Chapter 15

“Billy?” Francis knocked again. “Can I come in?”

“It’s open.” Billy didn’t sit up. He waited, keeping his headphones on.

Francis opened the door and gave him a kind look. “We were just teasing you. I didn’t mean anything by—”

“You don’t even know Xavier, okay? You keep calling him the straight mechanic, or worse, the grease monkey.Monkey? I mean, I know that nickname isn’t about race, but hearing it about Xavier makes my skin crawl. I really, really, like him, Francis, and it’s hard enough not knowing if he likes me back, without you teasing me about it all the time.” Billy looked away at the window, too upset to say anything else.

Francis limped into the room, but stayed by the door. “I’m sorry. I was out of line. I guess it’s just my way of letting you know that I care.”

Billy shot Francis a puzzled look. “And how’s that work?”