Page 14 of Night of the Living Manny
“Thanks. That’s excellent to know.” He leaned back, closing his eyes so he could stop staring at Liam. “So was work hard today?”
“It wouldn’t have been, if I didn’t have to deal with the suits.”
“Do you work in the lab proper? Like with samples?” He remembered biology and dissection, but he was better with food and people.
“I do. I work with viruses. I’m trying to find a virus that will eat away bacterial diseases. Just think how amazing it would be if we could manage that? A virus that could be a benefit instead of something to fear?”
“That would be great. Sounds a little scary, though.”
“All scientific breakthroughs are a little scary.”
“True.” Brenden smiled, trying not to be all antiscience. He’d seen too many horror movies, he guessed. Lots of films where twentysomething days after infection there were ten people left on earth or whatever.
“I’m running all the tests I can before we move to live tissue testing, but the suits are getting impatient.”
“Wow. Do people volunteer for this or something?” He couldn’t even imagine sayingHere, infect me.
“We start with living flesh—so donors. Then we move to pigs and then human trials, and yeah, people volunteer.”
“Oh, neat! About the donors. I never thought of that.” Weird and oddly cool.
“Yeah, there are donations that aren’t suitable for transplant options, you know?”
“I do now. That’s neat.” He was an organ donor on his license. Maybe he would get used for science. There was something relatively cool about that. Though the thought of dying and having Liam use his skin or something was eerie and not to be thunked.
“So you like being a—” Liam chuckled. “Is it ‘nanny’? Childcare person?”
“I like ‘manny.’” He winked when Liam laughed louder. “I do. I thought about being a teacher, but something about working with just a few kids, or one, at a time makes me fulfilled.” Did that sound cheesy?
“That’s cool. Seriously. I keep trying to remind my kids that I like them.”
“Is it just that you’re working more?” If the kids were acting out, getting Liam’s perspective on why was essential.
“I think so? I mean, their mom has been gone a while now. We’ve definitely passed the honeymoon period there.”
“That can be good and bad.” He slugged back some more beer. “I’m sorry about their mom. Susanna has a picture in her room, right?”
“Yeah. She had ovarian cancer. It went fast. Six weeks from start to finish.” Liam sighed and rubbed his forehead. “It was insane.”
“Oh God.” He reached out but stopped short of touching. “That’s awful. Do you need some Tylenol?”
“No. No, I’m okay, just a little tension.”
“Oh. Well, at the risk of sounding supercheesy, I have massage therapist certification.” Oh God, did he just offer? Way to get fired.
“Yeah? That’s not too weird, because…. It’s probably weird, huh?”
“Maybe, yeah.” He laughed roughly. “Seriously, though, your neck would be easy to unknot.”
“I promise not to come on to you,” Liam said drily.
“Oh. Okay. I mean, sure.” Damn, damn, damn.
“I told them at the service that I was out as bi. Is it a problem?”
“You did? They didn’t tell me.” Brenden shook his head. “That makes it way easier for me, actually. You won’t be worried because I’m gay.”
“Oh. No. No, I won’t be worried. Are people normally?” Liam was frowning again, but Brenden thought it was on his behalf this time.
