The Midnight Bear Express by Francis Gideon

Author:Francis Gideon [Gideon, Francis]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2015-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

Cody arrived in the mall parking lot at ten that night. The stores would be closed then, the and cleaning crews gone, but there would still be enough time to get in and out without arising too much suspicion. At least, this was what Taggart had said via text. He and Cody had talked on and off since meeting in the afternoon, discussing quick dynamics on how to pull off their exchange and semi-secret meeting.

Still at work. Can’t talk long, Tag had texted at around six pm. But I’ll grab dinner and get changed, so I can see you soon.

Occasionally Tag would text Cody with inane stuff during his shift, like a mother who had no idea what My Little Pony was or an adult that had to be removed from the store. Cody had felt include then—like Tag was really interested in him, instead of just doing him a favor.

Cody glanced at the Treasure Bears box in the front seat of the car with Cameron’s blue bear skin inside. Cody had had a hard time slipping into Cameron’s room and grabbing it again, mostly because he was sleeping on it.

So far, the plan was to enact The Midnight Bear Express the best he and Taggart could. They’d fill the skin up, sew the stuffed toy back together, and then slip it right by Cameron’s bedside as he slept soundly. It sort of took the whole magic out of the small story that Tag had told them all, but Cody figured this was what parenting was really like. The tooth fairy and Santa Claus were awesome stories because they were just that—stories. When you got down to it, it was nothing but two really tired parents staying up really late and swapping out something dull for something better. Or, in this case, an uncle and a random, really cute guy from the store playing the role of conspiring mommy and daddy.

Except, Cody thought, I don’t think any kid has heard a tale as neat as The Midnight Bear Express. The whole thing sort of made Cody want to be young all over again.

Cody’s phone buzzed. He reached into his pocket just as he saw another car pull into the lot.

I’m here, the text message read. Cody walked over towards the car and found Tag behind the wheel.

“Sorry I’m late,” he apologized. “Had to make a stop before getting here.”

“No worries.” Cody waited on the edge of his feet with the bag over his shoulder. “I kind of feel like a gayer version of the tooth fairy right now and I haven’t decided if this is better or worse.”

“Definitely better.”

Tag gave him a wink before he pulled a huge ring of keys out of his pocket. Cody felt his stomach flip again. He had figured before that Tag was gay. Why else invite someone else to a middle of the night affair like this? There was romance all around. But Cody was never good at reading signals—or good at asking and stating himself.

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