Free Mark Me by Shawn Bailey Page B

“Do you plan to accompany him?” Eli balled his fist. If Trey didn’t stop, he was going to punch him in the face. “I’d rather have Dimitri accompany me than you. At least he’s not judgmental.”
    Dimitri chuckled. “I do have my moments. And to answer Trey’s question, I love Eli and I’d follow him to the end of the earth if I have to.”
    Justin nearly choked at Dimitri’s confession. And quite frankly it had stunned Eli. Did Dimitri really love him or did he just say that to aggravate Trey?
    “Told you that Eli is gay,” Trey said, finally putting a label on him.
    “I think you’re jealous,” Dimitri said. He sipped his beer. “In fact, I noticed how you felt about Eli when you brought him into my tattoo parlor and insisted that I tattoo your name on his butt.” Eli glared at Trey. Dimitri should have told him.
    “Of course, I didn’t do it,” Dimitri said. “His butt is just too cute to mark.”
    Henry groaned.
    “I think it is time for us to leave,” Justin said rising.
    Henry and Trey rose too, but Trey glared at Dimitri.
    “We’ll see you later,” Justin said as he hurried out of the music room.
    Dimitri escorted them to the door.
    Eli just sat there, stunned and confused. What the hell had just happened? His secret was out of the bag and his friends had hightailed it out of his apartment like they were scared. Did that mean that they no longer wanted to be around him?
    Dimitri returned several minutes later. “Awe, what’s wrong?” Eli wiped at the tears as they flowed from his eyes. “Nothing.” Dimitri sat next to him and pulled him into his arms to comfort him.
    Now everyone is going to know, and Eli didn’t know if he could handle the pain.

    * * * *

    “What’s up?” Greer asked Dimitri when he entered the tattoo parlor on Monday morning.
    “Nothing much,” Dimitri replied as he prepared for his first customer.
    “How was your weekend with Eli?”
    “It started out pretty good, and it went straight to hell when his friends arrived and caught us holding hands.”
    “Oh,” Greer said, walking over to the coffeepot. “The proverbial cat is out the bag.”
    “Yes and the poor darling cried in my arms for hours after they left.”
    “I remember what it was like when I came out. All of my so-called friends deserted me.” He filled the cup. “I was so traumatized.”
    “Yeah. I’m just glad I was there for him, but he still has a rough road ahead of him. His parents still don’t know.”
    “I suppose you won’t be their first pick for a daughter-in-law.” 
    Dimitri shook his head. “No, Eli’s grade A material. I think they’re expecting him to bring home a princess, not become one.” Greer chuckled weakly at his joke. “You have to have his back when his parents do find out.”
    “I plan to,” Dimitri said. “I think I love him.” Greer gasped. “No, not you?”
    Dimitri filled his coffee cup. “I’m afraid so. I keep having these dreams of presenting him flowers after his performance at Carnegie Hall. And then there’s one with us running along the beach in Maui with a blond-haired kid in tow.”
    “Oh, the family dream. I suppose the two of you will adopt.”
    “I suppose,” Dimitri said absently. “Not unless Eli’s little, blonde female friend, Holly, will be willing to be a surrogate mother for us.”
    “I highly doubt that,” Greer said. “So how did his friends react to the news?”
    “Henry and Justin seemed okay, but Trey acted like an ass.”
    “Trey would be the Marine Corps inductee?”
    “Yes. He acted like a total bitch, but I think it stems from the fact that he has feelings for Eli too.”
    “I noticed that,” Greer said. “He kept watching Eli the entire while he slept in that chair. I just thought he was concerned because Eli was sleepy.”
    “I’m afraid he’s going to do something foolish to hurt Eli.”
    “Like what?” Greer asked.
    “Like tell his parents.”
    “Oh,” Greer said. “You think he would do