Zayn

We stepped into the store and were in the cereal aisle where Jason was trying to decide which box to get when I saw Mrs. Johnson at the back of the store. It was a little odd thinking of her as Mom, but I was getting it straight in my mind most of the time. I’d figured out a mother was someone who nurtures, and Mrs. Johnson fit the bill. The woman who gave birth to me hadn’t ever been a good mother. I was thinking of her now as birthgiver instead of anything more familiar like mother.

“You boys doing okay?” Mom asked as she stepped behind us.

“I’m good,” Jason said.

“You gotta tell her,” I said so fast Jason whipped his head around, his gaze meeting mine.

“Tell me what?” Mom asked.

Jason rolled his eyes and his lips screwed up. After a heavy sigh he began speaking. “They kicked me out last night.”

She frowned and put her hands on her hips. “Why?”

“Because I’m gay.”

Her lips twisted, and her face scrunched up. “Oh, well, that explains a lot.”

“What do you mean?” Jason asked.

She glanced around and put her hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Why don’t you two come to my office?”

“Sure.” I followed behind her with Jason at my side. The office was at the front of the store, and we had to walk past the cash registers. Everyone knew Jason, and a few of the employees knew me too. I said hello to the assistant manager when I passed as well as a few other people I knew. I’d never really known anyone who worked with my birthgiver in Washington. Being friendly with the people Mom worked with was a little odd. Maybe odd was the wrong word, it was just so foreign having multiple people who cared about me.

Mom shut the door to her office and took a seat behind her desk. She leaned forward, her brows bunched.

“Your mom came in here today. She was worried. She asked if I’d seen you.”

Anger passed over Jason’s features. “Oh, well, she didn’t come by Josh’s place. That’s where I’m staying.”

“Just hear her out if she wants to talk. I know you’re almost eighteen, and if she kicked you out, as far as I’m concerned, she has no more say over when you work. I’ve been trying to respect her wishes that you don’t work more than twenty-five hours, but that’s over. Do you want more hours?”

“Yes, please. That’ll help with expenses.”

“I hate that she’s put you in this situation. We’ll make the best of this.” She glanced to me then back to Jason again. “So you two are being careful?”

Her eyes narrowed, and her cheeks turned pink. Heat washed over me as I got what she was saying. “Um, we aren’t—”

She cocked an eyebrow and cut me off. “You aren’t?”

Jason cleared his throat. “What Zayn meant to say was we haven’t done more than kiss.”

Her brows lifted, and her lips thinned. “Really?”

I rolled my eyes. “Mom, you’re being a mom. No, we haven’t done anything more than kiss. We don’t have privacy, and we’re not going to do this rushed.”

She leaned in, her voice going quiet. “I don’t want you two to mess around without condoms.”

Volcano swallow me, I begged the universe. Jason put his hand on my leg, and I got even hotter.

“Mrs. Johnson, I’ve been researching sex between gay men. I can assure you we will be careful.”

I wanted to kiss Jason for providing such a level-headed answer. Mom seemed satisfied and nodded.

“So why are you two here?” she asked.

“I need to check my schedule, and Josh and I need food.”

She sighed and shook her head. “I hate that so many people think it’s okay to kick out gay kids.” She reached across her desk, and I took her hand. “I’m glad you’re in my life, Zayn, but I wish you had a better relationship with your—”

“Don’t say mother,” I snapped then smiled. “Sorry, but she’s not a mother. Mothers don’t toss kids out. You know she hasn’t called, texted, or written me, right?” I was bitter.

“I know, and I’m sorry she’s abandoned you.”

I shook my head. “Don’t be sorry. You took me in and are treating me like I’m your kid. That’s more important than her crappy attitude.”

We both were a little teary-eyed. Mom wiped her eyes with a tissue before she stood.

“Okay, I need to get back to work, and you two need to go have some fun. I’ll see you at work, Jason.”

Jason reached across the desk and shook her hand. “Thank you for taking in Zayn when you did.”

She nodded, her gaze meeting mine. “I’m glad I found you two huddled in that bathroom that day. And, Jason, if you need a place to stay, I’m sure we could figure something out.”

