“Fuck, kid.” Rafael leans over enough to affectionately shove my arm, letting out a sigh afterwards, like maybe he’s realizing he doesn’t have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders anymore.
I’m glad I can take some of that weight.
“There’s one more thing,” I say while I have my uncle’s attention. “That empty spot on my back. I have an idea for it.”
He perks up. “Yeah?Tell me.”
So I do, explaining in detail the tattoo concept I have while Rafael listens intently. We work out a time for me to visit the shop as a client, and then I get ready to head to campus.
A text comes through as I’m stepping out the door, my backpack over my shoulder.
Lumi: Do you have a half hour to meet before class? Coffee on me.
Curious, I type out my reply.
Me: Sure. Where at?
Lumi gives me the name of a coffee shop not far from her dorm, and I set off to meet her. She’s inside when I arrive, a to-go cup between her hands. She nods in greeting, and I head her way.
“Let me grab you a drink first,” she says. “What’ll you have?”
My lips quirk. “Hazelnut latte.”
Lumi returns before long, sliding the latte my way across the table. I give her a moment to bring up whatever it is she came here to.
“Isaac told us about his birthday,” she finally says, her gaze on me steady. “He’s never let us celebrate it. Not once. Neither Todd nor I even knew when his birthday was until last year.”
“February 15th,” I say quietly.
She nods.
“I feel like I should tell you I knew beforehand,” I admit. “I saw it on his license.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she replies, shaking her head. “You…got him to open up faster than either of his best friends could. Youknowhim, Trevor. He’s sharing himself with you. Because he feels safe.”
Lumi pauses, twirling her cup.
“You don’t need my approval. I know that. But I hope, twenty years from now, thirty, that I still know you. I’m onyour side, all right? Because you’re on his. I guess that’s what I wanted you to know.”
I hold out my hand. With a snort, Lumi clasps her palm with mine. “Team Isaac?” I say.
“Team Isaac,” she agrees, letting me go. Her expression shifts into something more mischievous. “By the way…the pillow?”
I laugh at her waggling eyebrows before taking a sip of my drink, my way of pleading the fifth.
She shakes her head again. “Do you have a team set up already for when you go pro?”
“Realistically, I need the studio space first, and that might take a while. I’ve been making a few connections with possible performers, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten.”
She nods thoughtfully. “You already have the logistics worked out, though, right? All the business aspects, legalities, et cetera?”
“I do.”
“So you just need a crew. There’s this guy in my drama club you might want to talk to. He has a real knack for composition. And considering I caught him blowing the theater’s sound engineer in the rafters last month, there’s a good chance he might be interested in the job.”
“Yeah? What’s his name?”
“Jerome,” Lumi says. “Do you want his number?”
