Page 19 of Just A Little Joy

Gabe

Ha! The doctor has spoken.

Reed

I don’t own my company, you idiot.

Levi

Is that how a Daddy should speak?

The word pulled at something old and familiar in me, something I’d kept locked down since before I quit hockey.

Barrett

To Gabe? Abso-fucking-lutely.

Gabe

Be nice, or I’ll sic Nico on you.

Barrett

I’m twice his size. I can take him.

Levi

It’s not his fists you need to worry about. It’s his mouth.

Gabe

Anyway, back to you, Travis. You need to come.

Levi

It’s gonna be hard to find a boy when you don’t go to places where boys are at. Just sayin’.

Hearing it out loud hit that quiet place in me that already knew exactly who I kept thinking about.

Travis

I know, I’ve kinda got my eye on someone.

Barrett

Is he a boy?

Travis

Yeah, he’s a guy.

Reed

Heh.

Barrett

You know what I meant, asshole.