Jason nodded. “Thanks again for everything, Brian.”
Brian patted his arm. It felt paternal. Stoic. Disappointing.
* * * *
Jason drifted in and out of sleep on the ride back to the apartment.
Brian kept glancing over to make sure he was okay. He loved Jason’s profile. There was something beautiful about the combination of Caucasian nose and Asian eyes. And the color of his skin. He smiled at the boyish way Jason propped up his arm to rest his head against the window.
He turned onto Alexander Street. As two girls darted across the street, he slammed on the brakes. He put out his arm instinctively to protect Jason. Then his phone rang.
“Shit.” He looked at his watch. It was a half-hour into the family counseling session. He felt sick to his stomach. Not so much that he was missing the a
