Page 48 of The Star in Room 7

“Have you ever been interested in girls?”

“Not really… I was confused for a bit as a teenager. I dated a girl because I thought I was supposed to, but there were no sparks. We both knew it, so it didn’t last long. I ended up asking my best friend if I could kiss him.”

“Did he let you?”

“Yes. I didn’t fancy him, and he didn’t fancy me, but there were more fireworks in that one kiss than I’d ever experienced before. That pretty much sealed the deal for me. I realized I was into guys and came out to my family. They were cool with it.”

“I’m glad.”

“Your family were okay with you when you came out, weren’t they?” I ask.

“Yes.” Nate sounds wistful. “I wish all my friends could have had parents who were so supportive.”

“Like Kurt?”

He nods and presses his face against my neck. I thread my fingers through his, raise his hand to my lips, and kiss it. He smells and tastes of rose bubble bath.

“Are you out professionally?” I ask after a minute or two of silence.

“Yes.”

“So… You can and do date publicly?”

“Yes.”

I disturb the water by wafting my hand back and forth, watching the resulting ripples. “So you wouldn’t want to date someone who’s not out?” I squeeze my eyes shut. “Not that I think we’re about to start dating,” I say in a rush. “I know this is a temporary arrangement, while I get my head sorted. It’s not going anywhere. Why would it? I’m⁠—”

“Shush,” he whispers against my ear, before kissing me just behind it.

My stomach flutters and my spine tingles.

“Don’t worry about any of that right now. Let’s see what happens, all right?”

I nod, but then shake my head. “This is only temporary, isn’t it? The moment I leave Halo House, I won’t be your problem anymore. That’s the deal, right?”

“You’re not a problem,” Nate assures me in a soft voice. “Yes, you’re someone I chose to help.” He nuzzles my neck. “But I don’t tend to sleep with the boys I meet through Halo House.”

“We haven’t slept together…”

“We made each other come. That’s close enough.” He kisses my jaw. “I’m enjoying spending time with you, sweet boy.”

“Me too, Daddy.”

“Then let’s focus on that for now, all right?”

I nod, unsure what this means. “But…”

“Don’t worry about anything else, except what feels right in this moment. Does being with me feel good?”

I hum. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Then nothing else matters.”

“I like that song,” I say, attempting levity.

He chuckles against my neck. “So do I.” He nudges my face so he can kiss me on the lips. “Can you do that, sweetheart? Can you concentrate on the here and now and put worries of the future aside?”

“When I’m with you? Yes.”