A Free Choice (Ganymede Quartet Book 4.5) by Darrah Glass Read Free Book Online Page B

reminded him. “We’re going to be good to each other.”
    “I want—” Henry began, with a hitch in his voice. “I want to have been so much kinder.” He shuddered in Martin’s arms.
    “Well, we can’t go back,” Martin pointed out. “We can only go forward. You can make different choices from now on.” He gave Henry a little shake. “All you have to do is follow through on the things you’ve said you’ll do, Henry. Be kind. Let me help you make decisions. Love me.”
    “Okay,” Henry said, talking himself down. “Okay, you’re right. Of course you’re right. I’m sorry I’m being a baby.”
    “You’re not a baby,” Martin told him, stroking his hair back from his forehead. “You just feel things very deeply.”
    “I thought you’d never loved me,” Henry admitted in a low voice, seeming almost ashamed. “I didn’t understand—” He sighed again. “I didn’t know anything.”
    Martin thought a moment, and then it occurred to him. “Henry? Did you ever have a serious disagreement with anyone before? Did you ever fight with Mr. Briggs before this time? Or maybe your father? Anyone at all?”
    Henry was quiet a moment. “Hmm. I…I don’t know? I don’t think so.” He thought a few more seconds. “Oh, well, Adam Pettibone, of course.”
    But Adam Pettibone was Henry’s enemy , and they’d never be resolving their differences. “But no arguments with a friend?” Martin asked. “A fight where you didn’t talk for awhile?”
    “I guess not,” Henry said. “It was just Louis, then you, basically at the same time. Nothing before that. Is that weird?”
    “I wouldn’t say weird ,” Martin said. “In some ways, it’s fortunate, I think. But most people have had a hurtful fight before they’re grown. No one likes learning such lessons, of course, but sometimes it makes it easier to face another difficult situation.”
    “Did you ever have a fight like that?”
    Martin thought about what he might say. “Do you remember Charlie, my friend growing up?”
    “Yes, he shared with Stuart, right?”
    “Yes, that’s him. Well, Charlie really cared for me. He went to a lot of effort for me, and did many kind things, and tried to take care of me. And I liked spending time with him, and we had a lot of fun together, but when I had a choice, I preferred to spend my time with Richard or even Georgie.”
    “By ‘time’ you mean sex, right?” Henry asked with a rueful chuckle.
    “Not always,” Martin said. “I don’t think we were having as much sex as you imagine, Henry.” He snorted and messed Henry’s hair up, and then began to smooth it back again. “Anyway, Charlie got jealous of the others and accused me of being a tease, which was a very serious insult back on the farm.”
    “I would imagine so.”
    “He said I was conniving and cruel. I said I’d never asked him to do anything for me and that his kindnesses put me under no obligation. Which they did not.”
    “No,” Henry agreed. “He was trying to woo you, obviously, but you didn’t have to respond.”
    “We all did nice things for our friends,” Martin said. “I knew Charlie wanted more from me, but I also thought I’d made my feelings clear.”
    “Were Richard and Georgie especially nice to you, too? I can see how Charlie would be upset if he was nicer than them. Not—” he hurried to say, “—that that would put you under any obligation.”
    “Richard was very chivalrous and devoted—as you’ve been.”
    “I’m going to be that way from now on,” Henry put in.
    “I’m sure you will.” Martin pressed a quick kiss to the part in Henry’s hair. “Georgie had to deal with Noah’s jealousies, so he wasn’t paying me as much attention as the others, but I liked him a lot anyway. My feelings weren’t based on who put on the best show of caring for me.”
    “No, of course not.”
    “Charlie decided he wouldn’t have anything to do with me until I apologized, but I hadn’t done anything to