Page 24 of Paint Eater
“Or anything. You could open a school for clowns.”
Jay laughed. “An aquarium.”
“A non-profit for museless artists.”
“A home safari.”
“A hot-chocolate café.”
“Oh man, that one is actually a really good idea.” Jay grinned.
Logan looked at them, bemused, but there was light in his expression. “Yeah. All good, valid ideas,” he joked.
Jay’s mom nodded wisely. “We’re geniuses.”
Logan laughed softly, and Jay lit up. He could see Logan relax marginally.
It was precisely what he’d been aiming for.
By the time they were finished with dinner, conversation was flowing smoothly, buoyant. Jay and Logan cleaned the dishes, silent and comfortable next to each other, before retiring back to Jay’s room.
CHAPTER SEVEN
JAY
Jay bounced as he sat on the bed. “That wasn’t so bad, right?”
“Who said it was going to be bad?” Logan asked, settling into the desk chair.
Jay shrugged and then paused. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
Logan looked at him suspiciously. “Okay?”
“Do your parents, like…beat you?”
Logan blinked slowly, lips parting. He just stared at Jay, apparently struck speechless before he said, “What?”
“Sorry! I just meant, you’re kinda weird about your home life. Which is fine. But, like. I dunno. I was just wondering.”
Logan shook his head incredulously, pinching the bridge of his nose. “No, Jay, my parents don’tbeatme. Jesus.”
“Sorry! I just wanted to make sure.”
“I just don’t get along with them, okay? They don’tbeatme. God. What a way to skip to the worst possible conclusion.”
“Sorry.”
Logan sighed, but when he lowered his hand from his face, he was smiling slightly. The expression dimmed a moment later.
Jay frowned. “They’re not nice, though?”
Logan laughed, but the sound was ugly and bitter, and Jay couldn’t take it anymore. He got up for a moment, grabbing Logan’s hand and tugging gently until they were both on the bed.
Logan looked confused but went easily. Jay arranged them close, sitting facing each other, legs all tangled together. He could feel how tense Logan was, but Jay just rubbed gently across his knuckles, feeling the slightly dry skin there.
They sat like that for a long while. It was always strange to Jay when he didn’t feel the urge to talk, but he concentrated on the feel of Logan’s skin, the shape of his long fingers and wide palm until Logan relaxed.
Jay had sunk into a calm sort of trace when Logan finally spoke. “Don’t you feel scared sometimes?”
