A Busted Afternoon by Pepper Espinoza

Author:Pepper Espinoza [Espinoza, Pepper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2020-09-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

The second time they wedged into the back of the station wagon, Ed didn’t have any thought of leaving again. The cold had seeped through his flesh, spreading like icy spider webs, until his joints were stiff. Even though they were sitting in the middle of the desert, he was quite sure he’d never be warm again. Goose bumps covered his arms, and it was all he could do to keep his teeth from chattering. He had a jacket in the backseat, and there was an old blanket, but neither one of those things would actually be helpful in making him dry and warm. He shouldn’t have left the relative safety of the car, but the thought of Sammy wandering off into the wet night drove him out of the station wagon.

“You should get out of those clothes,” Sammy murmured, his eyes averted.

“What about you?”

“Maybe I should, too.”

“It’d be easier if I drove a van.”

“We’d probably not be in this situation if you drove a van.”

“Maybe I should buy a van in Wendover.”

“It might be cheaper than a new alternator.”

Ed smiled a little and pulled the wet shirt over his head. It slowly peeled from his skin, the rough material dragging over his nipples. The windows were already starting to fog up, and Sammy mimicked him. Though they were both shivering, Ed knew that if they pressed their bodies together, the heat would overwhelm them.

“I’m sorry about your face,” Ed said, tossing the shirt over the seat. “That didn’t come out right.”

“It’s okay. I hit you first. How’s your lip, by the way?” Sammy leaned closer and touched the corner of Ed’s mouth with his thumb. “Did I hurt you?”

“It hurts a little.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have grabbed your shoulder. It’s not a…it’s no big deal.”

Ed spoke without looking away from Sammy’s face. His eyes were both swollen—courtesy of Ed’s head—and his mouth had finally stopped bleeding, but it was stained pink. He had no doubt that Sammy planned to kiss him, but this time, the thought didn’t send him spiraling out of control.

“Yeah, but…who else would be grabbing my shoulder out here? I was angry and…”

“And I made you that way because I was a jerk.” Ed leaned closer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of it.”

“I know you didn’t.”

“Did you mean what you said to me? Earlier?”

“Everything I told you is true. I don’t know if that’s the answer you wanted to hear.”

“It is.” Ed smiled. “I think.”

Sammy returned his smile. It wasn’t as carefree as it had been before. And it would probably never be that carefree again. But it was still one of the nicest smiles Ed had ever seen. Even with the traces of blood on his teeth and his swollen lip. A drop of water caught on his skin, and Ed wiped it away, smearing it across Sammy’s pink lip. Sammy didn’t seem to be breathing, and Ed couldn’t remember the last time he filled his lungs with air. He was drowning in the middle of the desert.

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