Page 92 of Something Like Hail

Noah took an interest in the soda can he washolding, not wanting to feed into the idea of them being here toget it on. He had enough sprinting to home base with his clients.“That’s a big question. My dream… I’ve been thinking about itlately. I’m finally stable. Financially, anyway. I have a lot offree time when I’m not working. What am I supposed to do withit?”

“Time is easy to spend,”Felix replied. “It’s money I can’t imagine having.”

“You should try. Thatreminds me of a mental exercise I always used to play. If somemysterious benefactor put three thousand bucks into your bankaccount every month, what would you do? That’s enough to live on,if you’re careful, but not enough to do anything crazy like buy ayacht.”

“Why not imagine moremoney?”

“Because it’s morerealistic this way. If you didn’t have to work, what would youdo?”

“Keep working so I couldreally help support my family.”

“That’s a goodanswer.”

“Thanks,” Felix said. “Kindof depressing too. Even if I had the money for SDCC, I wouldn’tfeel right wasting it on that. I feel bad enough about all thisstuff.”

“You shouldn’t,” Noah said.“Especially when you spend as little on it as you can. You’ve gotto have something to keep you going. Otherwise life is all work andnothing else.” He had the uneasy realization that his own life wason the verge of becoming just that.

“So you don’t know whatyour dream is?” Felix pressed.

Noah thought of all he had seen tonight—asweet guy with a big heart, and a family who didn’t have a lot, butwere probably happier than he had been in years. “This islong-term, so I don’t mean right now, but I think I want kids.”

“For real?’’

“Yeah. I’d also likesomeone with me. To help raise them.”

He was about to ask if Felix wanted thesame, but his expression said it all. Noah inquired anyway, wantingto hear the sound of his voice, which never seemed devoid ofenthusiasm. They kept talking, the hours whizzing by. Noahexplained what had happened with his family in more detail andlistened to the problems Felix had with his father. They talkedabout the posters on the wall, played a video game so old that itwas literally just giant pixels moving around on the screen, andlaughed as they took turns doing terrible impressions of the twopresidential candidates. He was surprised when checking his phoneto see that it was nearly five in the morning.

“You don’t have a window inthis room?” Noah complained.

“It’s behind one of theshelves,” Felix said sheepishly. “I needed the display space. Is itseriously that early?” He checked his own phone and groaned. “I’msupposed to be at work in five hours. I guess I should get somesleep.”

“That’s my cue,” Noah said,standing and stretching.

“You’re not too tired todrive?”

He could guess what that meant, but heplayed innocent, just to discover if he was right. “I don’t havemuch choice.”

“You could stay the night.Or the morning, I guess.”

Noah smiled. The offer was nice, it’s justthat… “I mean it about not rushing into things. It’s better thisway.”

“Just sleep,” Felix said.“I promise.”

Noah really was tired, and despite the chaosof the room, he felt comfortable here. “Okay.”

“Awesome!” Felix leapt tohis feet. “I have pajamas, but I don’t think they’ll fityou.”

“I’ll be fine. I just needto use the restroom.”

“Oh.” Felix nibbled hisbottom lip. “We need to be quiet. My mom sleeps on thecouch.”

“How come?”

“So my sister and I caneach have our own bedroom. Another reason I need to move out assoon as possible. Don’t worry, she’s cool. If she does wakeup—”

“I’ll make sure shedoesn’t.”

“You can use my toothbrushif you want,” Felix said, following him to the door. “It’s the blueone.”