Charade

              Her eyes swim with tears. “I know, baby boy. I know.” Then she looks over at Chey. “Let’s talk about you. I want to know everything I can about the girl who stole Colton’s heart.”

              When Chey looks at me, I see she has tears in her eyes too. I nod my head at her and she starts to talk. I watch and listen to them as Chey tells Mom about her dancing. How much she loves it. How it gave her something to focus on when her mom left. She tells her about her mom too. Not all the details, but how things hadn’t been perfect and how she recently found out she passed away.

              They talk about school and how Cheye

              They get on the subject of pictures. It’s getting cooler outside and I see Mom shiver.

              “Why don’t we go inside and look at some? Show Chey I’ve always been as gorgeous as I am now.”

              They agree and I have to lift Mom to put her in the chair. I feel her bones through her skin, and that robe she still wears.

              Another hammer. More shots, hitting the target they aim for.

              We spend an hour going through old pictures. Cheye

              It’s fun watching her with Chey. Like she has a friend, or a daughter. I wonder if she sees it that way. I’m glad I gave it to her.

              Mom finally admits she’s getting tired. She hugs Chey goodbye before I help her to her room. She’s in bed and I lean over to kiss her forehead, but she stops me.

              “Thank you.” Her hand cups my cheek and tears spill down her face. “This day has been perfect, Colton. Just like you, it will always be a part of me.”

              I shake my head. My eyes ache as I try to fight back tears. I can’t do this. We can’t do this now. It’s not time. I’m not ready.

              “We’ll have more of them.” I tell her, but I can’t look her in the eyes when I say it. “I promise.”

              “I know.” She leans her forehead against mine and we just sit there. I close my eyes because I’m fucking weak and I can’t handle seeing her. To see if she doesn’t believe we’ll have more days like this and wishing I gave her some earlier.

              I know she wants to say more. I feel it in the way her hand touches my cheek, but she doesn’t. All she says is, “Now go spend the day with that girl of yours. She’s something special.”

              I nod. Stay here a few seconds longer before I pull away. “Yeah…she is. I’m lucky to have her.”

              “She’s just as lucky to have you.”

              I hope so. I really fucking do.

~CHAPTER THIRTY~

Cheye

              Colt doesn’t feel like doing anything after we see his mom. Which I understand. I can’t imagine going through what he is and wish there was something I could do for him. I hate feeling helpless. I know it’s something I share with him. I think we’ve both felt like that too often. It’s probably one of the things that drew us together.

              We stay at his house again. It’s wild and crazy as ever. I wonder if Adrian does anything but party.

              “How do you handle the partying all the time?” I ask as we lay in bed the next day.

              Colt shrugs. “Because I was always partying with him?”

              “Oh.” His reply makes happiness shoot through me. He’s with me instead of partying. “I’m more fun, aren’t I?” I tease.

              Colt laughs. I love the sound.

              “You’re fucking cocky is what you are.”

              “You have the worst mouth.”

              “I thought we decided women like my mouth. You like my mouth, don’t you?”

He starts to use it on me and I can’t help but shiver. He definitely knows how to use it.

              “You’re always distracting me.” I let my eyes close and just feel.

              “You like that too.”

              And he’s right. I do. I also like this playful side of him. Love that I’m the one who gets to see it.

              “Stop talking.” My hand slides through his hair.

              “Done,” he says. Like always Colt makes good on his word.

***

              “Have you done this before?” I ask Colt as he climb the grassy hill. A few people are already sitting on the ground, different colored blankets under them or some with chairs. There are a few trees, but not a lot. Probably why they do this in the Fall so it’s not too hot. Tonight will be chilly though. I’m looking forward to that.

              “What?” he replies. I almost forgot I asked him a question.

              “The concerts in the park. Have you come to them before?” They’re sponsored by the college. Indie type bands play at them. We don’t even know what kind of music to expect, but felt like getting out of the house. Like doing something normal.

              Colt rolls his eyes at me. “Yeah. All the fucking time. I help organize it.”

              I shake my head and laugh at him. “You’re right. What could I have been thinking? It would require you to actually want to do something normal or happy.”

              He does something that surprises me then. Colt tackles me. He’s careful and I go down easily because…well because I don’t mind being taken down by him.

              He sits on my stomach, straddling me. He’s able to hold both my hands in one of this and I can’t get away. “How’s this? Is this normal and happy? Is this what I’m supposed to do? Tickle you and be all fucking sappy in public?”

              His voice is light. A smile tilts his mouth.

              “No. You’re not doing it right,” I tell him.

              He cocks his head. “I’m not? Fuck.”

              “You’re supposed to kiss me.”

              Without a word he leans forward and does just what I said. Our tongues dance together, around each other the way he calls me little dancer. All too soon he’s pulling away.

              “She’s good at that, isn’t she?” At the sound of Gregory’s voice, I tense.

              Colt doesn’t though. He’s off me and on his feet in two seconds.

              “What the fuck did you just say?” Colt hisses.

I scramble to my feet. What did I ever see in Gregory? “Don’t.” I grab onto Colt’s arms.

“I said she’s good at that, though I’m pretty sure you heard me.” Red is by his side. I’m surprised he doesn’t have a friend with him. He’s such a coward.

“Don’t say a word about her again. Talk shit about me all you want. You bring her into it and I’m going to have to beat your ass. Again. How many times will that make?” Colt starts holding up, one, two, three, four, five fingers until he’s holding both hands up.

“Are we really going to do this again?” Colt asks. “I’m down if you are, but you have your girl with you and I’d hate for her to have to clean you up again. Why don’t you go do what you came here to do. Talk shit about me to your friends later and pretend you’re man enough to matter to me. If you couldn’t tell, I’m trying to kiss my girl.”

I know Colt. He really will fight if Gregory tries anything. I tighten my grip on his hand. Gregory’s face is bright red. He’s pissed and embarrassed. I can’t believe I was with him so long. That I was so much like him.