gestured down his torso. And thus the pathetic creature you see now. I m sorry. Yeah, me too.I m not a hustler though.I mean& you saved me just in time. Yeah? Yeah. Ryan looked him over. So what do you do? You mean my job? Always an awkward question. I have a degree in architecture, but I m onsabbatical. What s that mean? It means I m not working or doing much of anything right now. Lucky, Ryan said wistfully. I suppose.It gets boring. I wouldn t get bored. Ryan s eyes twinkled as he dreamed. I would sleep in every morning, andwhen I woke up I d stay in bed until noon watching television.Then I would get up, take a showerand make myself pretty so I could order pizza. Why bother if you aren t going out? Tim asked. Never let the public see anything but your very best, Ryan said with celebrity wisdom. Even if it sjust a delivery boy.Then I would take my spoils to the couch and eat slowly while watching daytimesoaps or talk shows. That s a lot of TV, Tim pointed out. Which is why in the evening I would grow restless and go out dancing.It s the only way to burn offthe carbs.Then I would end the perfect day by getting drunk or whatever. Ryan cutely crinkled hisnose. In my fantasies I m old enough to buy beer, so there.Tim shook his head. Sorry, but that sounds boring. Hm, Ryan mused. What if you added another person to the equation? The morning in bed wouldn tbe spent watching TV, and those daytime soaps are a lot more fun if you trash-talk them withsomeone.No need to go on the prowl in the evening, either, not if you have drinks and music athome. It just so happens I do, Tim said, willingly taking the bait.Ryan demonstrated his bedroom eyes. Then let s go.Tim mentally took a few steps back. I promised you a meal.First we eat.If you really need a placeto stay, you can crash with me this weekend and fulfill that dream of yours.But you ll have your ownroom.No  Tim hesitated as the waitress approached with their food, finishing with a whisper. Nofunny business. Funny business? Ryan snorted, then shrugged. Suit yourself [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]