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5
ARLO
Okay,so apparently Constantine thinks I'm worthy of a limousine.
I can't say I sawthatcoming.
I settle into the creamy leather seats, pressing my knees to my chest as I buckle my seatbelt. I let out a breath, fogging the car window, then rub Mr. Green in it to draw a little heart.
The heart creates a window into the city, and I peer through it to study the blurry lights passing us by as the limousine leaves Manhattan and takes us to Chelsea.
"You did an excellent job with my brother." Constantine's firm voice is like a comforting tonic. "You were still when Dr. Gianluca pressed the stethoscope to your chest to check your heartbeat. You didn't wiggle once."
I draw my gaze away from my foggy heart and turn to Constantine. "Really?"
Constantine smiles. "Yes. He complimented you before we left."
I squeeze my stuffy, close my eyes, and soar. Never, ever, in my life has a man like Constantine complimented me. Usually, guys talk shit about me to my face, and even more behind my back. They call me stupid for still being into childlike things like stuffed animals and aliens, and find every excuse in the book to leave my presence.
But Constantine… isdifferent. He could've handed me off to his brother and found another boy to play with tonight. I saw the Littles in the club, drawing with crayons, zooming racecars around an oversized track. They were cute. One had pink hair and freckles and looked like someone off the cover of a magazine. Another had a great ass that I saw under his onesie, and bulging muscles. Constantine could choose any of those boys for himself.
But Constantine picked me. He helped me off the stupid playroom floor, and attended to my needs. He let me sob into his chest, and didn't laugh when I divulged the ridiculous name for my alien stuffy.
I mean, seriously. Mr. Green is theleastcreative name ever. It's something a child without a second-grade education would come up with.
But that didn't phase Constantine. He accepted me, alien stuffies and all. He took me to his limousine, and promised a warm, cozy bed for me to sleep in, much softer than what I'm used to.
"You deserve a break. I can tell you've struggled for a while by the bags underneath your eyes."
I don't have to sleep in Harlem tonight. Real estate developers haven't gentrified my neighborhood yet, so there are always gunshots and loud voices disturbing my sleep. Tonight I'll stay in a skyscraper in Chelsea.
Freaking Chelsea. I've been to Chelsea once before to see a Christmas parade, but I never dreamt I'd stay there.
But I must remain calm. After all, Constantine and I barely know each other. Sure, I feel like he's my Daddy, but I haven't told him about my condition. That's the point at which every man abandons me, and I can't imagine Constantine will be any different.
Keep your focus. Don't let Constantine take you in too deep.
Stretching in his seat, Constantine reaches out, and drapes his hand over mine. "We'll be there soon. I promise it won't take over twenty minutes."
I hold my stuffy up. "Don't mind me," I joke. "I'll just be drawing aliens and spaceships with my breath in the window."
Constantine cocks an eyebrow. "You're really into extraterrestrial life, aren't you?"
I pop out a breath and etch a gorgeous alien with my fingernail, making it big and menacing. "Aliens have it all figured out." I focus on my drawing. "They don't bully each other. They cooperate and work hard to travel to new worlds. That's why I love them."
Constantine places his hand on my thigh and squeezes it. "Keep drawing, sweet boy. We'll arrive in Chelsea in no time."
* * *
Constantine takesmy hand in his when the limousine stops. "We're here."
I'm so focused on my drawings that I don't pay attention to Constantine at first. My heart swells as I add more objects to my scene, doodling spaceships, stars, and astronauts. A laugh escapes me when I etch a big teddy bear in the sky to add a touch of levity to my otherwise serious masterpiece.
I lean back in my seat, and nod in approval. It's beautiful.
I guess I needed to be next to a beautiful man like Constantine to unleash my art skills.
Constantine clears his throat, and squeezes my palm. "You didn't hear me, boy. Listen."
