Part Thirty-Two: Sleepover Invitations

Fiona and Jimmy find us at the group home. I hug her the moment I see her. She kisses me. Lip joins the hug. I nod at Jimmy, before I notice that Frank is even with them.

"How are you guys?" Fiona asks. "Do you need anything?"

"No, we're good. Did you find Debbie, Carl, or Liam?" Lip asks.

"No, but Mickey Milkovich did, surprisingly."

Lip and I look at each other.

"Well he knows where Debbie is. Veronica found Carl. He's staying with an uptight gay couple."

"Why is Frank here?" I ask.

"He's going to get you back for us. We're keeping him clean. What are you going two doing?"

"I have to work," I tell Fiona.

"Want a ride?" Jimmy asks.

"We have to take the bus." Fiona hugs us again. I don't want to let her go.

"Where's my hug?" Frank asks.

Lip and I flip him off as we walk to the bus.

Mickey is waiting for me when I walk in the store. He kisses me before he gives me information about Debbie. I can get used to this. He's smiling like I've never seen before.

"Debbie is staying with this black woman. I swear there must be thirty fucking kids in there. It's like a fucking sweatshop. I'm not sure she's feeding them."

My heart drops.

"Why didn't you fucking give her some food?" I ask shoving Mickey slightly. Debbie. I'm sorry. We'll find you. I begin to pace. Mickey holds out a hand to stop me. I slap it away. "Don't touch me. She's starving. I have to do something." I start to leave, Mickey stops me. I pull my arm away from him and he blocks the door.

"I have my brothers on it, ok. Calm down," says Mickey. He touches my arm again. "You didn't think I'd let Debbie starve? Come on."

"Sorry, I'm just stressed out," I tell Mickey.

"I can tell. You need to unwind."

"Okay, as romantic comedy-esque as this is, can you do some actual work? Stock the shelves," says Linda. I roll my eyes. Her spying on us is getting really fucking old. I get to work. I begin stocking shelves. Mickey helps too. I toss him a can of peas that he puts on the shelf.

"You fucking anyone in there?"

"God no."

"Good. If you're propositioned it's probably a set up. They want to find out you're gay and then pound the shit out of you, and not in a good way." I smile at him. "My dad took my brothers on a fishing trip. If you want to ditch that dump and crash at my place you can."

"Was I just invited to a sleep over?"

"Fuck you is what you're invited to."

"Sounds like a date," I say.

"You in or not, man?"

"I'm in."

Linda comes in after noon and tells she'll sign for my hours and cover the store. She lets us go early. Mickey and I grab some lunch from Wendy's and eat it on a bench together. Occasionally he'll touch my hand, but he won't hold it in public. When someone stares too long Mickey flips them off.

"You didn't have to buy," I tell him.

"Yes I fucking did, drop it," says Mickey.

"We could have gotten hot dogs at the park, it would have been cheaper," I tell him while digging into my Frosty.

"I said to fucking drop it. I paid, accept it and move on."

"Well, I mean, I know my family is poor but I don't want your charity."

"It's not fucking charity. Jesus fucking Christ, Gallagher! I invited you to lunch so I'm going to fucking pay."

"Actually, it was my idea you just suggested Wendy's."

I can tell Mickey is starting to get really mad. He doesn't verbally express his anger. He just munches away on his double Hot 'N' Juicy. I have a little money. I have enough to cover my meal.

"Put your fucking money away," Mickey growls.

"But," I start.

"I'm this close to kicking your ass," says Mickey.

I offer Mickey a spoonful of my Frosty. He won't open his mouth to me right away. When a lady gives him a dirty look he gives her the finger then opens his mouth to receive the chocolaty deliciousness.

"Hey, guys," says Tony. He appears out of nowhere. He sits down between me and Mickey and puts his arm across the back of the bench on my side. "I heard you're in a group home. Are you okay? Do you need anything? Want me to tell Fiona where you are?"

"She knows. Thanks."

Tony lingers. He steals a few of my fries while talking about something unbelievably boring. I don't even bother to check him out today. When he gets up he slaps my knee then rubs my head.

"You just let me know if I can get anything for you. Hi, Mickey," says Tony. He leaves. I do sneak a peek at his ass.

"He is the most boring cop in Chicago," Mickey says.

"Yeah, but he's sweet and he has a great ass," I say.

"He has a fat ass," says Mickey without missing a beat. He finishes off my Frosty. I stare at him. He doesn't look at me. I scoot closer to him. He doesn't get onto me for it. "Why does that guy keep talking to you?"

"Jealous?"

Mickey finally looks at me. His expression wipes the teasing smile off my face. I recoil. I shouldn't have said that to him. Mickey shakes his head and returns to eating my Frosty. I take his hand. He pulls back.

"That day you busted my drug deal Paul Blart Mall Cop said you two had ice cream together," says Mickey. "What was that about? Did you two fuck in his squad car? Is that why you can't stop staring at his fucking ass?" I don't like Mickey's tone.

"Jesus, Mickey. No. We didn't fuck. It wasn't even a date. I was looking for you and ran into him in the park. He offered to buy me ice cream. There is no need to be jealous over something that didn't even happen."

"Why do you stare at his ass then?" Mickey tosses our trash into the bin. He stands up and crosses his arms. He looks mad, but he won't make eye contact with me.

"I'm gay. I like men's asses."

It's the simplest answer I can think of.

"You still coming over tonight?" Mickey asks me.

"Depends are you still mad at me?"

"I'm not happy. But I still want you to come over," Mickey says, "I'll think of a way to sneak you out."

"Alright, I'll be there. But you better not be mad when I get there. This is absolutely fucking stupid. You're pissed off over nothing."

"I'm not allowed to be pissed that you're checking out another man's ass?"

I try to kiss Mickey to reassure him but he pushes me away and puts distance between us. I should have known better than to try to kiss him in public. He doesn't like it.

"Fags," hollers some guy as he passes. Mickey picks up a glass bottle lying next to the trash can and throws it at the guy. The bottle hits the guy in the back.

"Mickey, don't," I say.

"I'm going to kick your fucking ass," says the man.

"Yeah, let's go," says Mickey strutting over to him. I grab his arm to stop him.

"Mickey, come on, don't do this."

"I'll see you tonight. This guy is getting a beating," says Mickey. He touches my stomach and pushes me away. When I don't leave he pushes me in the direction of the Kash 'N' Grab. "Go."

"Mickey, please," I tell him.

I don't stay to watch him fight with the man. I leave like he told me. I walk back to Kash 'N' Grab to catch my bus. At least I'll be able to see him tonight. We're going to have a whole night together, just us and it his idea. That makes me happier than anything.