Chapter 14

“Yeah, Ma, sure. Thanks.” He said the last word low, then, realizing it, called it out again. He heard them moving about inside, Angel’s deep laugh, the clinking of plates and silverware.

“Grab the door.”

Michael looked up at Angel, who was balancing two plates of pie while trying to undo the screen door that led to the porch.

Michael got up and helped him. “Thanks,” he said, taking a plate.

Angel nodded and sat on one of the wide porch steps. “Like a routine, ain’t it, Mikey?”

Michael watched as Angel took a big forkful of pie then swallowed it. Michael liked watching him eat. His lips were full and smeared with chocolate, his eyes shining with obvious kid-like pleasure. Even the way he licked a smear of cream off the back of his hand was mesmerizing to Michael, as if he were catching Angel at his most intimate of pleasures. He wondered if he would ever know more than these casual intimacies.

“What do you mean?” Michael asked when he caught Angel staring at him expectantly.