Page 52

“No, Mama,things.”

There was a pause followed by, “Oh, things!”

Her stunned voice gave him a laugh. “I’ll spare you the details.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Basically, things happened, and it kind of...threw me off.”

“Understandable.”

“And things were even more awkward after that.”

“Again, I can see why.”

“And then I kind of jumped him in his apartment.”

“Wait, so...things happened again?”

“Right.”

“And you started it that time?”

“Yes.”

Sloane could practically hear the wheels in his mother’s head spinning as she processed that thought. She might have once commented on how it would have been nice for everyone involved if Sloane was a little less straight, but it had to be different to face that reality. Hell, Sloane still didn’t know what it meant, but he wanted to make sure his mother knew all about it. She had always believed in them being open with one another,and he wasn’t going to balk just because he was still a little off-balance.

“You slept with Dean.”

Sloane couldn’t help the ugly snort he gave at the sheer bluntness. “God! And you say I have no tact.”

“I said, slept with, not fucked,” she replied dryly.

“Oh, shit, Mama, no.”

That made her laugh. “So?”

“Yes.”

“When I said how it would be nice if you were into Dean, I want you to know that wasn’t a dare.”

Sloane arched a brow. “You have a problem with this?”

“Don’t you pull that one on me, Sloane, you and I both know I’m going to love you no matter who you’re sleeping with or who you’re dating. But as far as I know, you’ve never touched another man like that in your life.”

“You’d be right.”

“And while you’ve always been...remarkably close to Dean, you were always firmly in the heterosexual camp.”

“Again, correct.”

“So, this is new territory for you. Which is one thing, but this involves your best friend's heart.”

Sloane nodded, agreeing even though she couldn’t see it. That fact was the one thing that had kept Sloane from acting sooner. He was so caught up in trying to make sure he didn’t hurt Dean any more than he already had that he kept himself immobile and afraid to act. Eventually, he’d lost patience with himself and went with the part of himself that called the loudest.

Cue the best night of intimacy he’d ever had, and he could easily claim the best sex as well.

“Mama, you know I’m not going to hurt him.”