But that’s okay because Gordo wasn’t intimidated, even when we both seemed to realize at the same time that I’d grown taller than him over the last few months. He had to look up at me now. “You need to get behind me, Ox. Let me deal with this.”
“With what? You didn’t tell me you knew them. What’s going on?”
He took a step back. His hands were fisted at his sides. His tattoos looked brighter than normal. “Old family drama,” he said through gritted teeth. “Long story.”
“I get this, okay?” I said, motioning between the two of us. “I get this. But you can’t tell me what to do. Not about this. I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“It’s not about you—”
“Sure as hell seems like it.”
He closed his eyes. Took a deep breath. Let it out slowly. “Ox. I need you safe.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I didn’t understand.
“Shit,” Mark muttered. “He’s your tether.” He chuckled darkly. “Oh, the fucking irony.”
Gordo’s eyes flashed open. He tried to step around me, but I wouldn’t let him. “Take a walk, man,” I told him. “Cool off.”
He snarled at me but turned and walked away.
I whirled on Mark. “What the hell was that?”
He was watching Gordo walk away. “Old family drama.”
“What?”
“It doesn’t matter, Ox,” he said. “Ancient history.”
I ASKED Gordo to explain. I asked him how he knew Mark and the others. Why he had lied to me and acted like he didn’t know them at all.
He just scowled until I walked away.
I ASKED Mark how he knew Gordo. Mark looked sad, and I couldn’t handle that so I told him I was sorry and never brought it up again.
IT WAS the last Sunday dinner before school started. Joe and I sat on the porch watching the trees.
“I wish I could go with you,” he muttered.
“Next year, yeah?”
He shrugged. “I guess. It’s not the same. You won’t be around as much.”
I put my arm over his shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m scared.”
“Of?”
“Things are changing,” he whispered.
I was too. More than he could ever know. “They will. They have to. But you and me? I promise that won’t ever change.”
“Okay.”
“Happy birthday, Joe.”
He laid his head on my shoulder and his nose brushed my neck. He breathed me in as we watched the sunset. It was pink and orange and red and I couldn’t think of a single place I’d rather be.