Nobody's Son by Shae Connor

to catch my eye. But it’s just….”
    He couldn’t put it into words. Hell, he couldn’t get his own thoughts in order, so how could he explain it to someone else?
    “Does your gran know?”
    Shaun’s gaze shot up to meet Darnell’s. “Oh, hell no. I wouldn’t even know where to start with that.”
    Darnell laughed softly. “Might wanna start thinking about it. Your gran may be getting on up in years, but she’s sharp as a tack.”
    “Yeah.” Shaun took a quick sip of beer. “She knows something’s up, that’s for sure. I just… I don’t know how she’ll take it.”
    “Finding out you’re gay?”
    “I didn’t say that.” Darnell gave him a look, and Shaun waved a hand. “I just like the guy, okay? I’m not going any farther than that right now. And that’s part of why I haven’t talked to her yet. I mean, what if it’s just a fluke? What if it’s just a passing crush, and next week I’m lusting after a woman?”
    “And what if it isn’t and you aren’t?”
    “Ugh.” Shaun lifted his beer, taking a longer draught this time. “I don’t wanna deal with it, okay?”
    “Sure, sure.” Darnell nodded quickly. “And you haven’t told her about this ‘hi-I’m-your-father’ guy either?”
    “Shit.” Shaun slumped on his barstool. “That’s just begging to blow up in all our faces, isn’t it?”
    “Life tends to do that.” Darnell drained his beer and pushed to his feet. “Let’s forget all this stuff for now and play some pool.”
    “That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard.” Shaun emptied his glass as he stood and then followed Darnell toward the back of the bar. Pool and trash talk were exactly what he needed to take his mind off everything else.
     
     
    “WHAT ARE you doing here?”
    Phillip Hawking lifted his head from his book and blinked at Shaun from behind the desk where Jimmy usually sat when Shaun showed up. “Um, working?”
    Shaun blew out a breath as he crossed the lobby. “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to go off like that. I just…. Is something wrong? Where’s Jimmy?”
    “Sick.” Phillip slid off the stool. “Cory called and asked if I could come cover until you got in. Food poisoning or something, I don’t know.” He lifted his backpack off the floor and shoved the textbook he’d been reading into it. “I gotta jet. Class at one, and it’ll be hell finding parking on campus in the middle of the day.”
    Shaun waved toward the door. “Go on, get going. I’ll check in with Cory. Thanks for covering.”
    “No prob. Extra hours are always a good thing.” Phillip grinned as he shouldered his backpack and hurried toward the door. Phillip was about Jimmy’s height and slight, with glasses and wispy brown hair, and Shaun didn’t know much about him except that he was a sophomore at the University of Georgia. Shaun hadn’t spent much time with him, since their schedules rarely overlapped.
    I should do that if I’m gonna be managing the place. He stowed his own backpack under the desk and took a seat. Maybe he could drive down to Athens after work one day, and they could have dinner or something.
    First, though, Shaun needed to check in on Jimmy. He started to call over to the bungalow but then thought Jimmy might be asleep, so instead he pulled out his cell phone and sent a text. He figured Cory or Mikey would probably be covering Jimmy’s phone for him.
    Hey, how’s the patient?
    Sure enough, a few minutes later the reply came back: Sleeping at last. This is Cory. He’s been keeping down Gatorade for the past few hours, at least. I think he’s turned the corner.
    Glad to hear it. Food poisoning?
    Not sure. We ate dinner in Commerce last night, and Mikey and I are fine. I’d probably avoid the Big China Buffet for a while, though.
    Shaun winced. I’ll keep that in mind. Let me know if you need anything. Phillip headed out as soon as I got here.
    Will do, thanks.
    Shaun wasn’t going to bring it up with Cory right then, but he wondered why they