Page 8 of New Year
“Were you getting food from Shelton? Behind River Bistro?”
“So? He offered. I didn’t steal it.” His lips parted, and his eyebrows shot up. “Fuck, you’re the guy who saw us.”
“Yes, but it’s okay. You are not in any trouble for that.”
“Then why did you track me down? Were you following me?”
“No, this was a very fortuitous coincidence. I was walking to my car when I heard you yelling.”
Natty had stopped crying and was watching him with a unique sort of curious distrust in his puffy eyes. “You walked into a dark alley in this neighborhood because you heard screaming? You gotta death wish, man?”
“Not at all. I’m generally a non-confrontational person, but I also won’t turn a blind eye when someone might be in trouble. Not again.”
He wiped his nose on his dirty sleeve. “Well, uh, thanks for the save. You better go before you get mugged.”
“Can I give you a ride somewhere?”
“Nah, this is kind of my place.”
“Then what about a meal? There’s a diner over on Filbert that stays open until two. I’ll buy you anything you want.”
His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Why?”
“Believe it or not, I really do want to help. I owe the universe a debt, and I’m trying to pay it back. When Shelton explained why he was giving you food, I wanted to help then, but you never came back to the restaurant.”
“I thought you’d call the cops.”
“I understand. Please, let me buy you dinner.”
Natty watched him from under a fan of thick eyelashes. “Just dinner? No strings?”
“Well, I’d like it if we could converse over dinner, but I’m not going to demand you blow me in the parking lot. I’m not that desperate for sex.”
Instead of reassuring Natty, the young man huffed and straightened his shoulders. “I’ll have you know my mouth has been known to give straight men nothing short of a religious experience.”
Zack smiled at the assumption of his sexuality. “Cocky, aren’t you?”
“Cocky and experienced. I don’t usually let things get so out of control with a john. He paid for a blowie and in the middle, he decided he wanted to fuck me. I said no, and…well.” He met Zack’s eyes. “Thank you. Sincerely, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Sincerely.” He looked away from Natty’s swollen lips. “Come on, let’s go get pancakes or a cheeseburger, or whatever it is you’re craving right now.”
Natty studied his face for a long moment before shrugging. “Sure, why the fuck not?”
Zack stood then reached out, pleased when Natty took his hand and accepted help standing. Natty swayed once but stayed upright. He didn’t limp on the walk to Zack’s car, which reassured him a little that the john hadn’t been too rough.
Natty paused by the passenger door of his four-door sedan. “This is your car?”
“Yes, why?” Zack hit unlock on the key fob. When he got to Reynolds, he’d traded in the utility van he’d been driving for a simple, reliable vehicle to get him around the city.
“I dunno. Between the suit and where you work, you look like the kind of guy who’d drive a Porsche or something.”
“I did, once upon a time, but I’m not that man anymore.”
“Sounds like a story.”
“It is, believe me.” Zack slid inside and started the engine. Cranked up the a/c, which cooled down quickly in this car.
Natty got in the passenger side and seemed to melt right into the seat. Like he’d uncoiled from the tension wrapped around him once he was in a safe space. “Smells nice in here.”
