He shuddered. "Don't get me started on my witchy phase. We're over that. You're avoiding the question, Domino. Have you done that thing you said you'd never do?" He made a popping noise with his lips and made lewd hand gestures.I grimaced.
"I never said I'dneverdo that," I corrected. "Just that, I didn't want to do that with any of the people you suggested. And no, that hasn't changed. I'm still very much..."
Waiting.
Waiting for people who aren’t even an option.
We found a bench and I plopped down directly in front of a pawn shop. It had been a long day. I was ready to hop on the train and sleep until Georgie and I reached... wherever my ticket was for.
"Alright, stay pining for whatever their names are…”
Koi and Swayze.
I didn’t answer.
“Anyway, you're good financially, and whatever the reason is, I'm happy for you." He came to sit with me and rested his head on my shoulder.
"I worked until I had the money. Just like I did with the train ticket. I can always find a way to make money." My thoughts went to just exactly how I'd earned the money for the shoes and then the train ticket. A little waitressing here, farm work there. It was boring and sometimes took a toll on my body, but I loved my life and had no intention of stopping my wandering. I wanted to explore the world.
"I wish I had your work ethic. You know how long I've been saving for my top surgery?" He pressed his hands against his bound chest. "Since I started T. Paired with the economy and all my other bills and life things, I don't have even two red pennies to rub together. I'll never get rid of these fucking things."
I stared at his hands and then looked up at him. Out of all the people I'd met in my journey, after seven long years of traveling the country, seeing all sorts of kinds, I'd never met someone as beautiful, inside, and out, as Johnny Blue.
I reached for my necklace, pulling out the ring my dad had given me on my tenth birthday. I'd never told anyone where I'd gotten it, but it was the only thing other than my camera that I'd kept from my past. I looked up at the storefront sign in front of us, and then back at the ring.
"I want to do something for you," I said, standing up. "Come on, Georgie."
Johnny protested the entire way as I walked into the pawn shop and removed the chain from around my neck.
"I'd like to sell my ring, please."
The dealer eyed me suspiciously as he pinched the ring in his fingers. I raised an eyebrow. He was going to try to lowball me, but I knew how much that ring was worth.
"That camera's nice. You sure you don't want to sell that instead?"
I clutched my camera protectively. "No. Just the ring, please."
He went to his computer and started typing furiously. "Let me look into some things. Stick around a bit?"
Johnny and I went to look around the shop while he did his thing. I assumed it might take some time, as the ring was unique. Only two had ever been made. My dad had bragged about how expensive it’d been to design. After a while, I began to worry. The door chimed, and two police officers came in and went directly to the counter. My heart jolted, and I began to sweat. I hurried to the counter and put my hand out.
"I've changed my mind. I don't want to sell it to you."
The three men gave me the side-eye and looked at something on the dealer's screen, and then back at me.
"No, I think you're right," an officer said.Alarm bells rang in my head, and I called for Georgie.
"Just give me my ring. I have to go. I'm late for something." I smacked the glass counter.
The officers put their hands on their belts, and I froze.
"Oh, you're not going anywhere, Domino Risky."
I jumped.How did they know my name?
"We've already called the proper channels to get this all sorted out."
"What are you talking about? That's my ring. I want my ring!"
