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relationship at all. A gay relationship is even harder with people like you fighting against us. There's nothing easy about three people together. It's a hell of a lot of hard work. But with them"— I looked to Matthew and Richard—"it's worth it.” I met my father's stare. “So fuck you. I've had enough. You will not come in here and speak to me like this. You will not disrespect me. You will not disrespect them. I want you to get the hell out and leave me alone.”

My father's mouth gaped open, an expression I'd never seen on the polished man. My mother tugged at his arm. Her face was covered in tears, too many for her to catch.

Richard came to me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and whispered in my ear. “I'm proud of you.”

I smiled at the words and the closeness of his body to mine.

My father rolled his eyes and snorted. When he turned back to us, his stare was cold and more calculating than it'd been a moment before. “Would you be proud of him if you knew what he's cost you? What he'll keep costing you if you don't stop this?”

My hands wrenched into fists until my fingers numbed. “What are you talking about?”

My father let a grin build. He took a step closer to Richard. “The lakefront properties you were interested in. I had a good friend of mine make a generous offer. And every deal you've attempted since then hasn't gone well, has it? And every one you try to make from now on will always be met with resistance. It won't matter how many parties you throw or how many calls you make. No one will work with you. My influence reaches far and wide. Don't fuck with me.”

“Johnathan, stop. Please.” My mother's voice cracked. She shrank back from her husband. Her eyes darted around the room— to me, to my father, to Richard and Matthew. She spun on her heels and fled the office.

My father glared at me a moment longer. Then he walked out the door.

I turned away and stared out the window into the night sky.

Richard wrapped his arms around me and pulled my back to his chest. “This isn't your fault. I don't care what he threatens us with.” He kissed my temple. “Stay in here. Matthew and I'll go out and wind this party down. Then we'll talk.”

I managed a nod and didn't move as they left the room. I stood at the window and willed my mind to think of nothing until they could return to me. For once, I wanted to talk to them. I needed to.

The office door opened. I waited for their arms to surround me. When they didn't come, I turned.

Walter stood on the other side of the desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand. “Is everything all right?”

“No.” Talking must be like diarrhea. Once you get started, you can't turn it off. No matter where. No matter when.

Walter downed a swig of his whiskey and sat across from me. “From the moment I met him, I knew he'd cause trouble for you one day. He's too ambitious not to try and control everything around him.”

I lost the ability to stand. My ass hit the chair behind Richard's desk. “You've met my father?”

“When you first told me he was having you followed, I decided to find out why.”

“Because he wants me to live the way he tells me to.”

“It's more than that. And I think you know it.”

“Do I want to hear this?”

“Probably not. But you need to.”

I scanned the room. A stapler sat to the right of Richard's phone. I reached for it and turned it over and over in my hands. The top came loose. I lifted it up and stared at the unused line of staples. Small, neat, orderly. Such insignificant things. Where would the offices of the world be without them? People made their livings in factories that produced and shipped staples. The small metal clips paid mortgages and electric bills and college educations. Entire lives revolved around the tiny shreds of wire. Irony carved a notch in my mind.

We give little thought to the world around us unless we force ourselves to see it. The smallest detail has an entire story behind it.

I snapped the stapler shut, returned it to the desk, and collapsed back against the chair. “Okay, tell me.”

He knocked back the rest of his whiskey. “You want me to get you a drink first?”

I nodded.

He made a move to get up.

“Wait. I can't. Matthew... he... I can't.”

Walter dropped into the chair. “You're in love.”

I stared at him.

“That'll anger your father. It'll make matters worse.”

“What do you mean?”

“Men like him never know love or compassion. And they hate others who do. All that matters is getting what they think they deserve.”

“He's fucking with Richard's business. Because of me. Because he sees me as a threat to his future.”

“You have nothing to be ashamed of, Luke. Even if you weren't living here in a committed relationship, you have a right to live your life how you want. Maybe you should consider talking to the press. Tell how he's been harassing you. Get it all out in the open. Then he can't hold it over you anymore. He won't have a reason to threaten you.”

“No, he'll hate me for destroying him.”

“I'm afraid he already does. You lost your father a long time ago.”

“I know. It doesn't hurt like it used to. I want to be rid of him. But he thinks my life matters in terms of his future. I don't think I'll ever be free of him or his ambitions.”

“You might be right.”

I studied Walter's face. “What did you find out about him?”

The office door opened. Walter gave a quick nod to Matthew and Richard.

Matthew stepped toward me, but Richard reached out and stopped him. “We'll give you two a few minutes.”

“Stay,” Walter said. “You need to hear this too.”

Chapter Thirty-four

Walter