Chapter 28

“You’re being silly,” Ridley told him once his hair had been washed, all of him had. The clown hair was dark and slicked back and—not that Rocco didn’t like the wild orange sprigs—suddenly Ridley looked so much different, so sophisticated and even more like a model. All nervous and slouchy with the mustache he was letting grow in since he no longer had to pass for one of Clara’s play pals, Rocco thought he looked like Super Mario. “I love all of you,” Ridley professed. “Every inch.” He licked his lips, and the signal was clear.

“Should we go back to the bed?”

“Stand on a chair.”

“Rid…”

“Stand on a chair, Roc. That’s an order too.”

Rocco shook his head, but did as told. He almost toppled backwards, chair and all, when Ridley reached over to take off his shirt. “Shit!”

Ridley grabbed at body parts to save him, grappling for the first one he could get to.

“Eep!”

That happened to be Rocco’s balls.

“I’m so, so sorry.” Yet he snickered.