“Hey,” says Charlie.
“I saw your TikTok.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you OK?”
“Yeah.”
“Can I come get you after work?”
“Let’s just meet at the 7-Eleven, OK?”
There’s a brief pause, and Amir assents. “I want to tell you something,” he adds.
“What?” says Charlie.
“I’m sorry about your dad,” says Amir.
“That’s what you wanted to tell me?”
Amir laughs. “No,” he says. “I’m nervous to say it first.”
“What is it?” says Charlie, flirting, a smile lifting his lips. A sun grows inside Charlie’s stomach. He feels its heat and light spreading out to his fingers and toes, to his brain. Amir loves him, he thinks. And he loves Amir.
“I’ll tell you tonight,” says Amir.
-1-
KXAN Morning News
YOUR REAL NEWS—FIRST!
Good morning. I’m Denise Simon coming to youlivefrom the Barton Hills neighborhood, where police have arrested a suspect in the murder of Lucy Masterson, a young woman whose lifeless body was found on a South Austin hiking trail just six days ago.
Denise, what can you tell us about the arrest?
Good morning, Scott. I’m standing in front of the home here on Down Cove where an underage suspect was arrested last night. It’s a very large home, as you can see. Zillow estimates the property value at four million one hundred thousand dollars. It has a pool.
Well, I would hope so! Wow. Four million dollars. In South Austin.
It is a lot. I was surprised myself. Zillow lists some of the features of the house…let me see…it has a million-gallon, whole-house water filtration system—whatever that is—a natural gas outdoor grill, high-end built-in appliances including wine fridge, a Luma video security system, outdoor speakers on upstairs and downstairs patios and in the atrium, and multiple outdoor living spaces including a ground-level, custom viewing deck overlooking the greenbelt.
I’d like to live in that house!
Wouldn’t we all? But anyway, the arrest was made right here at the four-thousand-square-foot home, apparently during a party.
A party?
As you can see, Scott, there are still remnants of a balloon sign. It appears to say, “Go USA.”
Go USA?
Yes, Scott, that’s what the balloon sign says.
OK…
Witnesses say the suspect was arrested and taken into custody inside his home.
