Page:Jay Little - Maybe—Tomorrow.pdf/86

 and he had an insatiable appetite for everything. If asked, he could have explained why he had selected Gaylord Le Claire for a friend. But he wouldn't have. He would have said that it was because he liked him, and that would have been enough. He would never admit to anyone Gaylord was a sissy and desirable.

He discovered early he had the ability to hold attention and attract girls, and even men, merely by his presence, but the sighs and attentions he attracted he accepted without conceit. In this he differed from his pleasure-mad father who was a pushover for an attractive woman.

After they had driven away, leaving Carol Le Claire on the front porch, Blake was the first to speak.

"Durn, that's good-smelling shaving lotion you've got on." He leaned right, sniffing the air.

"It's not shaving lotion," Gaylord answered meekly. "It's cologne."

"So? Still smells good." Blake was hearty, expansive.

"I'm glad you like it."

Blake's brown eyes, luminous through the dusk, darted over at Gaylord, and under his moving nostrils the corners of his mouth moved upward.

"I like cologne. Use it too. I like that new one called ‘Passion Rose.' Sure a sexy name, isn't it?"

Gaylord did not answer immediately. He tried to push away the grin from his face. "Passion Rose" he thought. That's what I've got on and he doesn't even know it. Just like a man.

"Pretty sexy is right," he grinned.

They moved on and there was music now. They were passing flickering neon and a revolving juke box was blaring out music.

"Thanks for asking me to go with you tonight," Gaylord continued. "I'm glad you asked me."

"I am too," Blake grinned. His big jaws moving. "I'm really glad, Gay." He fumbled in his shirt pocket … "Want some gum?"

"Thanks."

"How's that new Buick? Sure is a beauty. Bet it'll go like hell, won't it?"

"Not any faster than your Ford. We should have used it tonight. I never thought …"