Page 22 of Spoonful

“Really good,” Jaylin said in a rush, knee bouncing up and down with restless energy.

“Yeah?” Hiro’s smile got brighter. “I’m all ears.”

Jaylin wasn't much of a talker, not really. A lifetime of trying to stay quiet and out of the way so people wouldn't notice you tended to do that to a person. But he was bursting with how much of a relief the last week had been, and when he started telling Hiro about it, he couldn't seem to stop.

“—and the text-to-speech reader isamazing.It works on all of the worksheet handouts, so I don’t have to spend like an hour trying to figure out the questions I’m supposed to answer before I can work on answering them and…” Jaylin took a deep breath. “It’s just… it’s just been really good.”

“I’m so happy to hear that,” Hiro said, and he sounded sincere. “Really, Jaylin. That’s great. I’m so happy for you.”

“Yeah.” Jaylin fidgeted in his seat before offering, “I’ve never looked forward to school before. But this week I actually felt like I was learning stuff. You know?”

“Yeah,” Hiro said softly. “Yeah, I get that. I’m so glad things look like they’ll be changing for the better.”

“Thank you for… for helping with that,” Jaylin said, unable to look at Hiro while he did so.

“Absolutely,” Hiro said. “Anytime. This calls for celebration sushi for sure.” Then he paused. “I mean… if you like sushi? I guess it wouldn’t be that great a celebration if you hated it. Sorry, I-I sort of assumed, but it just crossed my mind that there are people in this world who don’t like sushi.”

“I like sushi,” Jaylin assured him. “I don’t eat it super often, but I like it. So it’ll be a nice treat.”

“Oh awesome,” Hiro said, looking relieved. “Maybe we should talk about what kinds of foods you do and don’t like, so the next time I’m in charge of picking the restaurant I won’t accidentally take you out for pizza if you’re gluten free. Are you gluten free?”

“I’m not, no,” Jaylin said, amused and a little charmed. He wasn’t used to men thinking of his needs or tastes. Also…. next time? That sounded as though Hiro was already planning for future meetings. But Hiro had done so much for Jaylin already. What more could he possibly give? “I ate that croissant sandwich you brought to the library, remember? I don’t have any foodallergies. And I’m really, really not picky. I’d love to go out for pizza sometime.” He meant it too.

He wouldn’t be at all opposed to seeing more of Hiro.

Hiro beamed at him. “Sounds good to me. There’s this little place near Wentworth that does really excellent, traditional oven-fired pizzas—”

Jaylin’s phone rang, interrupting, and his stomach dropped at the ringtone. It was his special one for Brent, and at this point it was a pavlovian response to get nervous whenever Jaylin heard it.

He pulled it out of his pocket, considering ignoring it for all of two seconds. But when Brent saidjump,he expected Jaylin to askhow high?and anything less…

Jaylin couldn't afford to lose where he was at.

“I’m sorry,” he told Hiro, trying to hide the shame. If Hiro knew Jaylin was a sugar baby, he’d probably never talk to Jaylin again. “I’ve got to take this.”

“Of course,” Hiro said, because he was good like that. “Please.”

Jaylin gave him a wan smile and took the call, pressing the phone to his ear as he twisted in his seat, trying to give himself the illusion of privacy. “Hi–”

“Where are you?”Brent sounded annoyed. Not quite angry, but definitely upset in a way that meant Jaylin would be paying for it later.“Ernie said you aren’t home.”

Which meant Ernie was at his apartment to chauffeur Jaylin to wherever Brent wanted him, and Jaylin wasn't there. Because he was meeting with Hiro. Fuck, fuck,fuck.

He suddenly felt sick. “I’m sorry,” Jaylin forced out, hunching over and all too aware that Hiro could hear every word.Stupid, stupid–“I’m out. Studying.”

“It’s Friday, pet,”Brent drawled.“Fridays mean you don’t make plans.”

“I know,” Jaylin said, wanting to curl up into a ball. “I know, I’m sorry.” He’d been so giddy over his school stuff and wanting to talk to Hiro again, he’d totally forgotten. Of all thestupid fucking things–“I’m sorry.”

“You’ll just have to make it up to me,”Brent said, voice silky.“Where are you? Ernie will pick you up.”

“I’m just at the library,” Jaylin said in a rush, even as his stomach roiled. He’d have to grab an uber or something to get to campus before Ernie showed up to get him, but it was a cost he’d have to eat. At least being at the library would lend credibility to his story about studying. Butfuck,now he had to bail on Hiro, who’d gone out of his way to invite Jaylin out and pick Jaylin up— “I’m sorry.”

“Mm. You can apologize properly once you’re here.”

Jaylin squeezed his eyes shut. “I will.”

“Ernie will text you once he arrives. Don’t keep him waiting.”Thedon’t keep me waiting,was unsaid as Brent hung up.

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