At the mention of Drew’s name, regret seared through Ash, leaving a bitterness he hadn’t thought possible. That night over two months ago now seemed almost dreamlike, and as the brightness of the memory turned hazy with the passage of time, he wondered if the feelings had truly been as intense as he recalled.
Better that they moved on with their separate lives. He leaned back in the chair, enjoying the sight of Stevie demolishing his Mexican food. After that talk with Keith, Stevie had started working at the clinic, helping Javier at the front desk. He’d gained confidence and even admitted to Ash he had a little crush on the older boy.
Stevie hadn’t mentioned any more abuse, and he’d begun to gain weight and grow, although Ash suspected it was meals like these and the ones Drew’s grandmother provided him at the clinic that contributed to his healthier look. “So, kiddo, you’re going into junior year of high school. Have you thought about what you want to do after you graduate, like college?”
Stevie chewed and swallowed. “I talked to Dr. Drew, and he said he’d help me with tests and my applications and stuff. I know I’m not smart enough to be a doctor, but I thought I could maybe be a technician or something.”
“You can be anything you want to be. Remember that.” Ash leaned forward, elbows on the table.
“Well, yeah, but my grades aren’t so good. I wanna help the doctors, you know?”
The excitement in Stevie’s eyes warmed Ash’s heart. To think that only two months ago he’d been a scared, shy child, afraid to look people in the eye or express an opinion. Now his confidence, while not at its peak, had certainly soared to heights never before imagined.
“Take your time, and when you get ready to apply, we’ll all be here to help.” Ash checked his watch and asked in what he hoped sounded like a casual voice, “You’ve gotten to be very friendly with Dr. Drew, haven’t you?”
Stevie’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, he’s really nice and friendly. Did you know he has a girlfriend? I met her when he invited me to his apartment. She came over, and we played with his cat.”
The taco chip he’d been holding crumbled to bits between Ash’s fingers. “No, I didn’t know. What’s her name?”
“Um, Shelly. She seemed nice. And she’s pretty.” He grinned. “I think she really likes him. She kept standing close to him and touching his shoulder.” He made a face. “I even caught them kissing once.”
Another good thing in his life he’d fucked up. What did he expect? Drew wasn’t going to remain celibate forever, and his divorce would be final soon. Obviously he’d decided to move on and found a perfectly nice woman, like he should. The pain lancing through him made it impossible to breathe. “What time do you have to be home? It’s almost five o’clock.” He barely managed to choke out the words.
Stevie gulped down his soda, then wiped his mouth. “Yeah, I’d better get back now, or I’ll be late for dinner.” He stopped and stared. “You okay? You look kinda funny.”
“I’m fine. Come on.” Ash stood and took Stevie’s tray to the front of the restaurant as they walked outside. “I’ll drive you home.” He draped his arm around the boy’s shoulders.
“Do you think you should?” For the first time, Stevie sounded uncertain. “I told them about Dr. Drew and Dr. Jordan, but not you.”
“Don’t worry; I won’t drop you off right in front of the house.” He took the keys from his pants pocket and disabled the alarm. “Hop in.”
With a grin, Stevie slid into the front seat. “This is such a cool car.” His hands smoothed over the leather seat. “It must cost a ton.”
“You know, Stevie, remember I started off like you, no family, gay, and abused. But I knew if I wanted to get out, I had to get an education and make something out of myself.” Ash drove toward Red Hook, where Stevie lived.
“But I’m not smart like you or Dr. Drew.” Stevie stared out of the window. “I can’t be a lawyer or doctor.”
“Then be whatever you can be, only be the best at it, and help people along the way. Paying it forward is the best thing you can do.” Ash turned down Van Brunt Street and pulled into a space about a block away from Stevie’s house. “They’ve been leaving you alone lately, haven’t they? You haven’t complained or shown up hurt.”
Stevie didn’t answer for a few moments, fidgeting instead with the seat belt. “They have, but I don’t know.” He shrugged his thin shoulders with the bravado of the very young and spoke with surprising strength. “Something’s off with them, but as long as they leave me alone, I don’t care.” After unbuckling his seat belt, he gave Ash a shy smile. “Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem, kiddo.” After Stevie got out of the car and came on to the sidewalk by the driver’s side window, Ash continued to speak. “I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”
Before Stevie could answer, a yell echoed from down the block. “Yo, shrimp.”
Stevie paled. “Oh shit, no.”
From the description Stevie had given him, Ash knew right away these were the boys Stevie lived with, Jimmy and Donny. He got out of the car and leaned against the hood, arms folded across his chest. The two young men swaggered over. They wore tight muscle T-shirts and baggy cargo shorts. Ash pegged the one with the cruel, handsome face, hair buzzed short over a bullet-shaped head, and sneering expression as Jimmy. The other one, Donny, he presumed, was thin and wiry, his face covered in stubble and a mistrustful look in his eyes.
“Shrimpy, who’s the dude?” Jimmy’s eyes brightened with an evil light. “He must be a rich man with that car. Is he your sugar daddy? You fucking him?”
A sickening feeling crept through Ash. This could go very wrong, very fast if it wasn’t handled carefully. “Hey, guys, I’m a friend of Steve’s. I gave him a ride home from work.”
Jimmy eyed him with undisguised hostility. “Yeah? What’s he do for you? Suck your dick?” He laughed at his own joke and high-fived Donny.
Ash’s lips tightened. “Steve helps out the doctor in the clinic. I know he’s told you. He’s a very valuable member of our staff.” Shit, he’d love to punch these two punks in their leering faces.
“Yeah, he’s told us. We’re sick of hearin’ about Dr. Drew this and Dr. Jordan that. Bunch o’ fuckin’ pussies, all of you.” Jimmy cracked his knuckles. “Comin’ around here in your rich-ass car showin’ off to everyone, thinkin’ you’re better than us.” He walked away, Donny following him, then called over his shoulder. “Better kiss him good-bye and come home now, Stevie boy. Don’t wanna make everyone mad.” Then he kept walking. Donny hurried to keep up with Jimmy’s long strides, shooting uncertain looks over his shoulder.
