Chapter 16
The next morning, when Xavier opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Billy’s blond hair on the pillow and the curve of his bare shoulder. There was a crack in the dark curtains, and through it, a long arc of light reached into their motel room. Amazed at the serenity he felt, Xavier stared at Billy’s back, at the golden freckles speckling his shoulder blades, and was filled with hope.
Craving a cigarette, but resisting the urge to light up, Xavier turned to his back, being careful not to wake Billy. He stared up at the shapes the water damage had created on the ceiling and let his thoughts roam. That long line and circle there next to the broken ceiling fan looked like a turtle. It reminded him of a story his father had told him many times when he was a boy. It was the st
