Page 25 of Leading the Blind
But I took the event, didn’t I?“I been in my own little world.”
“Mmm-hmm. Here is Andy.”
“Thank you, buddy.”
“Of course. I have your front.”
Jason chuckled softly. Raul’s English was getting better, but sayings were hard. “Your back.”
“Sim. Your back.” Raul clapped him on the shoulder before walking off.
“So all the Brazilians know?” Jason asked.
Bax snorted. “Balta knows. So do Joa and Raul.”
“True that. Balta had to know, right?”
“No shit. Balta would get his panties in a wad if he was left out.” Bax sighed, but Jason thought he was grinning.
“I did good.” He let the pleasure in that wash over him.
“You did more than good, Mini. You won.”
“I did. I got my invite to the big show, Bax. I did it.” He was scared to death. But this was the deal, right? He could be scared, but he couldn’t be a coward. He had to win this shit so he could have the time and money to figure out how to be blind. He wanted to make it work, needed to.
Bax deserved someone who could pull his own weight when they retired. He deserved to fucking be that someone. Somehow.
“You okay?” Bax asked. “I got your go bag.”
“I am. I’m good. Proud.” And that was the truth.
Bax’s fingers closed around his wrist, squeezing. “You’re amazing.”
“I’m yours. Pizza.”
“Blow jobs,” Bax whispered.
“God yes. Please.” He couldn’t stop grinning.
“Soon.” Bax led him past a crowd of folks and he nodded and smiled, trusting his glasses to hide all.
Bax got him loaded into the truck, the sudden silence a touch overwhelming. Jason looked around wildly, trying to see anything, but Bax caught his hand, distracting him.
“Hey. Sorry. I just… Sorry.”
“No big, Mini. I’m starting to figure out shit.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Bax sounded pleased with himself. Really pleased. “I can tell, you know? When you’re overwhelmed.”
Jason wasn’t totally sure if that was good or bad. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be.”
“Hell, I know that, doof.” Bax got the truck rolling. “It can’t be easy.”
He didn’t know. It was what it was. He was fucking tickled that Bax put up with him.
“So, what are we getting on the pizza tonight?” Bax asked, sounding like he couldn’t be more tickled.
