Page 89 of Something Like Hail

“Prove it.”

He shook his head, not sure he understood.“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Felix jutted out his chin. “You told me tobe more confident. That’s what I’m doing. I want you to be myboyfriend.” Then the mask slipped and he covered his face with hishands. “I didn’t just say that!”

“No takebacks,” Noahjoked.

He couldn’t help considering the questionseriously. He enjoyed Felix’s company. Sure it had only been ahandful of hours, but in some ways, Noah was seeing how his lifecould have been: understanding parents, a sheltered upbringing, andthe normal post high-school void of not knowing what to do. Nocheckered history of life on the streets or a boyfriend with aneedle in his arm. Noah had experienced a lot for his age, morethan he probably should have. At times he felt wise about theworld. At others he felt embittered. He didn’t want to be jaded. Hewanted to leap around a bar full of old video games and feel thesame unbridled joy that Felix did. Marcello was right. Somethingwas missing from his life, and whatever it was, Felix had it.

“No takebacks,” Felix said.His hands were flat on the table now, his face determined, if not alittle terrified. “I know you would be a good boyfriend. I’m smart,remember? I notice these things.”

But he didn’t know all the facts. Mostrelationships began that way, he supposed. Noah could tell him thefull truth right then, but he wanted to be more than just an escortand was tired of that job defining him. He missed having a lifeoutside of his work. His only concern was, instead of Felix liftinghim up, that Noah might drag him down.

Not if they werecareful though. “You shouldn’t rush into things,” Noah said,smiling enough to reassure Felix that he wasn’t getting thebrush-off.

“Why?”

Now he laughed. “What doyou meanwhy?Don’t you wish you had taken things slower with Marcus? If you had,you could have avoided a bad relationship.”

Felix thought about it. “No. I’m glad werushed in. At least now I can say I’ve had a boyfriend. And I gotto do other things for the first time.”

“I’m sure you did. It’sstill the wrong answer. Try again. Don’t you wish you had takenthings slower with Marcus?”

“Boy, do I!” Felix said,hamming it up. “I should have saved myself formarriage.”

“You don’t have to take itthat far. There’s this new-fangled thing called dating, youknow.”

“Dating?” Felix paused tobite his bottom lip. “What’s the difference?”

“Only that we take it onedate at a time. If one of us decides it’s not working, then we callit quits.”

“Sounds just like being ina relationship.”

“It is a relationship ofsorts,” Noah said carefully.

Felix cocked his head. “So let’s see, ifsomeone asks if I’m single, I get to say that I’m dating someone.Not bad. What if they ask if I have a boyfriend?”

“Tell them that you’redating someone.”

“Mm-hm. And what if theyaskmeon adate.”

“I don’t like the sound ofthat,” Noah said. “Who is this guy, anyway? Is he bugging you? Wantme to talk to him?”

Felix laughed happily. “Okay, dating soundsfine.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah! I get to brag aboutyou, we still get to do all the relationship stuff, and you’ll actjealous if anyone hits on me. What more could a guywant?”

Noah’s smile froze in place. “What ifsomeone wants to date me?”

“Just don’t tell me aboutit,” Felix said. “I cry easily.”

“Seriously?”

Felix nodded. “Yeah.”

Okay. This could work. Noah wouldn’t becheating on him by doing his job, and if he didn’t have to reportwhat he did every night, then they had potential. For what exactly,he wasn’t sure, but he was looking forward to finding out.