Page 115 of Private Exhibit
“Ready,” Oliver's voice came through over the speakerphone.
“What's going on?” Devon asked.
Andy grinned at him. “You'll see.”
The man didn't say another word the whole way inside. Devon could do nothing but sit patiently in the chair while Andyrolled him onto the elevator and then to the apartment door. Andy paused there, fiddling with his keys.
Devon used the hesitation to experiment with lowering his wards. He did it slowly, bracing himself for noise, but nothing came. No assault of hundreds of voices. No particular screams. No swarm of ghosts. It was so different from the hospital or even out on the streets, where the very air seemed a swirl of chaos. Devon heaved a sigh of relief, letting the wards drop entirely. Holding them up still took effort, though he was assured that would get easier in time. For now, it was nice to simply relax and justbe.
Andy unlocked the door and pushed Devon inside.
“Welcome home, sweet boy,” Andy murmured.
Devon gasped. “Oh my gods.” Everywhere he looked—all over the floor since there was so little furniture—the apartment was filled with plants.
Rubber trees, arrowhead, pothos, peace lilies, snake plants, and so much more. So many shades of green in every direction. Not to mention flower arrangements in every color imaginable.
“Oh my gods,” Devon repeated in a whisper.
“Is it too much?”
Devon shook his head. “It's perfect. Oh my gods. Andy!”
“Oliver and I are going to take care of them for you,” Andy said. “But once you're more mobile, you can put them wherever you want. If you don't like them, we'll get some others. Or get more. Anything you want, sweetheart. I want this place to feel like home.”
Whoa, a voice cut in.Did I miss something or did there used to be an apartment here?
Andy chuckled.
Devon looked around and spotted a ghost standing just behind them. He gasped.Holy shit. Andy hadn't been kidding. Junior looked just like him, only a younger version.
Hi, Junior said, walking up to him.I'm Andy Junior. I was gonna introduce myself in the hospital, but you had enough going on. Trust me. Been there.
Devon winced.
Hey, it's fine.Junior flashed him a smile.I just wanted to say I'm glad you're gonna make it. You make my dad happy, and that's all I care about.He paused.Just don't expect me to call you my stepdad. Not sure I'll ever be able to run with that.
Devon blinked. “Stepdad?”
“Getting a little ahead of yourself there, kid,” Andy said with a laugh.
Don't tell me you hadn't thought about it, Junior teased back.
Andy blushed. He actually blushed!
Oh my gods, Devon thought. This was too much.
Oh!Junior exclaimed.Gotta go.
“You just got here,” Andy pointed out. “Where are you going?”
To see Jess. Duh. Later!Junior vanished.
“Jun–” Andy began, then sighed. “That boy.”
“I think he's in love,” Devon blurted out.
“What?”
