Jameson grimaced. “I’ve already seenSonic. It’s not good-good, and it’s not bad-good, either.”
“Birds of Preyit is!” Gray answered. “Now finish that makeup so I can feed you donuts.”
GRAY
Even though Gray was itching to get Jameson somewhere safer, he couldn’t lie: a matinee really did hit the damn spot. After folding up the armrest and cuddling close through a movie they’d each seen before, Gray and Jameson wiped their buttery hands, and Jameson popped his scarf back on as the lights came up.
Matinees and superhero movies, Gray thought to himself. It was nice to have a thing. And if it helped Jameson have fun again and replaced some shitty memories with good ones, then it was an afternoon well spent.
“Don’t knock your scarf off,” Gray teased. They were in a big, cavernous lobby, and the smell of candy and popcorn was in the air.
Jameson glanced around. “Theaters are always so empty on weekdays.”
“Just people playing hooky,” Gray answered. He shoved his hands in his leather jacket and cast his eyes around the place, scoping anyone who might cause them trouble. “Oh hey, Jameson,” he said under his voice, nodding to the side. “I think you’ve got an admirer.”
About ten feet away, a woman was talking into her phone, loosely holding the hand of a boy who must have been seven or eight years old. He was looking up at Jameson with wide eyes, like Jameson was the most wonderful thing in the universe. For an anxious second, Gray thought that the kid had figured them out and recognized Justin Sweet.
Then the mother turned, dropping her phone as she did. “Oh I’m so sorry,” she said, then stroked her child’s hair. “Alex, what did I tell you about staring?”
Alex looked shy as he turned away, but then quickly peeked back at Jameson. “It’s okay,” Jameson said warmly.
“He likes your makeup,” the woman whispered. “He’s kind of obsessed with makeup.”
Gray immediately relaxed and placed his hand on the small of Jameson’s back without really thinking about it. “Makeup is cool,” he said, smiling to the kid. “Doesn’t he look great?”
“See?” the woman said. “You don’t have to be embarrassed. Anyone who likes makeup should get to wear it.” She rubbed the top of his head. “Just not every day until you’re a little bit older, okay?”
“You have such a nice mom, Alex!” Jameson said. His voice had even more bounce to it than usual, which made Gray smile, but Alex still turned shyly away again, clenching his mother’s hand.
“He’s a very special kid, although definitely too shy to talk to strangers today. I’m glad we saw you two, though. He was having a little bit of a meltdown earlier. He wanted to dress up for a costume party, but the birthday boy told him that princess costumes weren’t allowed, and he needed to be a superhero. Since he had the day off school, I caved and brought him here for a treat. Anyway, I’m glad he can see the two of you, happy together.”
Gray and Jameson glanced at each other. Gray had a big smile on his face, and there was a light dancing across Jameson’s eyes. “We are happy together,” Jameson said.
“Very,” Gray agreed, then winked. “He’s my own superhero.”
The woman laughed. “That’s sweet. Now say goodbye, Alex!”
The woman’s phone rang, and while she went to silence it, Alex stared back at Jameson. And Jameson, for one brief second, pulled his scarf down and smiled fully at the kid. Gray sucked in a sharp, surprised breath and watched as Alex’s eyes got wider and wider. A second later, Jameson popped the scarf back up, and the woman returned her attention.
“Have a great day!” she said, pulling the stunned kid away. “And I hope you get over your flu soon!”
Gray turned, then burst out laughing. “I think Alex recognized you,” he said.
“Good,” Jameson said with a satisfied nod. “Then he knows he can be a hero, too.”
They walked toward the door and then out into the parking lot. The sun was high in the sky, and the damp breeze was actually warm, spring having settled in. Gray casually took Jameson’s hand, and Jameson leaned his head on Gray’s shoulder while they walked.
“Everything okay?” Gray asked.
“Yeah. I’m happy. I’m honestly so, so happy, Gray. And getting to show that kid who I am…” He trailed off, then squeezed Gray’s hand tighter. “I won’t have done that until you came into my life.”
Gray nodded. “I understand.” He swung his arm over Jameson’s shoulder. “You’ll have more chances to share your life, Jameson. You’ll find a way to do it that’s right for you. I know you will.”
They stopped by the Subaru, and Jameson let go of Gray’s hand. “It must be nice, when all the pieces of your life fit together.”
Gray let out of a puff of air. “You’ve got it hard, but I don’t know that anyone has a life where all the pieces fit,” he said. “Hell, you know I don’t.”
“I guess that’s true. Anyway, we’re on our adventure. I can sit around and feel sad anytime I want.” He adjusted the scarf, and Gray wished that he could pull it down and kiss him. He hated the idea of Jameson sitting around sad, although he knew there had been a lot of that.
