Chapter 27

“Fuck,” Jonah says, pushing Sandy away. “I don’t smell any smoke. Do you?” As Sandy jumps off the bed, Jonah slides his legs to the right and pushes himself off the bed. His boner deflates, ending its happy time with his lover’s mouth. He stands, pulls up his underwear and jeans, quickly dresses.

Sandy also dresses. “I don’t smell anything. And nor did I hear your mother and Ricky come in the house.”

When they bolt out of the bedroom and downstairs, tromping like two rhinos, Jonah hears Ricky yell, “Calm down, Mrs. Icicle! Just calm down! The fire department will be here in a minute!”

The Channing Fire Department sits three blocks away on Tattler Street. Jonah hears the obnoxious wail of sirens in the distance, echoing through the winter day. At the bottom of the stairs, he and Sandy make a left, run through the living room, through the dining room, and enter the smoky kitchen.