Page 18 of Solo Stan
“I’m sorry. I’ll show you,” Elias said, a flirtatious grin on his lips, “but can you look up at me while you do it?”
Dakarai sprang up and took a step toward Elias, looming over him. A challenging glint flashed through his eyes, and Elias couldn’t help but laugh. Dakarai definitely had a hidden edge, and Elias found himself unable to stop trying to get to it.
“You’re calling me short in every single language right now,” Elias said, amused. Dakarai started twisting his earring again. His earlobe was bright red—from irritation or embarrassment, Elias didn’t know, but it seemed he did that a lot when he was nervous. “Can I at least see what you’ve been working on all day?” Elias leaned over, trying to get a peek at Dakarai’s sketchbook, but Dakarai pulled it to his chest and crossed his arms over it.“Come on, what’s the big deal? You’re not drawing me, are you?” Elias joked. Yet, Dakarai’s eyebrows shot up, and the look on his face was pure terror. An excited smile spread across Elias’s face. “Youaredrawing me. Let me see.”
“Stop,” Dakarai protested, hugging his sketch tighter as Elias made a grab for it.
Undeterred, Elias lunged again, but Dakarai held it over his head as high as he could. Elias laughed to himself. Basketball was his sport of choice, and he had dunked on nets much higher than that. He made another attempt on the book, this time successful.
“It can’t be that bad. Just let me take a quick little look,” Elias bargained. His arms became steel barricades every time Dakarai reached around his body to grab the book.
Dakarai suddenly stopped trying, closing his eyes for a moment, and released a long breath. He extended his palm and said calmly, “Could you please give it back? I’ve already embarrassed myself in front of you enough times as it is.”
“Why is it embarrassing? Is it because you were only pretending to be disinterested in me all day?”
“I wasn’t— You’re so irritating,” Dakarai said, letting out a defeated laugh.
Elias made a run for it, cutting through the staff room to the back storage room before looping around through the comic aisles to the front of the store. He flipped through the book, trying to find the page, but Dakarai followed after him, and, in the ensuing struggle, they found themselves breathless, face-to-face, only inches apart. A thousand emotions passed over Dakarai’s face as Elias’s teasing smile faded. He stared into Dakarai’s eyes until he couldn’t help but drop his gaze to Dakarai’s lips.
The bell rang over the door. It didn’t immediately register toeither of them what that meant. It wasn’t until someone cleared their throat that the two leapt away from each other, Dakarai pretending to be particularly fascinated by a random shelf in the classic horror section, leaving Elias alone to face Moodie, who had walked in holding a stack of his famous peanut butter pies.
9
Kai
4:47 p.m.
Moodie’s eyes darted between Kai and Elias, suspicion etched across his face. He shook his head and went to the staff room to place the pies in the freezer. When his back was turned, Kai and Elias shared a look. “Say something,” Kai mouthed. A mischievous smirk played on Elias’s lips, and he winked, which Moodie caught as he turned around.
“Kai, outside now,” Moodie said sternly as he gestured to the front door. He then pointed at Elias. “I’ll deal with you at dinner.”
Kai followed Moodie out into the humidity of the waning day, shoulders slumped, his gaze fixed on the ground. He had never been in trouble with Moodie before.
Moodie let out a long sigh and looked wistfully at Elias through the store windows. “My nephew really is a little shit, isn’t he?” He tightened a fist and then released it.
Kai nearly choked on a short laugh. “What?” he asked, in genuine shock.
A vein pulsed in Moodie’s temple as he ground his teeth. “He knows how much you mean to me and probably thinks I’m playing favorites between you all, so he’s trying to win you over just to piss me off.”
Kai’s lips parted, forming a silentOh. The reason Elias had been trying to charm him all day and was so insistent about hanging out after work wasn’t because of any cosmic connection; he just wanted to spite Moodie.
Moodie’s stare hardened as he turned his attention back to Elias. He shook his head and said goodbye to Kai before he took off in his pickup.
Kai observed Elias for a moment through the store windows, and it struck him that he knew nothing about this kid except he was here because he had gotten in trouble. He didn’t know what kind of trouble. If he fled the state, it could have been a full-on felony.
Kai walked back into the store, past Elias, and lifted one of the heavy trash bags, the plastic handles digging into his fingers as he hoisted it over his shoulder. Elias grabbed the other and followed Kai to the rear of the store, and they tossed both bags into the open mouth of the rusted dumpster.
Elias took a bucket hat from the side pocket of his bag and pulled it low over his eyes. He produced Kai’s sketchbook, handed it to Kai, and said, “I’m sorry, by the way. I promise I didn’t look.”
Kai hugged his sketchbook. “Hey,” he said, calling Elias’s attention. He figured he’d allow Elias a chance to tell the truth. “Do you still want to hang out tonight?” Elias nodded. “I’m not saying I want to, but if we did hang out, what would we do?”
“The South is known for barbecue, right? Maybe you can show me your favorite barbecue spot.”
“I’m a vegan.”
Elias’s face dropped. “Not to worry. What about a movie? What kind do you like? I’m sure there’s something out.”
“I really only watch romantic comedies.”
