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Luc stepped in front of me. He was only a little taller than me, but I could clearly see his deep brown eyes. They were what my momma would have called soulful. Then he touched his nose to mine and…
He entered my body.
“What?” Panic crept up my throat. What was he doing?
“Trust me, Austin. Relax and let me have control for a minute.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay.” And another. “I trust you.” I relaxed. I had to trust him. I was all in now. Though that wasn’t something that came easy.
Then I was shoved to the back of my own head, and Luc was there, closer than any other human had ever been for sure, right inside my own body. I could pick up some of his thoughts and feelings. Nervous but confident.I can do this. I want to show you.
He started humming with my lips and throat. And dancing. And then he started singing, but it sure as hell wasn’t my voice. No, it was his beautiful tenor.
The song was jaunty, sassy even. I picked up some of the words.
Sally was down at the old oak tree
She had a beau down on his knee
Cicadas sang a song of the south
And Sally punched the boy right in the mouth
I felt myself chuckle, but it was completely internal. I would have rolled my eyes, but Luc was in control of them. I sat back, a passenger enjoying the show as much as the small crowd that had gathered. I would have been afraid of calling the attention to myself, but the people were dropping cash in the box. Change, to be sure, quarters, pennies, but dollars too.
Luc bowed. “Thank you. Thank you.” And most of the people moved on. He picked up the box and put the bills in my pocket, leaving the change. Then he moved down the walkway a bit before he put it down again. Then he started up another song and dance. A few more people dropped money.
He repeated the move again, but this time, he changed the routine. He lunged down on one knee and sang another song. It was the song for Rose.
It came from somewhere inside of him, and I felt it reverberate through my lungs and throat, but it was all Luc. Singing the sad, sad song of love unrequited. And a lonely, broken girl who had done the unthinkable.
A cold tear slid down my face, jolting me from my thoughts, making Luc fall back onmyass. He laughed out loud and jumped up. That’s when I noticed the people all around him and the box at his feet that was full of cash.
Let’s go get you some food, Austin. I can feel your hunger. Luc stepped away from me, out of my body. I hadn’t noticed the warmth of him until he was gone, leaving me chilled to the bone under the hot southern sun.
618 Burgundy
I headed up to one of my favorite spots where I could get a good meal that was actually affordable. Clover Grill. It was worth the ten-minute walk back to Bourbon Street. The weird little pink cart sat out in front of the tiny restaurant, as it always did. It was right across the street from Café Lafitte in Exile, one of the gay bars and also one of my favorites. That place wouldlet me come in and hang out, even if I didn’t buy any drinks or tip the bartenders walking around in nothing but a jockstrap and sneakers. Well, I never complained about the view, but they weren’t open. Clover Grill was. And it was a popular spot. The secret had been let out long ago. I had to wait a few minutes for a spot at the bar to free up. At least it wasn’t the weekend.
The food was the best—old-fashioned grease. I flipped through the cash in my pocket and ordered a burger with cheese, grilled onions, and an egg. I got tater tots instead of fries. There was nothing better. And that meal would last on my ribs for a while.
Once it was served, I took a few bites of burger and a tot. Then I realized Luc was standing beside me, practically inside me, but not. It gave me an idea. I covered my mouth with a napkin and whispered, “Luc.”
“Yes?”
“Can you taste this? If you’re, you know, like before?”
“I don’t know. May I try?”
I sat the napkin down and casually looked around, making sure no one was paying attention to me. Then I nodded.
Luc slipped inside. At first, it was like he was sitting on my lap, then in it, then I was in the back again. He picked up the burger.Never had a burger with an egg on it.
I sent reassuring thoughts, not sure what he could or couldn’t hear from me.
He moaned so loud that I popped wood.Fuck!
I haven’t had the taste of food on my tongue in…you know. A hundred years.
