At that moment, Kenny had been staring down at the floor, with his hands in his pockets and his head tilted to the side. It reminded Evan of the way he'd stood in line at school when he'd been a child. Evan used to walk him to school every morning and he'd kiss him good-bye at the gate. But Evan never left right away. Evan had stood behind a fence where no one could see him, watching his son get in line with the other kids, making sure he was safe. Not even Kenny knew this, and it was something Evan would never tell anyone.
Kenny looked up and sent Evan a smile. "Of course I want to go home with you."
*****
When they were outside on the street, Kenny put Candy and Grayson in a taxi and told them he'd call them in the morning. Then Kenny and Evan started walking downtown, hoping to find another cab. There didn't seem to be that many around, and those that passed were already occupied. So Kenny suggested they take the subway and Evan agreed it was the fastest way to get home. Evan could still feel the effect of the vodka he'd had, but not to the point of slurring his words or staggering while he walked. The worst part was he still wanted more, yet knew he couldn't do that.
They didn't speak much on the subway. They sat next to each other, facing forward with their hands on their laps during the ride downtown. Evan was too exhausted to talk about anything and Kenny seemed deep in thought. Evan had no idea what he was thinking and he didn't want to push his luck anymore that night. He knew he'd disappointed his son, and he'd already accepted the fact that he might not be able to change his mind about moving back to Jeffery's. But more important, Evan knew it might be the best thing for Kenny to move back with Jeffery.
When the subway dropped them off about three blocks from Evan's apartment and they were on the street again, Evan reached for Kenny's hand and said, "I'm really sorry about tonight. I know I can't make it up to you. I know I said I'd never drink again. But everything just started to get too confusing. I wish I had an explanation for you to make you understand. But I don't."
They'd just passed a group of three guys leaning against the side of a building with a long, narrow, dark alley. Evan had no idea that when he'd reached for Kenny's hand one of the guys leaning against the building had seen him do this. Evan was still holding Kenny's hand when the three guys walked up behind them and one of them said, "Isn't this adorable? Two little fags walking hand in hand down the street." He glanced at his two buddies, made a fist, brought it to his lips, and made a blow job gesture.
Kenny stopped and pulled his hand out of Evan's.
Evan felt a lump in his throat and a surge of panic shot through his entire body. He turned and said, "This is my son, not my boyfriend. Don't be an asshole."
The big guy with a deep voice grabbed Evan's arm and laughed. "I'll bet you're a good daddy to your son. I'll bet you take good care of your boy when you get down on your knees and suck his cock. You've got that kind of mouth, with those full lips that were made to suck cock."
"Let go of me," Evan said. "He is my son. We live a few blocks from here." He worked hard to remain calm, trying not to antagonize them.
Kenny made a face and tightened his fists. "Let go of him."
The last thing Evan wanted to see was his son get into a fight. He knew these guys were capable of serious harm. Their type had no regard for human life. All they wanted that night was something to amuse them.
They all laughed at Kenny and one of them pushed him backward. He landed on the sidewalk and the biggest one grabbed the back of Evan's neck and said, "This sure is one pretty daddy. I'll bet he'll know how to take good care of us." He shook Evan and asked, "Don't you? I'll be you could take on me and my buddies."
Kenny was still on the sidewalk. The other two guys wouldn't let him get up. Each time he sat up, they pushed him backward with their feet.
Evan said, "Let him go. I'll do whatever you want. Just don't hurt him."
Kenny stood up and pushed one of the guys into a street lamp. He looked at Evan and said, "No. I'm not going anywhere."
One of the guys put his arm around Kenny and said, "I think this one wants to play. I'll bet he knows how to take good care of a man, just like his daddy." Then the other guy grabbed Kenny by the waist and pretended to fuck him from behind.
Evan felt his chest growing tighter and his face warmer. He'd walked down this street hundreds of times and nothing like this had ever happened to him. When Evan saw one of the guys put his hand on Kenny's ass, something happened to him that was hard to explain. He remembered all the things he'd learned while he'd been at the boxing gym on Delancey Street. A good deal of the time he'd spent working out there he'd watched the amateur fighters train. At the time he'd only watched because he it had aroused him to see cute sweaty guys bounce around in their boxing shorts with no shirts. He had no idea he'd been taking in their moves and learning how to fight at the same time. When the biggest guy tried to put his hand down the back of Kenny's pants, Evan jerked sideways, braced for battle with both fists, and swung his right fist so hard and so fast, the big homophobic idiot never saw it coming.