Bowie frowned. “Yeah, I think so.”
“I need you to go out tonight. Not alone. Do you have friends you can go out with? Somewhere a little out of the way, not too busy? Somewhere they’ll remember you but is maybe kind of a little on the shady side of town.”
“What are you asking me to do?” Bowie asked.
“I’m asking you to go out and be seen.”
Bowie tensed, examining Javier’s face for something. “Why?”
Javier knew what he meant. Why was he being so specific? What was he planning? They were all good questions, smart questions. “Do you want me to tell you the truth?”
Bowie opened his mouth, then closed it again before shaking his head.
“Good. The less you know the better.”
“You’re kind of freaking me out here.”
Javier leaned closer, but not close enough for their lips to touch, grateful when Bowie closed the distance, kissing him softly. “I don’t want to freak you out. I just want to make life easier for you. Will you let me do that?”
“That depends,” Bowie said, voice thoughtful.
“On what?” Javier asked.
“On whether it makes yours harder.”
Javier couldn’t help it. He pulled Bowie close, pressing his lips to his forehead. “Don’t worry about me, angel. I always land on my feet.”
Bowie shifted, threading his legs over Javier’s until he was close enough to press his face into his throat, clinging to him. Javier gently wrapped his arms around him, careful not to hold him too tight. “I need one more thing from you…just in case I don’t see you for a while.”
Bowie’s head shot up, frightened. “What? Why wouldn’t you see me?”
Javier shrugged. “Life happens. Sometimes, I get called away on business.”
“You said you were in-between jobs,” Bowie reminded.
Javier gave him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “Yeah, but when I’m not in-between jobs, I’m on one. Will you do something for me or not?”Bowie nodded, even though he looked sick to his stomach. “Will you please go talk to somebody? A therapist? Somebody who can help you?”
Bowie’s head shot up, eyes filled with panic. “But what about…him?”
“I got you, angel. I promise you’ll be safe. Will you please go see someone?”
Bowie hesitated, but Javier wasn’t sure if his reaction was because of the request or the thought of facing down his attacker alone. Javier didn’t know how to tell him that man would never be a problem for him again.
“I’m going to throw some real clothes on and then we’ll go get some food before I drop you off at home. Okay?”
The tip of Bowie’s tongue shot out to wet his lower lip, but he nodded.
“Chinese?”
“Sure,” Bowie echoed faintly.
* * *
Javier pulled up across the street from the laundromat, relieved to see there was nobody waiting for Bowie across the way. Bowie seemed relieved, too. He kissed Javier quickly, opening the car door and attempting to leave. Javier tugged Bowie’s arm until the boy fell back into the seat with an exasperated smile.
“Listen, don’t forget. Tonight, you go out with your friends. Someplace not too busy. Don’t act too happy or too sad. Be memorable but not a pain in the ass. Don’t go home until after midnight. Don’t leave the club for any reason.”
Bowie nodded, that look of trepidation spreading across his face once more. Javier shouldn’t have even brought him into any of this, but he had to make sure Bowie was covered.
