Page 48 of Grave Beginnings

“I can do that. Once he heals,” I said, then silently cursed. “I think my dad hit him. He has a giant bruise on his face. Or maybe it was my mom. It could have been a slap.”

Angel went quiet for a long, few seconds again, before gently asking, “How often did they hit you?”

I cleared my throat, unwilling to answer that question. “I should get some sleep.”

“Sure. That means turning off the computer.” Angel deftly allowed the subject change, for which I was grateful.

“And my brain,” I said with a sigh.

“That’s the hard part,” Angel agreed. “Count cake slices.”

My stomach grumbled at the thought of more cake. “That cake was divine.”

“Now I know what to bribe you with.”

“Sweets are high on my list.”

“What’s number one?” Angel asked.

“Food stuffs?”

“Stuff to bribe you with. You said you like dolls.”

“Just the Asian Ball Joint ones. I have only male dolls, which is rare in doll terms.”

“Expensive taste.”

“I’m surprised you know what they are.”

“I have a friend who collects them. Though, she only has girls. What tops your list of must-have things?”

Love, affection, hope—but I didn’t say any of that. “Coffee?”

“Another question. I thought it was your list, shouldn’t you know what’s on it? Coffee and cake, I can do.”

“Sounds good to me. What do you like?”

“Scratches and sandwiches,” he said.

I laughed, covering my mouth to muffle the sound.

“Have a good night, Jude. Try to get some sleep. See you tomorrow.”

I hung up and put the phone and computer away, thinking maybe it really was going to be an okay night. Ivan was safe. Angel and I got along. My world was expanding, but I’d seen my grandma and she looked happy. Maybe this new variant thing wasn’t the total nightmare I’d feared it would be.

16

I lefta note for Ivan before leaving for work, assuring him that I wanted him to stay, and giving a window of time for the delivery of groceries. Nikki dropped off a bento box for him to eat for breakfast. I bumped her shoulder in thanks for helping me take care of my little brother.

“Does he like boys or girls?” Nikki whispered as she walked with me to my car. “I can draw him a picture.” She did a lot of freelance work, and worked part time at a Boba shop, but her artwork was amazing.

“I’m not sure what he likes,” I said. “I think he’d love anything you give him.” I sucked in a long breath and let it out. “He needs to feel at home. Like it’s okay for him to exist. I don’t know what he’s been through, but I can imagine.”

“You’re a good man, Jude,” Nikki said. “The way you take care of your grandpa and now your brother. Why are all the good men gay?”

“Why are all the amazing women ace?” I threw back. “How can you lust after any man you don’t really want?” Her collection of BL rivaled mine. We’d been known to trade books.

“I don’t lust after you,” she disagreed. “But I would totally write you into a BL fantasy with some hot Danmei guy.”