Flix turned around. The shiner Joe had given him had mostly faded to a yellowish green. With his index finger, Devin traced Flix’s eyebrow. Flix’s eyes closed, exposing the delicate purple veins underneath the lids. God, they had to protect these boys.
When Devin moved his hand away, Flix opened his eyes and said, “Want me to lock up behind you and let you in?”
“Thanks, Junior.”
“Be safe.” Flix shot him a lopsided smile and went back to his artwork.
Devin cupped the back of Joe’s neck to get him moving, and they stepped outside. The lock clicked behind them.
If they took the long way around town, few people would see them. The citizens seemed to be getting more comfortable with his existence, but he didn’t want to push it. Besides, from what Navarro and Joe said, folks here weren’t exactly accepting of two guys being more than friends. Running into a jackass gay-hater wasn’t high on Devin’s to-do list. He set off to the north, using the hundreds of stars in the clear night sky to light his way.
They didn’t talk, and that was okay. For the moment, Devin was content to enjoy the cool breeze on his face and the freedom of being truly alone with Joe, away from the thin walls of the house and the prying ears of the kids. Occasionally, Joe’s shoulder bumped Devin’s arm, and that was nice, too.
Bugs chirped. In the distance, a dog howled. Devin preferred being with people, but the sounds of the wild, noises that, growing up, had carried inside through the windows of his big, lonely house, draped like a cozy blanket over his shoulders. He double-checked to make sure they were alone and slipped his palm into Joe’s hand.
As they exited the town and neared the wall, which seemed deserted tonight, Joe’s hand gripped tighter. Devin caught the way Joe’s body tensed and straightened.
Devin cast about for something to say that wasn’t what’s wrong with you? “It’s a big fucking wall.”
“Come on, papi. Let’s play this straight.”
Devin sighed. At least he’d get answers. “Why won’t you cross?” He stepped through the gateway into New America, then turned around and watched Joe examine the entrance before sitting with his back against it.
“I want to.” Joe patted the road next to him.
Devin sat and picked up Joe’s hand. He needed the connection. “What’s stopping you? Your dad?”
“I don’t think so, though I suppose that could be part of it. I have so many questions. What if Navarro’s right and there’s nothing up there for me? For the twins?”
“What would Navarro know? He said himself he’s barely been past here.”
“I thought we’d get answers once we arrived.”
Devin poked at Joe’s knuckles one at a time. “Looks like we’re gonna have to take it on faith a little longer.”
“It’s weird, right?” Joe gestured all around. “They should guard their border. If they cared enough to build this enormous wall, why would they leave an undefended hole?”
“I don’t know. But we can’t stop now.”
“Why not?”
Joe’s big eyes reflected the moonlight, and he was all Devin could see. All he wanted. Almost. “I’m so in love with you. We didn’t come all this way to get scared and give up.”
Joe pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He’d gotten a bath the day before, and his glossy black curls popped in the starlight. “I’m not scared, and I’m not giving up. I’m reassessing.”
“Bullshit.”
Joe glared over his shoulder. “Think what you want. We’ve been gone three weeks. So far, nothing has happened the way I thought it would. I thought when we got here” — he patted the wall — “we’d be on firmer footing. We’d get answers. But instead, there’s nothing. No New American presence, no better civilization, no indication that traveling north inside New America will be any easier than traveling in Texas Territory was.”
“So we made it this far, what’s —”
“The difference is that the twins and I aren’t welcome beyond this wall.”
Devin grunted. Big fucking deal. “And I’m not welcome on this side of the wall.” He tugged the hood of the sweatshirt he’d borrowed from Navarro, the one he wore to hide his hair. “What do you think I’ve been doing since the day we met? Blending in? What a joke.”
He stood and paced. Joe was the toughest person Devin knew. He’d be able to handle whatever the north threw at him. And Devin would protect Marcus and Flix. Hell, the north would probably be better if for no other reason than Peter might quit whining so fucking much. Devin reached the far end of the wall’s opening, touched it, wheeled on his heel, and ran into Joe.
Joe grabbed hold and stopped Devin from tripping. His fingers felt like steel.
Devin clutched Joe’s upper arms a little rougher than he normally would. “I would keep you safe. I would do for you what you’ve always done for me. Why would you even —”
“I don’t doubt you.” Joe shifted so close that he was almost whispering in Devin’s ear. “I don’t doubt you. I don’t doubt myself. And that’s all I’m sure of.”
Devin opened his mouth to tell Joe that was all they really needed when a loud yell echoed through the night.
Devin and Joe broke apart, then froze, listening.
A second cry sounded.
Definitely coming from the New America side of the wall. Devin and Joe scrambled around to the Oklahoma Territory side and peeked around the wall’s edge.
A band of fifteen or twenty people in a loose formation ran toward them. The group’s rifles weren’t aimed, and as they got closer, loud laughter and song carried on the air.
Sons. That explained why they weren’t guarding the wall like usual. Devin recognized Sanders by his long hair. He ran in the middle of the group next to a tall woman and the lady Devin had seen at the greenhouse the few
