Tomorrow
Part II
The only sound filling the dim room was of soft breaths and bodies rustling. Benicio felt a head against his chest, and hot air being blown onto his skin, two arms circling his middle.
He never wanted these moments to end. There's nothing simpler and more fulfilling than just holding your lover in your arms. Devon was one to curl up easily, keen to fall asleep in his lap for a catnap. Benicio liked that about him, his nearly feline nature, always brushing up against him and purring.
Benicio reached down and swept back a whisp of Devon's copper colored hair out of his face, remarking on how boyish he looked as he slept. Strange, since Devon was almost two years older than he, but since he was a small man the dynamics of their relationship were reversed.
When he tried to move the sleeping man a bit, just so that he could move his own numb arm, Devon began to stir.
"What time is it?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes with his fists.
"Almost five."
"You want some dinner?" Devon rolled off him and grabbed his glasses from the bedside table, trying to straighten them on his face.
"Sure." Benicio said, standing to his feet and extending a hand to help Devon up. They both staggered to the kitchen, where Devon lit up the stove and cracked a few eggs into a pan, intent on making some omelettes.
"Are you free tonight? You could just stay over. My uncle is going to be gone until Friday morning." Devon said, flipping the greasy mass of eggs and vegetables over in the pan.
"Can't tonight. I've got to do a run for Felipe."
Devon stiffened and shook his head, "What's this? An entire seven days? A full week he uses you?"
"C'mon. I'm just doing it for the money. I'm doing it for us, remember?"
It was true. He'd hoped that eventually there would be enough money so they could move in to their own place, and start a new life unencumbered by their immediate family. Devon had wanted this too, but being an unemployed college drop out didn't put him in any position to complain.
"I just wish you had more time to yourself." Devon said, bringing out their food and settling it on plates, "I don't get to see you too much, you're up all night dealing with freaks. I worry, really I do."
"I know." Benicio said, watching Devon's every move as he sat down across from him. Devon was a thin, nervous man, the kind of person you'd expect to see fixing computers or doing corporate accounting. The two looked strange together, like total opposites. Benicio had grown to look much like his father, tall and muscular, with swarthy good looks. He and Devon barely looked like friends, let alone boyfriends.
"Promise me you'll take less assignments, starting this week." Devon said between bites.
"I promise, babe, I promise."
"You know how I feel about this shit." Devon grunted, "I don't want another early morning phone call from the cops."
A shot of guilt ran through Benicio. He reached over and grabbed Devon's hand, "I won't do that to you. I'll always be here, Dev, always."
He squeezed his hand and the two sat there for a moment.
Devon smiled sadly, "I hope so."
XXX
The Splish Splash Car Wash was a small affair, painted bright teal and orange, with a row of vacuums hooked up to the side of the building. Day in and day out cars rolled through the center hall of the building, large scrubs and swirling rags banging over their car. The service was good, and when they pulled out they could expect a few Mexican and Honduran kids to run up and wipe their car down, smiling expectantly and holding their hands out for a tip.
Benicio was here often, more often than he wanted to be, but this was Felipe's place. It was a good front, people came and went all the time, there were too many cars to count so who could assume which was simply a customer and which was a courier?
Every time he came he let the workers shine his car for him, paying them more money than the job warranted, telling them to go get something nice or give it to their parents. His car was nice but not too guady, not too noticeable by any police force. It was a sleek black Dodge Charger, once a junker. He'd bought it at sixteen with money he'd saved from his monthly Social Security check. If there was only one upside of being an orphan, it was that the government was forced to pay you for it. Slowly he'd replaced almost every part of it; a new enginge, radiator, even brand new leather seats. It smelled new and almost unused despite the fact he used it every day.
Felipe seemed to be in a good mood today, laughing with his workers and making small talk with the customers. When he saw Benicio he made a beeline towards him, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Ben, my boy, how are you?"
Benicio nodded his greeting as Felipe came towards him, the older man grabbing Benicio in a bear hug and squeezing hard.
"Okay, I guess." Benicio said, pulling back.
"Well, have I got a job for you." Felipe said, his eyes going wide, "Come inside."
He followed Felipe through the small halls of the car wash, back into one of two offices in the building. They went into the smaller one, the one that was oddly absent of any desk or paperwork, or even framed papers on the wall.
Felipe crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, "So, this one's a little different. Are you ready for something new?"
"Sure, anything."
"It's a girl." Felipe said, "Not my problem originally. I'm doing a favor for a friend, trying to get her out of the city."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Not entirely sure." he said, looking out the window to see if anyone was watching them. The workers and customers were all oblivious, the day's activities moving on without the two men in this small room. "She used to be a call girl, this kid. Something happened, she's in a bit of trouble with - heh, someone, God knows who. He needs her out of the city as soon as possible. I knew you were the man for this job."
"Alright, where am I taking her though?"
"I've arranged for you to meet with another driver in New Orleans."
"New Orleans?" Benicio interrupted, "But that's a five hour drive from here."
"Yeah, I know, I know, but I'm told that's where the other driver operates from. My friend wants this specific guy to handle the situation. He's going to take her to her final destination, wherever that is. I didn't ask, because quite frankly I don't want to know. We're only getting involved in all of this because I owe a friend a favor, but it will be over soon. It's a safe job as far as I know, so long as we work quickly."
"Alright." Benicio said, stroking the stubble on his chin, thinking, "Two questions. What's my cut and when do we leave?"
"I can't pay you much. I'm looking at five thousand for this run, round trip obviously. You would leave either tonight or early tomorrow morning."
"One AM. That's when I'm going. Where will you be keeping the girl?"
"She'll be here, behind the building. One of their drivers is bringing her, then you'll get her. You're sure you want to do this?"
"Oh definitely." Benicio said, "See you later."
XXX
His mother was still sleeping soundly when he left. Benicio pulled out a wad of fifties and put them on the dining table under a flower vase. He did this monthly, yet she never asked him where the cash came from. Giving her compensation was the least he could do, especially for living in her household.
"Bye Mom, be back soon." he said under his breath as he wrote it on a piece of paper and placed it next to the money. He scribbled "Love, Ben." under it and sighed. He wasn't sure when he would be home, and he knew that as long as he was gone she wouldn't relax.
One day he would make it up to her.
A/N: Chapter three up on Saturday.
