The Boys of Blueberries

23

Sabina paints Brandon's nails. She sleeps on his bed with him—the first time when Tristan was busy reading, and Sabina wanted to nap, so she crawled in beside the kid and hugged him—and she's never cuddled with a little human being in her life before, but she supposed Brandon's little body could use a little more warmth.

They argue about who's the better Wonder Pet (Sabina likes Linny the guinea pig, and Brandon likes Ming-Ming the duckling), and Brandon drags Sabina along during his playdates, and she and Tristan watch him scrape his knees and giggle while going down the slide on a park bench, eating dirty ice cream (she didn't know dirty ice cream existed). They also go to Esther River together, where Brandon participates in a race while controlling a boat, and Sabina's screaming at his ear to clock the boat right in front of him but he doesn't want to, and she almost snatches the controller from him but Tristan holds her back, laughing and shaking his head. Brandon loses because he's too nice guy to win the competition, but they get burgers and fries and milkshakes afterward to cheer him (Sabina) up and Sabina has more pictures of Brandon on her phone than on herself now—which is saying a lot as a model.

On Tristan's birthday, Sabina and Brandon make a nice little surprise of homemade cake and banners and his favorite food. They wear party hats because Brandon demands they do so.

"Happy birthday," Sabina whispers, leaning up to kiss him.

"Happy indeed," he whispers back, smiling in her mouth.

And Sabina's invited to their sleepovers. They're supposed to wear pajamas in Tristan's room and squish together while a Disney movie's playing, and her boyfriend mimics the lines with impressive voice acting skills, and when Brandon's feeling sleepy, laying his head on Sabina's lap while she's playing with his hair, Tristan sings his lullaby in the gentlest and softest voice she's ever heard him use:

Goodnight, goodnight

It's time now to sleep

The moon's watching over

You and your dreams

Goodnight, goodnight

My sweet little one

Tomorrow your eyes

They will light up the sun

But goodnight, goodnight

Sweet dreams for now

Drift off to sleep

On your pillow of clouds

Goodnight, goodnight

My sweet little friend

Tomorrow's adventures

They will soon begin

Tomorrow's adventures

Will soon begin

Sabina doesn't realize she's crying until Tristan kisses Brandon's forehead, and then kisses her own, brushing his thumb over her cheek, swiping away her tears.

*

Adrian picks up a card. "When did you first know you were attracted to me?" he reads, and then he smirks, tossing the card on the table, spreading his legs and putting an arm over the back of the sofa. "I fucked you the first time I saw you, I think I knew then."