When they pulled up to the house, Leo came down the steps to meet them. He looked the two of them over and grinned slightly, but he said nothing about his observations.

 

God, he knows. Fuck.

 

“Yvette, how would you like to buy a truck?” Leo asked her.

 

“Truck?” Her eyes darted over to the purple metallic hot rod.

 

“Yes, that truck,” Leo said. “You need a car still, don’t you?”

 

“They haven’t given mine back yet, no,” Yvette agreed.

 

“Well, that one is for sale, and it has three years of paid insurance on it. Full coverage, no less,” Leo told her. “It’s only a ’67 Chevy, but it runs pretty good.”

 

“Yeah, right!” Yvette told him with a laugh. “I like it. I mean, I really like it, but I can’t afford that, Leo. I didn’t get much from selling out my half of the garage. The brothers gave me a good amount, too, but when I think about what I have next to what it costs to live, it really isn’t that much. I’m going to ask Danny if I can waitress again.”

 

“I’m sure he’ll arrange that,” Leo told her, “But a ’67 Chevy really isn’t worth all that much. I’d be happy if you took it for, say, $100.”

 

“That’s not enough!”

 

“No. I checked its Blue Book value, and if it was in mint condition, then it would have some collector value — quite a lot, actually. But this truck is not in mint condition. The axles are different, the gas tank’s been replaced; hell, even the headlights aren’t stock. So, $100 would be just fine for the DMV to accept, and transfer of title won’t cost much since it is based on the value of the sale,” Leo explained.

 

Yvette looked from the truck to him. “Why?” she asked with suspicion in her voice.

 

“Well, it’s either sell it to you for a hundred, take it to a chop shop, or set fire to it out in the field. So, I’m giving you first dibs.”

 

Her eyes softened. “You really hate it that much?”

 

“Yes, Yvette, I do, but if you buy it, it’s clean again. It will be Yvette’s truck, and we both love Yvette,” Leo told her. “Why don’t you take it for a drive? Run up to the club with it. We’ll talk when you get back. See if you like her.”

 

“I’ve never driven anything like her before,” Yvette confessed.

 

“Take it a little easy, then. You know how to drive a stick, right?”

 

“Yes, my car is a stick,” Yvette told him.

 

“The keys are in it. See you back here in an hour or so,” Leo said.

 

Yvette looked to Bev, who gave her a nod.

 

A few minutes later, Yvette had the truck backed onto the access road and was easing it up toward the street.

 

By the time she reached the street, she looked like she was more comfortable. The truck wasn’t going to bite her. She signaled and made a left. She gave the truck a little gas and off she went.

 

Back inside, Leo got them both a beer.

 

Bev asked, “So, what was that look and grin about?”

 

Leo thought for a moment before answering, “Oh, that. Well, she’s a lesbian at heart. She’s been very needy these last few weeks, and fuck, who can blame her for that. I’d be clutching at any branch, too. And you’ve been sleeping next to her for all these weeks. Your compassion is well known, and your love for her as well. You were ready to slice motherfuckers up that one night for her. So, how far have you gone with her?”

 

Bev paused, looking out the window. “Scissors.” She teared up. “I’m sorry, Leo. It was just masturbating with her for a long time. And that was okay, because I’ve masturbated for boyfriends before. But … scissors is cheating. It’s fucking sex.” She looked at him. “Am I going to lose you?”

 

“You feel like you’re a lesbian?”

 

“No, not at all. And I’ve told her that several times. She told me that she’s going to go to counseling and seek a real lover — but she still needs me right now. I can’t go any further with her. I can’t. I’m just not wired that way. God, for her sake, after what she’s done for us, I wish I was. I’ve laid awake several nights asking, ‘Why not? Why can’t I love her like that?’ I got no answers. I’m just not.”

 

“Then, no, you’re not going to lose me,” he told her.

 

“Leo?” she asked, her voice ready for a confession. “I do … I do get off. I mean, my body orgasms. Scissors was a shock. I felt repelled and urged on at the same time. But even with all of that conflict going on, I climaxed. More than once.”

 

“You wouldn’t be much of a comfort to her if you didn’t,” Leo pointed out, “and climax isn’t really a measuring stick. Even rape victims have admitted they climaxed, and I’m very certain they weren’t enjoying themselves. You have a responsive body, which I do enjoy exploring. I would be very surprised if you told me you didn’t get off. In fact, I would be sure you were lying.”

 

She went to him, and he embraced her. She pressed the side of her face against his chest. “How did you know she was a lesbian?”

 

“You said this morning that Crash was her first male. Making the distinction that he was male suggested that her first lover was female.”

 

“Ah, right,” she agreed.

 

She sat on his lap on the couch and necked with him until they heard the hot rod truck coming down the road. She put her shirt back on and got her well-fondled ass outside to greet Yvette.

 

Yvette walked up to Leo and said, “Well, I’m going to do it to you. I’m going to buy that truck for $100, and I’m not going to let you go back on the deal when your brain kicks into gear later and realizes you sold a fifty grand hot rod to a blond who isn’t even giving you head for a hundred. So, here’s the hundred, and where’s my pink slip?”

 

“Glove box, already signed,” Leo told her. “Along with all of the insurance and AAA information.”

 

Yvette squealed, “Holy shit, Bev! Have you ridden in this truck yet?”

 

“Actually, no, but now that it’s your truck, I’ll take a ride,” she said.

 

Yvette skipped back to the truck. “You should hear the fucking stereo. Fuck!