I got up and hugged Mom. We clung to each other in an almost desperate hold. I felt so many emotions swirling. After a moment I pulled back and chuckled, so did she. Her smile warmed me, making me think everything really would be okay.

“You’re a good person, Zayn.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

She hugged me again, this time not as tight or as desperately. We stepped out of her office, and I felt better. Jason and I shopped for his food. He wasn’t buying much, just enough to get them through a few days. He didn’t like the idea of Josh paying for everything. I sometimes felt guilty for eating all of Mrs. Johnson’s food, but she reminded me often that my birthgiver sent some money each month. I found it strange she wouldn’t talk to me, but she sent money. I think her actions were because she feared getting in trouble for kicking me out.

The ride to Josh’s apartment didn’t take too long but sweat dripped off my forehead to my hand as I chained my bike to the rack outside.

“I don’t think our bikes will get stolen during the day, but Josh said not to leave them chained up at night out here.”

“Makes sense.”

We stepped into his apartment, and I knew we were in dangerous territory. I tried hard not to imagine him holding me, touching me, stripping me naked as we made love, but it was nearly impossible.

“Thanks for helping me get the groceries. Riding my bike with both bags would have been difficult.”

Josh put up the groceries, searching for the best place to store items in this small apartment. He had the refrigerated items put up, and I was still staring at him, thinking thoughts I shouldn’t be thinking.

“I was going to make spaghetti tomorrow night. I think he’ll like that. Then I have eggs for breakfast and some bread for toast. We’re good for a while, and it only cost twenty dollars to get everything.”

Jason turned to face me and froze. His brows bunched as he swallowed. I took a step closer and reached out, running my hand down the front of his shirt. I toyed with the material, smoothing my hand over his chest again. He took another step closer. We both sucked in a breath as I grazed my fingers over his nipple.

Jason’s body shook, and he groaned. “I can’t. I promised Josh I wouldn’t.” He drew in a ragged breath and stepped away. “I know. Soon, I want to do more. God, I really want you. I just….”

I took a huge step back and cleared my throat. We both laughed. Desire still hung heavy between us.

“We could watch TV.” It was a bad suggestion, and besides, I didn’t want to watch anything. I gave my head a short shake. “We probably shouldn’t sit around here. You know, we sit down and watch TV, we’re gonna want to do more than just watch TV.”

Jason nodded then blew out a breath. “You know, I probably shouldn’t have had you come over. Josh will be gone all night, and it’s too much temptation.”

“Hey, we won’t break his trust. You said we wouldn’t, and we won’t.” I had a one-track mind even if my words didn’t reveal that. Jason put away the rest of his food then wadded up the bags, putting them under the sink.

“Have you decided what you want to get your degree in?”

Jason’s question squelched some of my desire. “I’ve got no clue. I’m taking basics, but I know one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t want to be anything like my birthgiver. I was thinking of something like architecture or maybe computer graphics.”

“That’s cool.”

“What were you thinking of getting your degree in?” My desire had died off enough sex wasn’t the only thing on my mind.

“I’m not sure. I think I need to work full-time while you get your degree. Then we’ll switch and let you work while I get mine.”

“That’s not fair to you.”

“Sure it is. You’ll get as many scholarships as you can to pay for school, and I’ll work to pay for groceries and our apartment. Then you’ll work, and I’ll do classes.”

It sounded like a good plan, but I didn’t want Jason to sacrifice his future. “But you have to promise you’ll go later to get your degree.”

“I will. Right now, I don’t have a clue what I want to do. I don’t want to work in the grocery business forever. I like Mrs. Johnson, but I see how hard it is on her.”

“Yeah, she has bad days sometimes. I see it too.”

“I’ll work while you’re in school, and by then, I should have an idea what degree I want to even try for.”

There was a knock on the door, and both our eyes went wide. “Who could that be?”

Jason shrugged. “No clue. Do you think it’s someone who thinks we shouldn’t be here? I don’t want Josh to get in trouble.”

I moved to the window and glanced out around the curtain. There weren’t any cop cars, and I didn’t see anything odd. “No cops.”

“Okay, I’m going to answer.” Jason pulled the door open and gasped.

I froze, then moved into action. I stepped close to Jason before placing my arm around his waist protectively. This was my man, and no one would ever hurt him again.