Page 128 of Strange Lad

“Okay.Fine.I saw the tabs. All of them. You already know our songs, babe. It’s fucking meant to be.”

Shaking my head, I lean down and kiss the tip of his nose. “I don’t know the new ones.”

“Hell, we don’t even know the new ones,” Michael grumbles. “Lex is going to murder us. You know that, right? First, the jail thing, and now adding a new member? Better lube your ass, Devon. You’re gonna get fucked.”

“Fuck off with that. I’ll deal with Lex. So, are you in or out, Oli? Michael’s ego needs to know.”

Michael lunges for Devon, grappling him into a headlock and bending his mohawk. “NOT THE HAIR!”

“What was that about my ego?”

Jorge lifts on his tiptoes to draw my attention back to him. “Well?”

“You sure about this?”

“Deadly sure,” he insists. “I want this for you, beautiful. You deserve it.”

I cup his face, search his eyes, and give in. “Alright. I’ll do it.”

“Fuck yes!” He pumps his fist and hugs me viciously.

“Welcome to the madhouse,” Kelly grins at me and starts texting. “Shit. We better get going.”

“Going?” I ask, and Jorge pulls back.

“Eli’s first dance recital is tonight.”

“It is?” I gawk at Eli. “You didn’t tell me.”

He shrugs. “I didn’t think anyone would want to see me.”

Well, that’s a crock of shit. I’m slightly offended, too. He and I text. Pretty regularly, too. And we chat at group, and we chat while he waits for Phoenix to pick him up. But I can understand why he didn’t shout it at the rooftops. This is something that means an awful lot to him. Since starting lessons, he’s talked about it endlessly in group. I just didn’t know he’d have aperformanceso soon.

“What time is it?” I ask.

“Seven.”

“We are all going to head over there early to get seats.”

Glancing up at the wall clock, I see it’s almost six. “I have to drop off some papers for Miguel. Can we give them to your dad?” I ask Jorge.

“Duh. This is important. And I’m very eager to see Eli in tights.”

“Don’t be weird, Jorge,” Phoenix barks.

“I’m always weird. It’s my very essence.”

I tug Jorge to my chest, kiss the top of his head, and say, “Alright, we will meet you guys there.”

Jorge

Mine

Oli is finally getting justice for everything he’s been through? Check.

Phoenix and I are no longer fighting? Check.

Eli is getting to live out his Men In Tights fantasy? Check.

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