2 by Slings & Arrows

Author:Slings & Arrows [Slings & Arrows]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-03-07T23:39:05.406000+00:00

Carey smiled faintly. “Not this year. No, I don’t know what it is exactly.”

He did know, but he didn’t want to bring it up. He had the uneasy feeling that if he seemed like too much trouble, Walter would back away, decide it wasn’t worth it. Whatever it was liable to turn out to be.

“Did you want more coffee or cheesecake?” Walter asked courteously.

As much as Carey wanted to prolong the evening, he had eaten all he could manage. “I’m ready to explode now.”

Walter smiled faintly.

The seconds passed and he didn’t say anything. Carey bit his lip nervously. What the hell went on behind that mask of Walter’s? When they were talking about class work or anthropology or politics, they had plenty to discuss—it was both stimulating and relaxing—but these abrupt, full stops were freaking Carey out. He was not usually insecure; he didn’t like the feeling. At all. He stared out the window with its painted pink curlicues and red hearts.

Walter said slowly and carefully, “Would you like to come back to my place?”

Carey turned to him. “Yes.”

Walter’s eyes looked dark and unsure behind the specs.

“Yes,” Carey repeated firmly.

Outside on the sidewalk a breeze was kicking a tin can along the sidewalk like a ghost child. You could almost hear the silent laughter.

Walter said, “It’s going to be a full moon tomorrow night.”

Carey, occupied in clumsily draping his varsity jacket over his shoulders, looked up. The moon did appear enormous over the roof and treetops. It turned the shingles and leaves to silver and shadow.

Across the square the shops were all closed but one. The sign in the window caught Carey’s eye.

“Look.”

Walter obediently followed the direction of Carey’s gaze.

Carey said, “They’re still open.”

“Did you want candy now?” Walter sounded puzzled, but patient.

“What kind of candy shop stays open ’til almost midnight?”

“I don’t know.”

A twenty-four-hour candy store? For all your junk food emergencies? That was weird, wasn’t it?

“Can we check it out?”

“If you want to.” Walter sounded reluctant. Did he think Carey was liable to change his mind about going home with him?

Carey smiled at him and Walter smiled doubtfully back.

They crossed the green, pushed tentatively on the door. The heady scent of chocolate wafted into the crisp night air. A little bell rang with silvery cheer, and the young man behind the counter looked up.

Whatever Carey had been expecting—plump middle-aged ladies in hairnets or bored teenagers—it was a far cry from this sleek, slim man with long black hair and harlequin eyes.

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