Page 17 of Flare

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he whispered.

“That Jack threw an offhand slur and Drew’s called him on it? Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m thinking. Hoping, if I’m honest. It’ll save us the trouble of doing it ourselves cos it was always gonna happen.”

Out in the yard, Drew stabbed his finger in Jack’s chest, and I figured things had gone far enough. I pulled open the door and stepped outside. “Hey, what’s going on?”

Drew fired me a pissy look, stepped back, and jerked his head Jack’s way. “Who the fuck is this arsehole, Rhys? Last time I looked, this was supposed to be a safe place. I can get insulted anywhere. I don’t expect to deal with it here.”

Jack groaned and spread his hands wide. “I’m sorry. I didn’t kn—”

“What did he say?” I ignored Jack.

Drew’s gaze narrowed. “He told me to get my cock-sucking arse out of here.”

Fucking hell. I glared at Jack and he instantly deflated. “Care to explain?”

He frowned in that put-upon way teenagers mastered. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t know he was allowed to be here. I thought he was trespassing.”

“And that makes it okay to be a homophobic prick?”

His eyes grew wide. “No. I mean... I didn’t... I wasn’t... it’s just an expression, right? People say that shit all the time.”

“I don’t, at least not as a slur, which is what you intended, right?” I eyeballed him.

“I don’t either,” Kip chimed in from behind my shoulder. “Well, unless they deserve it and the moniker fits. But then again, Icansay that shit because Iama gay cocksucker. I’m part of the tribe, honey. You don’t get that right.”

Jack squirmed under the scrutiny of three sets of angry eyes. “Okay, I get it. I fucked up. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not me you have to apologise to.”

He groaned and turned to Drew. “I’m sorry, okay?”

“No, but you’re also an idiot, so I guess it’s a start. Do better.” He turned to me. “I gotta go. Thanks for the shirt, Rhys.” He held aloft the brown plastic bag I’d left for him on the step.

“You’re welcome. See you soon.” I watched him leave through the back gate, locking it after himself.

“He has the code?” Jack looked sceptical. “You should’ve told me.”

“I didn’t expect you to insult him. And yes, he has the code. Sometimes he brings a friend, but mostly he comes on his own to chat or hang out. It’s a safe place for him.” I eyed Jack pointedly. “This half of the building was empty for a while before I took on the lease, and I ran into Drew a few days before we moved in. We talked and I told him he could keep coming by. At first, he used the delivery intercom to let me know he was there. Then after a couple of months I gave him the code.”

“But why?” Jack stared at the circle of plastic chairs and scattering of cigarette butts.

“You should understand that better than most, Jack. The world can be pretty fucking cruel when you don’t fit into the usual boxes, right?” Another pointed look, and this time he flushed. “Sometimes you just need a safe place to sit where no one’s gonna fuck with you—until they do.” I left the indictment hanging.

Jack shuffled on his feet and glanced back toward the gate. “Is Drew... was Drew... Shit, I know I’m gonna get this wrong. I mean...” He flushed. “Is he trans? It’s just... ah, forget it.”

I watched him closely. “Does it matter? And is that why you were such a dick?”

“No!” He swallowed hard, then continued more softly. “No. I was already a dick well before that.” He gave a wry smile. “He just told me his pronouns were he and him, and so I wondered... but, I’m screwing up again, aren’t I?”

“A little, but you can figure it out, Jack. You’re a smart kid. And you askDrewabout that. It’s his story. But he told you his pronouns, so if you ever call him a girl again, especially to his face, you and I will be having a long conversation, got it? And if he decides to talk to you—and I wouldn’t be holding my breath about that at this rate—then maybe you can put that arsehole part of you aside for a bit and just listen.”

Jack scuffed his shoe over the pavers and said nothing.

“And you owe Drew more than an apology,” I added. “You took something from him today. A little safety. Something I try to offer here in some small way.”

Jack’s eyes screwed shut and he slumped into one of the plastic chairs. “I don’t even know why I said it.”

“Oh, I think you do,” I said flatly. “You were looking for a reaction. But I really want to believe you’re not that guy.”

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