Page 50 of Out of the Storm

Gary’s heart fluttered. How was Jeff so cool?

“Well, that’s neat. You never cease to surprise me, Jeffrey.”

In response, Jeff let out a little snort-laugh, and Gary narrowed his eyes at him.

“What?”

“You know my real name isn’t Jeffrey, right?”

Gary’s smile fell, his eyebrows knitting together. “What? No. It... What?”

“Didn’t you see the phone book?”

“Well, yeah, but you can be listed as whatever you want, can’t you? Or, I mean, is yourfull nameJeff Russo?”

“Nope,” Jeff said, and his sly smile was equal parts endearing and infuriating. “Well, okay, yes and no.”

“Now youhaveto explain.”

“James was my birth name—same as my sorry excuse for a father—but, well, he was fucking terrible, so I eventually changed it to Jeff. Not Jeffrey.”

Gary’s face flushed. No, his wholebodyseemed to flush. It felt like he’d been set on fire from embarrassment.

“Oh my God, I feel like such an asshole!”

Jeff let out a low, rumbly chuckle. “You’re not.”

“I’ve been calling you the wrong name!”

“I like that you call me Jeffrey.”

Still feeling horrible, Gary tried to study Jeff’s face for insincerity. But Jeff seemed to be telling the truth.

“Really?” Gary asked.

“Yeah. It’s special.”

That admission from Jeff finally eased Gary’s embarrassment just enough that his skin started to cool, although he still had trouble really believing that Jeff wasn’t upset. Rolling onto his back, Gary threw an arm over his face so he could hide in the crook of his elbow.

“God, what a bad assumption that was,” he lamented. “Jeffrey. Ugh.”

“I told you, I like it,” Jeff said, his tone kind but serious. “I’ll be pissed if you stop.”

Gary let out a laugh, followed by a sigh. “Okay, but if you ever hate it—”

“I won’t.”

When Gary removed his arm from his face, he was relieved to see that Jeff was still smiling at him, and his stomach fluttered excitedly from the sight. Gosh, how he wished he could just stay here withJeff all day, safe in this comfortable little bubble, letting Jeff’s smile brighten up his sad excuse for a life.

But he knew they both had responsibilities, even if he wasn’t sure just how much he’d be able to function today. He sighed. “What time is it?” he asked, hoping maybe they could at least have a little while longer.

“Thirty minutes or so beforeGraham’s Flour Hour.”

“Boy, I’m not even sure if I can make myself care. I’d rather stay here with you instead,” Gary admitted.

“Go on the radio. I’ll stay here. Nap.”

Gary hummed to himself. While he really wanted to just skip the program and continue to spend time together, Jeff was probably exhausted. Sadness tugged at Gary’s heart. Staying over in his bed—what an incredibly selfless thing that was for Jeff to have done.

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