First Flight Read Free Page B

again.
    The day was not okay. He had no problems with the produce, other than getting strange looks when he took the “bad” things into the back and put them aside… but the people who came into the store!
    There was the woman who wanted strawberries, and when he led her this way and that through the bins and displays, she’d called him a dummy. Then there was the man with the two small children who shouted and ran and threw grapes at one another; and the other man who complained about the broccoli; and the woman who was disappointed in his lack of conversation on the topic of cantaloupes.
    By the time he was free for lunch, he was more than ready to go back to Jesse’s room and stay there.
    “Hey, Chris,” Jesse said, sitting down beside him. “How was your morning?”
    Chris shook his head and ate another bruised strawberry.
    “That good, huh?” Jesse unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite. “Well, you can go home whenever you’re ready, so that’s okay. I’ll be home about four thirty.”
    “Okay.”
    And that was life, for the newly expanded Swanson family. Jesse and Chris went off to Meyer’s Market, where Chris puzzled and unnerved patrons and staff alike. They ate lunch together, Chris went home after, and Jesse followed in the late afternoon.
    Between times, Jesse took him all over: to the movies, out with friends, and sometimes just out on long aimless drives with the windows down and the music up. For three months, everything was almost perfectly normal.

Chapter Three
     
    “S O WHAT ’ S the real story behind Shorty?” Kevin’s voice was sharp.
    “‘Real story?’ There is no ‘real story’. And his name is Chris.” Jesse shrugged and wondered where the conversation was headed. He rubbed his thumb across the back of his phone and wandered toward his bedroom window.
    “Yeah. Right.”
    “There isn’t!”
    “Sure. Except for the one where you’re mackin’ on him, right?”
    “‘Mackin’ on him’?” Jesse laughed and shook his head. “I haven’t heard that in years.”
    “But you didn’t say you weren’t .”
    “Because I was busy being distracted by that word,” Jesse said, rolling his eyes. “And no, I’m not doing anything with Chris except hanging out with him and going to work and stuff.”
    “Stuff? Stuff could be anything.”
    “I just meant, y’know, going to the movies and driving around and watching TV and, I dunno, stuff. You know, like a friend?” He rolled his eyes again and turned away from the window. Trust Kevin to try to make being friends with someone into a felony.
    “A boy friend?”
    “What is wrong with you? I’m not going out with Chris! You are my boyfriend. I’ve never cheated on anyone before and I’m not going to start now.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “Yes!” He sighed and checked his watch. “Look, how about if I come over and show you everything I’m not doing with Chris?”
    “Well….”
    “Just you and me, all alone.” It had been a while since they’d spent any time alone, so Jesse was pretty sure it’d be the perfect step toward reconciliation. And if not, at least they’d both get something out of it.
    “Okay. Yeah, okay, twenty minutes?”
    “Thirty. I need to make a stop first.”
    “A stop? For what?”
    The suspicion in Kevin’s voice was beginning to get on his nerves, but he pushed the irritation away. “For a couple of things that’ll make our evening a lot more fun. And slippery.”
    “Oh yeah? Okay, then. See you in thirty.”
    “Yeah. Bye.” Jesse grabbed his jacket, then went thumping down the stairs to find his parents. His mother was in the living room, listening to a basketball game and reading something.
    “Hey, Mom,” he said, pulling his jacket on as he leaned over the back of the couch. “I’m gonna go hang out with Kevin for a while.”
    “Okay. Drive carefully,” Leanna said, then stretched up and kissed him on the cheek.
    “I will. Where’s Chris?” He kissed her back and