Emil turned to look at Makai, who just stared back. Emil was beautiful when he got enthusiastic about something. His beanie was barely hanging on to his curls, and his eyes were shining.
“No, not really. We had a Super Nintendo when we were kids, but that’s it.”
“Okay, so if you want to get into gaming, you can get a console. That means we can get you a basic multimedia laptop for the other stuff.” Emil looked away, obviously having noticed the way Makai had looked at him, but didn’t comment on it. Instead, with a light blush on his pale cheeks, he went on to explain this and that, and Makai concentrated as best as he could.
In the end they went to a Walgreens for some essentials and a great grocery store for the food items. They finished with a trip to Kohl’s, because Makai really needed new clothes. He enjoyed the way Emil blushed when Makai teased him about making him want to buy couple of hoodies for himself after seeing Emil wear them all the time. He really liked the look in Emil’s eyes when he modeled them for him too.
Makai didn’t want to think how much money he left behind when they finally got into the truck after all of the shopping.
“So, lunch. I need something disgusting right now,” he stated, then glanced at Emil. “Are you hungry?”
“I could eat maybe like fries and a shake?” Emil didn’t sound sure, but he was trying.
“Drive-through it is!” Makai started the truck and they found the first fast-food place available.
He’d guessed that Emil was getting tired by now. Makai was too. His body was sore all over, and Tylenol would be his friend for the next few days at least.
Suddenly a song started to play just as they got to the drive-through window to collect the meals. Emil took his phone out of his pocket and held out his wallet for Makai, who brushed it off and paid for the food himself.
“Oh, hey, Lotte,” Emil said, and Makai tensed. “Yeah, I’m still in Minocqua with Makai. Sure, I’ll put you on speaker.”
“Hi, Makai,” Lotte said, and Makai swallowed hard as he steered into the parking lot.
“Hi, give me a sec, I’m parking the truck.”
“We just got some junk food from a drive-through,” Emil explained.
Lotte hummed.
“Okay,” Makai said and turned off the engine. “How’s Joie?”
“She’s fine. Headachy, but we got to go home late last night. She’s been sleeping and watchingSesame Streetall morning.”
“She’s really fine?” Makai felt like his heart was trying to climb into his throat.
“Yes, Makai. I wanted to thank you. She has bruises and scrapes and a big egg on her head where she hit it, but she’s alive and well. No lasting damage and all that.”
Makai felt himself deflating with relief. He’d blocked Joie out of his thoughts on purpose. He knew he’d worry himself to death otherwise, and being prone to stress, he needed to concentrate on his own situation.
“How’re you, Makai? I heard you got stitches.”
“Yeah, and they kept me overnight, just in case. I have ten stitches in my back, but that’s about it. Headache has mostly faded.”
“Good. Look, you did nothing wrong. I just wanted you to hear that. In fact, without you, I….” Lotte let out a small but audible sob. “Thank you, Makai.”
Makai swallowed hard. “Yeah. Anytime. She’s a great kid.”
“Talk to you later,” Lotte managed to say, but it was obvious she was crying now.
“Bye.”
“Bye,” Emil added quickly, and Makai realized he wasn’t in a tiny little bubble talking to Lotte. It had felt like that, with his concentration fully on her, but Emil was right there with him. Emil’s long-fingered, little-bit-scarred hand appeared on Makai’s arm. “She’s right. You saved Joie.”
Makai didn’t have a reply. Instead he cleared his throat, wiped his eyes, and took in a deep breath. “I’m starving,” he said, and Emil pulled his hand away. When Makai glanced at him, he was smiling slightly, knowingly, while reaching for his shake.
THEY’D UNLOADEDeverything at Makai’s place and he’d driven Emil home. By then, Emil had been dead on his feet, and Makai had been sore enough to know he wouldn’t be unpacking anything that day. Instead, he’d spent the rest of the day setting up his new electronics as much as he could and hanging out with Mouse and the babies.
Today, Emil would come by as soon as his mom could give him a ride, and they’d finish putting the groceries away, and Emil would no doubt make sure his computer and phone were set up right.
