andmade him play.Jessesnorted again. Ill admit that the firsttime we played, Eli, I surprised you, and maybe you felt like you hadto go along with it. But all the othertimes...whats your excuse for those? When Eli did not answer,Jesse said, I always have such fun with you, Eli, but if you wantto stop, you should stop. I dont like the implication that Iveforced you into anything. Youve definitely been a willingparticipant, and I dont like you pretending otherwise. You nevereven had to start, you know. Henry didnt want to play, so hedidnt,and were still friends.Yousaid he watched, Eli said, suspicious of Jesse.Andthat was all that happened, Jesse told him. He was startledhere, he turned to Henry. You were startled, werent you?Er,yes, Henry said. It was...unexpected. Martins knee bumpedhis own under the table.Stopif you want to stop, Jesse repeated. I have other friendswholl play, and I have Elizabeth to tell stories to. I dontwant to have a falling out with you because youre uneasy aboutthis one aspect of our friendship.Thewaiter brought their cakes. Henry had coconut, Martin chocolate, andthey took bites from each others plates with their own forks, thedessert course being much more socially acceptable to share, and themeans of sharing certainly nothing to raise eyebrows.Halfwaythrough his torte, Eli looked up at Jesse. What friends?What?Yousaid you have other friends wholl play. Are you talking about ourgroup?Well,ofcourseour group, Jesse said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Others,as well.Whichothers?Idont tell other people about you, Jesse pointed out. Imnot going to tell you about them.Youalready told Henry about me, Eli said.Henrysdifferent. Henrys our family.Isit other boys from school? I guess it has to be. Or maybe yourejust making things up.Jesseturned to Russ. Russ, am I making things up?No,Sir, absolutely not.Haventwe just recently entertained guests in splendidfashion?Russlaughed. Yes, we have, Sir.Ofcourse, you dont have to believe Russ. Jesse picked up the lastof his torte with the back of his fork and licked it clean. Icant force you to believe either one of us.Henrywas shocked that his cousins were having any of this conversation infront of him, and inpublic,but no one seemed to be paying their table any mind. Henry atenibbles of cake, sipped his coffee, and listened.Youregoing to give Henry the wrong idea, Eli said. Hell thinkwere more involved than we are.Jesseturned to Henry. You understand, dont you, Henry?Honestly,Henry wasnt sure that he did, but he nodded. I-I think so.Werejust playing, Jesse explained. I think everyone is curious atour age, dont you? He shrugged, fantastically unconcerned,while Eli blushed and looked fretful.Henrywas dying to know exactly what theyd gotten up to. He knew theydshared slaves, and he knew theyd watched one another have theircocks sucked, but now he suspected theyd done more than that. HadEli and Jesse kissed or touched? Had they fondled their slaves forthe other to see? Had they flaunted the rules with each othersslaves? He wanted to know, but was quite sure Eli wouldnt answer,and that Eli wouldnt want Jesse to answer, either. Henry wouldhave to work up the nerve to ask when Eli wasnt around.Canwe talk about something else? Eli asked. This