“Oh, okay. You should’ve just said that. You made it sound like you wanted to go on a field trip or something.” Day let God drape his large arm around his neck. While he was still very heavy, God was supporting a lot of his own weight.
“My head feels like it’s going to explode,” God groaned.
“You can take a pain pill after you use the bathroom,” Day said. He helped him into the small bathroom and moved to untie God’s pajama pants until he stopped him.
“I can manage from here.” God looked more amused than anything.
“Oh. Well I can hold it for you if you want.” Day inched closer to God and gazed up at him with his sexiest leer.
“Get out, you nympho.” God braced one hand on the sink while using the other to nudge Day out the door.
Day laughed and stood guard outside the door just in case he heard a thud. After several minutes he asked while trying not to laugh, “You need something to read?”
“Shut up, Leo,” God huffed.
After several more minutes Day heard the toilet flush and the sink running. When God opened the bathroom door he looked exhausted. Day didn’t joke anymore. He simply slid his arm around his friend’s waist and helped him back to bed. It took several minutes but God was finally lying comfortably. He turned off the television and hit the lights on his way out.
After playing some more Grand Theft Auto, Day heard a hard knock at the door.
What the fuck?
Day pulled his 9mm from under the futon cushion he was sitting on and moved quickly to look out the peephole. Intense green eyes were focused on the door. Day was able to see the person’s entire face and realized he was looking at a younger version of his partner. Day tucked the gun in his waistband and pulled his T-shirt over it.
He opened the door and smiled wide at his partner’s baby brother.
“Hey, man. You must be Genesis. Come on in.” Day stepped to the side, and waited for Genesis to enter.
His wide shoulders were set and tense. Day didn’t know if the big kid was nervous or what.
“I wish I could say that Cash has told me a lot about you but he hasn’t. I’m Leo, Cash’s partner.” Day held his hand out for the young man to shake. Day watched, as Genesis looked him up and down with a hard scowl while completely ignoring his outstretched hand. Day slowly pulled his hand back. “I can see the family resemblance,” he said dryly.
“Who are you?” the kid asked again. He even sounded like God. That slow country drawl encased in a deep baritone voice.
“I’m Leonidis Day. Everyone calls me Leo. Has God really never mentioned me.” Day said as a statement rather than a question. He couldn’t believe that God never told his family about him. Day’s whole family knew who his partner was, who he trusted with his life while out on the streets. God had been to so many of his family’s barbeques, birthday parties, and even weddings. Hell, God was a pallbearer with Day at his father’s funeral for Pete’s sake.
Genesis was still standing there with a dumbfounded look, and Day began to wonder if the boy was slow.
“I work with your big brother. I’m a detective too.” Day pointed his finger at his chest.
Day jerked his head back when he saw Genesis grinding his teeth together.
“Hey, look, dude, I know you and your brother have had your differences, I mean what brothers haven’t. My big brother still rides my ass and I’m over thirty years old. Sometimes I have to tell my brother, ‘Look, I’m a man now. I got hair on my chest and my balls. So stop treating me like the snot-nosed kid that used to follow you around.’” Day laughed and slapped Genesis on his back trying desperately to lighten the mood.
“Leo. That’s your name?”
Day nodded, his brow furrowed with confusion.
“I don’t know what Cashel told you, but he’s no goddamn brother of mine.” Genesis fumed. “Does he live here? Your text said he was sick. Is he dying? Because if he’s not, I’m going to fucking kill him. He said he didn’t live here in Atlanta. Is he stalking my mother?”
Day stood there with his mouth hanging open. This kid was outraged, and Day just realized that his feud with God’s went way beyond the normal brotherly squabbles.
“Genesis, please lower your voice. Cash is sleeping and he’s still very sick. Look, I called you because I needed to run some errands and I thought you could come over and keep an eye on him, but obviously that was not a good idea, so you can leave and—”
“Oh, hell no. I’m not going any damn where.” Genesis glared at him.
Day’s hackles rose and he was afraid he was going to have to remove Genesis by force. Before Day could react, Genesis ran past him down the narrow hallway. He burst into the bedroom and stopped short. Day stood in the doorway watching Genesis as he watched God.