“No! It’s great!” Jimmy laughed, running his hands over the dash. “1979, right?”
Jules smiled, toothy and big, proudly replying, “Yup. Bought it when me and Boss were in tenth grade. The first time.”
“You’ve known Cold that long?”
“Oh, yeah.” Jules rolled his shoulders, cranking the car. “We were beatin’ kids up for their lunch money since kindygarten. Came from the same hood. Grew up together.”
Jimmy smiled at the thought, shaking his head as Jules pulled out from the compound. He had so many questions. “So, you’re like best friends?”
“Brothers,” Jules corrected, driving along at cruising speeds. “We’re family.”
Biting his lip softly, Jimmy thought about what Tamerlane had said the other night. “I’ve never really had anybody like that.”
“Sucks for you,” Jules remarked in genuine sympathy.
“Well, there’s my dad. But... I guess you know.”
“Prison.”
“Yeah,” Jimmy sighed. “Hopefully not for long.”
“Boss is workin’ on it,” Jules reassured him.
“He told you that?”
“Ain’t nothin’ he don’t tell me.”
“So...” Jimmy fidgeted, watching the city flash by as they drove, wondering if he should even bother asking. “Does Cold... does he really...”
Does he really care about me?
“Twig,” Jules cut him off, “if you have to ask me, you obviously ain’t been payin’ attention.”
“What do you mean?”
“You think he does this for every fuckin’ body?” Jules laughed heartily. “Think he asks me to babysit every twink he’s been fuckin’? Nah. He’s a hit it and quit it kinda guy. But you, well. You do somethin’ to him. Got him all stirred up.”
“I do?” Jimmy blinked, smiling shyly.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Thought you were supposed to be college educated and shit. Wake up, Twig. I knew he was fucked the moment you two met.”
“How?”
“Uh, ‘cause he didn’t break your fuckin’ hands when you grabbed him?”
Jimmy decided to take that as the compliment it was meant to be. “Why... why doesn’t he like that? Being touched, I mean. Is it because of Boris?”
Jules didn’t say anything, his eyes glued on the road.
“Look, I’m sorry for asking,” Jimmy said quickly, worried he had made a terrible mistake for digging. “I just... I don’t want to fuck this up.”
“Ain’t my place to tell you,” Jules replied.
Jimmy tried not to let his disappointment show through at being denied an explanation. “So, what do I do?”
“Whatever the fuck you’ve been doing. Just be patient. Boss needs time. Don’t take it personal. ‘Cause it ain’t about you, it’s about him. Lotta hands been on him, and all they did was hurt for a long time.”
Jimmy thought of the glimpse of scars he had seen before, so much pain packed into a small swath of flesh.A lot of handsmade Jimmy jump to the worst conclusion.
