Maybe Arya was right. Maybe he needed to just go for this.
He could be brave. He could take a chance.
While he waited for the water to boil, he pulled his phone back out.
Ramin
When can I see you again?
twenty-eight
Noah
Noah pressed his ear against the door, but his room was silent. He didn’t know why he was sneaking around. It wasn’t like you could tell the bag was full of condoms from the outside. But Jake had a habit of thinking any unmarked bagmightcontain something exciting for him, and Noah really didn’t want to explain what lube was to his son.
Not right now, at least, not unless Jake asked. He knew one day he would be doing that. His own father had given him absolutely zero sex education, just a bunch of fire and brimstone and shame, and Noah was determined that he’d never make Jake feel uncomfortable or ashamed talking about sex. Well, no more than the usual awkwardness. Theywerefrom Missouri, after all.
Though, if Jake moved here, who knew where he’d be getting his sex ed? Maybe Europeans taught it better. Maybe Jake would become friends with a bunch of sophisticated Italian children who wore scarves and striped shirts and sat around smoking and drinking espressos and drawing in Moleskines, even though the texture of Moleskines was all wrong for sketching.
Noah shook himself, unlocked the door—all clear—and ran to his dresser to hide his evidence. Just in time.
“Noah? That you?” Angela knocked on the door connecting their rooms.
“Yup! Got the medicine!” He double-checked he definitely had the medicine bag in hand,notthe sex bag, and yes, he was good. “How’s Jake doing?”
“I’m fine,” Jake huffed, opening the door and practically stomping in. “Not that you care.”
Where in the world hadthatcome from?
“Jakey. Of course I care.”
But Jake crossed his arms and refused to so much as glance at Noah.
Noah met Angela’s eyes.What happened?
Angela’s eyebrows raised.Beats me.
Noah shook his head and knelt by his son.
“Jake? Buddy? Will you look at me?”
Jake did, and then looked away again. “What?”
“I care about you more than anything in the world. That’s why I went to get you medicine.”
Guilt gnawed at Noah’s insides, though. Hehadtaken a detour.
He’d thought Jake was fine. But this is what he got for being selfish.
“I’m sorry. I love you, buddy.”
“Love you, too,” Jake muttered.
Noah bit his lip and tried not to take it personally.
He left Jake on the bed and stepped into Angela’s room, closing the door and keeping his voice low.
“What is going on with him?”
