Part 17 (1/2)

”Or we could go to my place and distract him with an Xbox game.”

”That works too.”

Noah wandered back the table.

Let's go to G-a-m-e S-t-o-p, he signed. he signed.

Go where? Jackson signed. Jackson signed.

Noah fingerspelled Game Stop for him.

”Slow down,” Jackson said.

Noah spelled it again, this time with exaggerated slowness.

”It's a computer game place right over there,” I said, pointing to a shop near the entrance to the food court.

We don't have money, I pointed out. I pointed out.

I just want to look.

”Let me buy him something,” Jackson said.

”I'd rather you didn't,” I said.

”Don't be a p.o.o.py pants. And remember, it will help distract him. You want him to be distracted, don't you?”

He offered this with a brilliant smile.

”Don't make it a habit,” I said. ”And yes, I certainly do.”

In Game Stop, Noah and Jackson pored through the racks like two old friends. I watched them, something tugging at my heart. For Noah's sake, I feigned an interest in video games. But Jackson, he knew his stuff.

Noah was keenly happy to look through racks like any normal child with money in his pocket. I was happy to watch him, to let someone take the reins. I took pictures of them browsing the racks, which earned me suspicious looks from pa.s.sersby.

Jackson paid for his game, and Noah beamed as he came out of the store, making a beeline for me, anxious to show me what he had purchased.

Jackson smiled mischievously at me, a come-hither look in his eyes.

26) Making love

NOAH SETTLED SETTLED down in front of the television for a lovefest with the Xbox and we snuck off to my bedroom and shut the door. down in front of the television for a lovefest with the Xbox and we snuck off to my bedroom and shut the door.

Jackson pulled off his s.h.i.+rt, then mine, then pressed himself against me and kissed me like he was going to war. He had me pushed up against the wall. He was a bundle of taut, sleek muscles, all manhood and malehood, smelling faintly of some cologne that I couldn't identify.

He kissed me like his life depended on it.

I returned the favor, and then some.

While I was taller than he was, I was a slim Southern boy-one of those squirrel-eyed p.e.c.k.e.rwood types that look like they're had too many hard winters and not enough pots to p.i.s.s in-and he was muscular from a lot of time spent in the gym. Well-defined muscles were smooth and hard to the touch. I was much browner than he was. I was going to have to get this boy to the park or a swimming hole for some skinny-dipping.

He put his hands on my shorts and underwear, pushed them down, and my business flopped out.

”Have you been tested?” he asked.

”Of course,” I said.

”So have I.”

He kissed my throat.

”I can't do this,” I said. ”Not with my boy in the other room.”

My body said otherwise.

”We can lock the door,” he whispered, bending to kiss my chest.

”We might have to wait until he goes to bed,” I said.

As if to emphasize the point, my p.e.n.i.s thrust itself out like a fat spear and wobbled.

”Perhaps,” he said, kissing my belly as he knelt down and put his hands on my hips.

”I don't think this is good time,” I said.

He didn't answer because his mouth was full.

27) Weather radio

WE WERE WERE rather indisposed when the NOAA weather radio on my dresser suddenly went off late that night. rather indisposed when the NOAA weather radio on my dresser suddenly went off late that night.

It has a loud, distinctive blare that is not to be ignored, no matter what you're doing, even if it involves getting your groove back when you're buck naked and sticking it to your new boyfriend for the second time as though you might never have s.e.x again.

My business slid out of Jackson Ledbetter and I hurriedly got off the bed and threw on a pair of boxers.

”What is it?” he asked.

I didn't answer.

I went to the dresser and hit the speaker b.u.t.ton on the radio.

”... a tornado warning has been issued for the following counties in Northeast Mississippi....”

From experience, I knew the radio wouldn't go off unless we were in the warning area. A warning advisory is a lot worse than a watch, which means merely that conditions are right for ”extreme weather events.” A warning means a tornado has actually been spotted and you'd better get your a.s.s to safety and perhaps prepare to kiss it good-bye.