Whispers of Home by April Kelley Read Free Book Online Page B

Jaron smile. “We have a lead. It’s not solid at the moment. We’re waiting for forensics to come back.”
    “You’re still waiting?”
    “That shit’s not like on television. It takes months most of the time.”
    “You’ll call when you know something?”
    “You know I will.” Martinez paused for a moment. “How are you, Jaron?”
    “Doing better than I thought we would here.”
    “Why did you think otherwise?”
    Jaron shrugged, even though he knew Martinez couldn’t see him. “I thought I would be facing more demons than I have been.”
    “I’m glad you’re getting back to normal.”
    Jaron laughed. “I haven’t been normal my entire life. I wouldn’t even know what it looks like if it stood in front of me.”
    Detective Martinez laughed. “Normal is over-rated.”
    “So you think she might have had a boyfriend.”
    “Maybe. How’s the boy?”
    “Bobby’s doing good. Haven’t signed him up for school yet.”
    “Truancy, J.”
    “Yeah I know. I’m just freaked, ya know.”
    “Don’t blame you there.”
    “I got a job. Met someone.”
    “Do tell, do tell.”
    “Shut up,” Jaron said but the chuckle took the sting out of his words. “I’m a cleaning lady for a rich farmer.”
    “Cleaning lady, huh. Didn’t know rich farmers existed anymore.” Martinez chuckled. “What about the guy?”
    “He totally fell under my gaydar. I don’t even know if he’s gay. I never saw him coming. And he’s a total player. It freaks me out a little.”
    “Why? Because you like him back.”
    “No.” Yes. Damn it. “Fine. But I can’t have guys in and out of my life. I have Bobby to think about. I can’t date some guy that has commitment issues.”
    “Yeah. But who said anything about dating. Maybe you’re moving faster than you need to be. Slow down. Nothing wrong with crawling.”
     
    Nothing wrong with crawling. The words played over in Jaron’s mind that night as he lay in bed, unable to sleep. Maybe Detective Martinez was right. Maybe he was reading more in to what Travis had said at lunch. Travis probably didn’t mean anything by it. Maybe he was just trying to be a dick. Just trying to make fun of Jaron for being gay. Lord knows, his friends used to in high school . I should be pissed off about that, he thought. But he just didn’t have it in him.
    Jaron’s phone made a chirping sound, indicating he had a text. The light on the phone came on, illuminating the dark room. Jaron looked down at Bobby’s sleeping body. He put the phone on vibrate before checking the text.
    Can’t sleep. Wondering if u r up 2, Travis texted.
    Yep.
    Can I come over?
    2am and you’ll wake Bobby.
    I’ll b quiet.
    What do u want?
    Can we have this conversation face to face?
    Guess so.
    Will u come outside?
    Ur outside my door aren’t u?
    Lol. Yeah.
    Jaron told himself a thousand reasons why going outside to meet up with Travis was a bad idea. Travis would break his heart. One way or another, this was an inevitable fact. Jaron knew it and probably Travis knew it too. So why, oh why was he going outside in the dark with bugs that wanted to suck his blood and a man who may or may not want to suck something else? Why?
    Jaron got out of bed and grabbed for a pair of sleep pants that had purple and green plaid strips on them. He tiptoed through the house like he was a teenager sneaking out of the house. Okay, well, he kind of was sneaking out. But he was an adult, damn it. He could leave if he wanted too. Even if he did still live with his mother and she would flip the fuck out if she knew he was out here on the street talking to some guy. He slipped out the door quietly and made his way to the front of the house. Searching around in the dark, he discovered Travis’ truck across the street. Jaron walked across the street, the pavement cool under his bare feet. The air was just cold enough to raise goose bumps on his naked chest. His sleep pants and boxers were the only thing separating his lower half from