Chapter 4

“Maybe you just shouldn’t…wave it around like you do.” Rocco still spoke quietly. “Keep it on the down low. I mean, was that remark about wanting to see the guy skater with no clothes on really necessary?”

“The captain has calendar hanging over his desk with twelve months of exposed boobs—sometimes four instead of two! I was merely trying to bond with him on some sort of pervert level.” Ridley ran a hand through his Raggedy Andy hair. “Never mind. I’ll be right back.”

“Where you going?”

“To pee…if you don’t mind. And I’ll make sure to do it like a man—standing up.”

As Ridley took off for the john, Rocco wondered if he was really going off to finally cry. It tore him up a bit to think Ridley had held strong against all sorts of ridicule only to dissolve at his words, ones said for Ridley’s own good.

Ridley was quiet upon his return, and on the trip to the airport.

“I’m sorry, Rid,” Rocco said as they sat in heavy traffic. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”