13 Chapter 13

“I reek, too,” Glenn said. “It’s in everything and it seeps into everything else.”

“Kinda sad.”

“Kinda stupid.”

When the food was gone and we sat sipping our Cokes, he thanked me for getting him out of the house. “It’s nice here. Fresh air inside and out.”

“I’m a bit of a neat freak.”

“Good for you. I’m obviously not, but why in hell clean a place that smells so badly? Only solution is to burn it down.”

“You could try professional cleaners. They can work wonders.”

He shook his head. “I think it’s in the walls.”

“Want to stay over?” I blurted. The idea had been tumbling around in me, looking for an outlet, and once I’d said it, I felt my face get hot.

He sat back and gave me a long look, obviously assessing the situation. I wanted to tell him what it would mean, how it would fulfill the dream of boy and man, but feared scaring him off.

“I could wash your clothes, too,” I said.