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"But Nate?"

"I'll find him a daycare.I'll cover that. I can't expect you to continue to pay for everything, now that's coming from your own pocket." He straightened. "We can stand on ourown."

He nodded at William."Okay. But if it gets to be toomuch..."

"No,Parker. I've gotta take care of this, now. I've gone for too long relying on your help. On others’ help. It's time I took fullresponsibility."

William had already dealtwith so much, far more than he should have, and had already shown plenty of responsibility. But Parker knew better than to argue with hisbrother.

"Something weird happened earlier,"Parkersaid.

"What?"

"Doyou remember the guy I told you about? From myclass?"

"The one you like?"

Against all effort,Parker felt his face flush hot. "I don'tlikehim," he growled. "I just think he's a goodartist."

"Okay,"William said,smirking.

"I'm serious,"Parkersaid.

William puthis hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. You don't like him. Even though that one time you said that he washot."

"Iwas drunk.That doesn'tcount."

"Parker,you're never gonna get laid if you can't just admit that you're attracted tosomeone."

He laughed."Who said I cared about that? You're more concerned about me getting laid than Iam."

His brother shrugged."Hey, man. I just worry about you sometimes, that's all. It's not good to be soisolated."

"I'm not.I've got you two." He smiled a lopsided grin at Nate. "Right,kid?"

Nate was playingwith his spaceship and wasn't paying attention to what was being said, but he nodded anyway. "Daddy, can I beexcused?"

"Go wash up,"William said to him, and the little boy slipped off his chair and toddled off to the bedroom that he shared with his father, making spaceship noises as hewent.

"Anyway,"said Parker. "That guy. I ran into him out in the hall. He liveshere."

"No shit?"

"Yeah. Weird, huh?"

William cheesed at him."Hey, man. It's the perfectopportunity."

Parker scowled at him."Itoldyou. I don't likehim."