Deserted - Auctioned

“Really?” It was insane how quickly his pulse skyrocketed. He’d thought it was going to be virtually impossible to adopt.

“Oh yeah.” Adeline smiled curiously. “This is what you really want, right? You want to be his parent?”

Heat bled across Gray’s cheeks, because the feeling was still weird and crazy. Plus, he was talking to his best friend’s mother about it. “Yes,” he managed to say.

“Then we’ll make that happen,” Adeline replied with a nod. “You focus on getting back on your feet, and then we’ll get you approved as a foster parent. It’ll be the easiest route for you. And don’t worry about any outsiders. I have a great working relationship with the two social workers who handle the cases of any children coming through these doors.” She paused, hesitating. “His biological parents are dead, right?”

“I think so—I’m not a hundred percent, though.” Gray knew that would be the biggest obstacle. “I’m not sure if Jayden knows either. His brother left with him…”

Adeline nodded in understanding. “I’ll figure it out. It won’t take much digging.”

Yeah, the woman was definitely getting flowers today. And by flowers, Gray meant things he could donate to the shelter. It was the kind of present Adeline always preferred.

“Thank you—and…thank you for not telling Mom just how serious I am about Jayden yet.”

She chuckled and patted his arm. “That’s your story to tell, but I’m sure she’ll be happy once she’s gone through the ten stages of worry.” She nodded at the parking lot. “I think someone’s impatient to leave.”

Gray looked toward the car and smirked when he saw Jayden waving for him to come.

“We’ll be back this afternoon,” he said.

“Sounds good. You boys have fun.”The risk of running into someone Gray knew at Target at this hour was close to nil; however, running into a former classmate’s mother was practically a given. So Gray yanked up his hood before he entered the big store with Jayden and Darius in tow.

This type of store beat malls any day of the week. Everything you needed in one place, plus more, and then you were done and could go home.

“Hop in, skipper.” Gray grabbed one of the signature red carts and grinned as Jayden lit up and climbed in. “You need clothes.”

“I really don’t,” he huffed.

Perhaps not if you were used to one or two sets of outfits, but those days were over.

Darius was a trooper. He trailed along and didn’t complain, even though it was evident he’d rather be anywhere but there. He spent some time on his phone too. He talked to his parents while Gray helped Jayden find pants, and he texted with someone while Gray tossed underwear, socks, and T-shirts into the cart. Of course, he aimed right at the boy and earned a laugh every time a pair of underwear landed on his head.

Gray was learning to filter things out. Only the aisle he was in existed, and right now, it was the clearance section. The rest of the store wasn’t there. It helped keep him calm.

“This won’t fit.” Jayden held up a T-shirt with the NASA logo.

“I’m hoping it will fit your new roommate,” Gray explained. “Can you tell me about Justin?”

Jayden shrugged and struggled out his jacket. “He’s quiet and goes to bed early. I don’t know. He doesn’t like the dark, I think. Luis came in to say goodnight, and Justin sat at the desk drawing, but he ran to bed so fast. When I looked down at his bunk, he had the covers up here.” He gestured to his eyes.

Gray hummed and eyed a blue pajama set with little astronauts on it. “Do you think this will fit him?”

“I don’t know? Maybe. He’s small.”

Well, it was seven bucks. If it didn’t fit Justin, it would fit someone else sooner or later, so Gray grabbed two sets in different sizes.

Then he remembered the list Adeline had sent him and checked his phone. Oh, thank fuck. She’d included his sizes. That made shit a lot easier.

“Are we done with clothes now?” Jayden asked hopefully.

Gray chuckled. “We are.” He looked up at the signs along the aisles. “I think a night-light would be good for Justin. I had one when I was little.”

Darius came up behind him and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I’m just gonna step out for a minute and call Charlie’s mother. He’s in the hospital.”

Worry shot through Gray, and he widened his eyes. The last thing Gray needed was to hear about another friend’s death or something. Charlie had to be okay, goddammit. They’d lost too many innocent young men.

“Yeah, go call her. Fuck.”

While Darius walked out, Gray tried to act like he wasn’t on the verge of panic. His hands felt clammy all of a sudden, and breathing was a chore. But he managed to push through and throw things into the cart on autopilot. He had to do something. Everyone who’d come back alive had scattered after Florida, and Gray didn’t like it. Perhaps he could arrange a group chat for everyone so they could stay in touch and support one another.