Chapter 4

Jonah pretty much ignored Ricky’s spiel about being his soul mate. Instead, he talked about his writing job and family.

Eventually the dinner ended with a handshake between the two men. No hugging. No kiss to a cheek. Nothing intimate. They parted.

* * * *

Jonah doesn’t respond to Ricky’s text, at least not yet. Maybe later he will. He simply reads the text a second time, and his mind becomes an abyss of blackness mixed with nothingness.

“Who’s the text from?” Sandy inquires, half driving with his eyes on the road, and half turning his head in Jonah’s direction to see exactly what’s happening in the passenger seat. He tries to get a glimpse of Jonah’s phone screen but can’t.

“Ricky Malonni. He wants to get together while I’m in Channing.”

“No joke. He’s head over heels for you. You can’t take all those blowjobs back you gave him in high school. The guy wants your dick like a porn star. Maybe you should tell him you’re now giving someone else blowjobs.”