In the Heat of the Light

Stephen Kearse

In the Heat of the Light is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States by Kindred Books, an imprint of Brain Mill Press.

Print ISBN 978-1-948559-29-4

EPUB ISBN 978-1-948559-32-4

MOBI ISBN 978-1-948559-30-0

PDF ISBN 978-1-948559-31-7

Break Up

Words and Music by Sean Garrett, Shondrae Crawford and Radric Davis

All Rights for TEAM S DOT PUBLISHING Administered by SONGS OF UNIVERSAL, INC.

Used by Permission

Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC

BREAK UP

Words and Music by RADRIC DAVIS, SEAN GARRETT and SHONDRAE CRAWFORD

All Rights on behalf of Itself and All rights on behalf of itself and RADRIC DAVIS PUBLISHING, LLC Administered by WC MUSIC CORP.

Used By Permission of ALFRED MUSIC

Cover design by Felicia Penza.

www.brainmillpress.com

Kai watched as Theo began his ritual dance. First, he stepped out of his Honda Civic, sighing deeply as the humid Atlanta air swarmed around him. Next, he tipped his cap and mopped his brow—as usual, there was no sweat, but tradition is tradition. Finally, the waltz: sluggishly, he ambled up Kai’s winding driveway, each step a marathon, each breath a pull from a toothpick-sized cigarette.

“You look like an asshole,” Kai said when he reached the doorway.

Kai used to believe that all black people had a high tolerance for heat and humidity, or at least a willingness to adapt to it, but Theo had proved her wrong. His suffering was excruciating and singular. He’d lived in Atlanta for five years, and he’d resisted its weather each day. Today, his dumb ass stood before her in a maroon tank top, a burgundy Anaheim Ducks snapback, a gray hoodie, black skinny jeans, and black Vans. California boys were real knuckleheads.

Theo stepped inside, removing his cap and fanning himself. Kai kissed him and herded him into the kitchen. They eased into place at the dining table, sitting apart. The kitchen was the coolest room in the house. Kai’s parents rarely cooked, so they filled the counters with potted plants. Theo liked to call it the Green Room, much to the annoyance of Kai’s father, Mr. Forrester. He’d served time for selling marijuana, so he had no tolerance for references to weed. Kai had once looked up his sentence online and saw that he’d only served 30 days, but she never called him out on it or told Theo. She liked secrets.