The look Augustus gave him was pure love. That settled it. No PI, then. He would do what he’d told Augustus: focus on the future and leave the past behind him. But would he and Augustus have a future together? That still remained to be seen, but for now, he would focus on the practical things.
“I have to sell my car and buy another one to drive back to California."
The word hung heavy in the air between them. California. Quentin swallowed back the tightness in his throat. He had to go. There was no other way. So he would suck it up, and he would go.
Augustus’s mouth had set in a stubborn line. Uh-oh. Quentin knew what that meant, knew what Augustus was going to say even before he opened his mouth.
"I want you to k-k-keep the c-car." Augustus held up his hand as if he expected Quentin to start protesting right away, and if not for the gesture, he probably would have. "You need a g-g-good car to drive that f-f-far, and I w-won't let you dr-dr-drive in some p-piece of j-j-junk and risk you g-getting stranded ag-gain. It is my g-gift. My…"
His voice sounded choked. "My g-good-bye gift."
And then he cried. That big, strong mountain of a man cried, dropping to his knees in front of Quentin and putting his head in his lap. And Quentin held him, tears streaming down his cheeks as he pulled him close and held on tight.
They sat like that for a long time. Quentin never finished his sandwich. He wasn't hungry anymore.
29
Quentin: Just hit the 81. I’m about an hour away from Syracuse. It’s going smoothly so far. Roads are clear.
Augustus: Okay. Just be careful near Cleveland. There’s snow expected there.
Quentin: I know, baby. You told me. I’ll be careful.
Augustus: Be safe
Quentin: Made it to Erie. Snow is coming down hard, so I stopped. Spending the night here. Barely any cell service, so I can’t call you.
Augustus: Glad you stopped. That storm looks bad. Be safe.
Quentin: I will, baby. I promise. Going to bed now.
Augustus: Sleep well. I miss you.
Quentin: God, I miss you, baby.
Augustus: Are you driving again?
Augustus: Quentin, are you safe? Saw the news about whiteout conditions and pileups on the 90. Please tell me you’re okay?
Quentin: I am. Sorry, I couldn’t even use voice to text. Needed my full attention on the road. It was crazy here. I couldn’t see a damn thing with the snow that kept blowing up. Made it past Cleveland now. Much better here.
Augustus: Thank god. I was so worried.
Quentin: I’m sorry. I would’ve texted you if I could, but I was too scared to get distracted for even a second.
Augustus: [picture of bowl of soup and turkey cheese sandwich]
Augustus: Lunch is very lonely without you. Though it’s much faster, since I only have to make a third of what I made when you were here :)
Quentin: [picture of Big Mac meal with milkshake]
Quentin: This doesn’t taste anywhere near as good as your food. I miss your cooking. And you.
Augustus: In that order?
Quentin: Well, you know how I feel about food…
Augustus: I love you
Quentin: I love you too, baby
Quentin: It was so good to hear your voice. Thanks for calling and keeping me company for an hour this morning as I drove through Ohio. God, this state is motherfucking boring. Why do people want to live here?
Augustus: I Googled. It does look boring.
Quentin: You’ve never been?
Augustus: I’ve never been outside of New York. Oh, once when we went to Niagara Falls and spent half an hour on the Canadian side.
Quentin: I have so many beautiful places to show you…
Augustus: One day
Quentin: Yes. One day.
Augustus: Where are you now? Can I call?
Quentin: Please call. I’m two hours out of St. Louis and about to fall asleep.
Augustus: That was my first time ever phone sex.
Quentin: Aw, a phone sex virgin. I’m honored to be your first.
Augustus: I feel like you’re my first in everything. Everything that matters anyway.
Quentin: Thank you. That means a lot. Was it good? It sounded like you had…fun. Judging by your noises…
Augustus: You’re making me blush. Don’t ask me how that is possible, but you are.
Quentin: I can picture you now, baby. Watching me with those big puppy eyes. Begging me to touch you. You make such beautiful sounds when you get needy and desperate.
Augustus: I’m not… Okay, I am needy for you. I miss you. My right hand was a poor substitute, even if it was at your sweet commands.
Quentin: I’ll think of you when I jack off in my motel tonight…
Quentin: There’s a reason why the expression is Bumfuck, Kansas. There’s literally nothing here. Nothing. I’ve been driving for two hours now, and there’s nothing. This has got to be the most boring stretch of road in the entire US.
Augustus: How much longer until Colorado? I looked it up, and that seems like a beautiful bit of scenery.
Quentin: It is. It was the best part of the drive on the way in.
Quentin: How was work today, baby?
Augustus: Some tourists who totaled their car. Brand-new Jeep Cherokee. Rental company won’t be happy about that. But it was a great deal for me, since I got it cheap. Those parts will sell.
Quentin: Good. Don’t work too hard, baby. Take care of yourself.
Augustus: If I keep working, I don’t miss you as much.
Quentin: I know, baby. I know.
Augustus: You should be almost home by now, right?
Quentin: Yup. Four more hours.
Augustus: How are you holding up?
Quentin: I’m exhausted. Everything hurts. But I’ll make it.
Augustus: Text me when you get there.
Quentin: I will. Don’t wait up for me, baby.
Quentin: Never mind. I know you will anyway.
Augustus: Yup.
Quentin: Made it. Exhausted. Going to bed now. Love you.
Augustus: Thank god you made it safely. Sleep well. Love you too.
Quentin: Thank you for staying up for me, baby.
Augustus: Anytime
30
Lucy barked in alarm, bumping his leg with her nose, before he had even heard or seen them. Augustus snapped his fingers and rolled from underneath the Jeep he’d been stripping. Lucy went quiet but kept bouncing at his side. A car stopped in front of the junkyard, a car he recognized all too well. He took a step back, his stomach recoiling.
The Roof brothers. All his life, these two had been his tormentors. They had never ceased to make fun of him, unrelenting in their vicious attacks. Greg, the younger brother, had been in his class, and he had been one of Augustus's most cruel bullies. Warren, the older of the two, had contributed with his friends as well to Augustus’s hellish time in school.
They got out of their car and slammed the doors shut.
He balled his hands in tight fists. Thank god Quentin wasn’t here. He would’ve faced them, would’ve stood up to them, and it might've cost him. Because these two were bad news. Bad, bad news.
He didn't say a word as they walked up to him and stopped a few feet before him, their arms crossed. Augustus held on to Lucy, who was more than ready to chase them away.