Free Fade to Black by M. Stratton

through him.
    “Stop… Dev… lin … you’ve…. got to… stop!”
    “Never. Squirm some more.”
    “You… asked for… it.” With one swift move
she bucked him off of her and onto the floor, wincing to herself at the thud
when he hit. Rolling over, she looked down at him and said, “Sorry.”
    “No problem. My fault. Totally my fault.”
    Lily rested her chin on her arm, still
looking down at him on the floor, and smiled at him.
    “What?”
    “I kind of like you.”
    He smiled back. “That’s great, because I
kind of like you, too.”
    They lay there staring at each other with
goofy smiles on their faces until Leo bellowed for his mother.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Chapter
Eleven

 
    Lily
had one ear listening to Leo playing and the other waiting to hear Devlin’s
car. Looking at her suitcase, she had a thousand second thoughts about going
away with him. She knew it was only overnight and not too far from where her
son was spending the night with his best friend. The boys would have fun staying
up all night doing all the things boys do. Lily had no idea why she felt she
had to stay home alone while her son was out having fun. Somehow it didn’t feel
right that she should also be having fun. Adult fun.
    “Mom, have you seen my Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtle Shellraiser?”
    “No, Leo, I have not. I am not the keeper
of your toys.” Her mind was going in twenty different directions as she was
trying to remember everything she needed to pack for herself and make sure Leo was packed, too.
    “Can you help me?” His voice started to
border on whining.
    “Sure, where did you see
it last?” Sighing, she put down the shirts she was
rifling through to pack.
    “In the house.”
    “Well, that narrows it down. Tell me again,
whose toys are these?”
    “Mom!”
    “Your toys, your responsibility. And why do you need your Shellraiser on a camping trip?”
    Lily turned around when Leo ran into the
room. She already knew the look he’d have on his face. The one where he’d look
all cute and forlorn and she wouldn’t be able to resist him. He’d perfected the
look over the years.
    “ Pleaseeeeee …”
    “Fine, hurry up. Devlin’s going to be here soon.”
    “Hey, Mom.” Leo reached out and grabbed her hand. “You know I love you, right?”
    “Yes, bub, I know you do.” She was
wondering where Leo was headed with this conversation.
    “And, well, Dev seems pretty cool.” Leo was
looking down at the toe of his shoe.
    “He is.” She was trying to prod him along
so he would say whatever was on his mind.
    “So, I was thinking…”
    “Uh oh.”
    “Mom.” He rolled his eyes. “So, I was thinking it’d be pretty cool if you two wanted
to hang out some more.” He twisted his fingers as he continued, “I don’t want
you to think I don’t like having him around. ‘Cuz he can be fun.”
    Lily’s heart clutched in
her chest. There were times she hated Deke for never
being there for Leo, and this was one of those times.
While she was happy Leo liked Devlin, she wished he wasn’t lacking in the father
figure department.
    Crouching down, she looked her son in the
eye and said, “You know you can talk to me about anything.” She waited for him
to nod. “If I have new friends and you don’t like them, it’s okay to tell me.
It’s you and me, kid. We’re a team. We both like them or they’re out.”
    Leo smiled. “I know, Mom. And I do like
Devlin, and not just because he’s already seen the new Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtle movie.”
    “I know, Leo, I know.” She wrapped him in
her arms. “Come on, let’s find your Shellraiser.”

 
    ~^~

 
    Lily sat next to Devlin as they drove away
from Leo. She didn’t want to turn around to wave at him, and was doing
everything she could to stare straight ahead. She already missed him and was
nervous about being alone with Devlin.
    “Turn around already.”
    “What?”
    “You know you want