Acceptable Behavior Read Online Free

up and the winners descended from the stage.
    “Dr. Travis!” Levi shouted.
    Travis glanced up and the boy waved.
    He looked from Levi to Sam, confused for a moment, but then he smiled. He weaved his way toward them. “Hey!”
    “Hey, yourself. Congrats. That’s quite an accomplishment.” Sam nodded at the trophy.
    “Eh, it was nothing.” Travis waved the compliment off. “So what are you doing here? And how are you feeling?” he asked Levi.
    “Better.” The boy nodded enthusiastically.
    Sam smiled. “Pink stuff, three times a day, per doctor’s orders.”
    “Good. And have you stopped it now that he’s feeling better?”
    “No,” Sam and Levi said in unison.
    Travis laughed and they joined him.
    Sam answered the earlier question, “We just came to see what was going on, maybe get some food. The kid’s finally got his appetite back.”
    “Great to hear. I, myself, am starved. I always am after a long ride.”
    “You take lots of long rides?” Sam asked.
    “Almost every day.”
    Levi added, “Uncle Sammy has a bike. I told him he should ride the race next time.”
    Travis’ eyebrows rose. “Yes, you should, Uncle Sammy .”
    Laughing again, Sam shook his head. “My bike is a Huffy. I don’t think they’d allow me in the race.”
    Travis glanced around. “Speaking of which, I need to get mine into my SUV. You two want to come with, then we can find something to eat?”
    “Can we see your bike?” Levi asked excitedly.
    “You bet. It’s back behind the grandstand.” He searched Sam’s face. “Okay?”
    Sam shrugged. “Why not?” They followed him around back where contestants had locked their bikes.
    Travis removed a thick chain and padlock that he’d threaded through both tires of his bike.
    “Wow!” Levi ran his hand over one of the handlebars.
    “Don’t touch,” Sam cautioned.
    Travis waved a hand. “It’s okay. He’s not hurting anything. Levi, can you help me get the bike to my car?”
    “Sure!” Levi held one handlebar as Travis guided the bike toward the parking lot.
    Sam had to ask. “You here with your family?”
    “Nope, just me.” Travis came to a stop behind a silver Lexus SUV.
    It was Sam’s turn to be impressed. “Wow,” he muttered under his breath.
    Travis didn’t comment, just loaded his bike into the back along with his helmet, and locked the car again. “What are you hungry for? There’s Mexican food, German food and a Tex-Mex place that makes amazing barbecue sandwiches. Oh, and corndogs. They have the world’s best corndogs.”
    “Corndogs!” Levi repeated, jumping up and down.
    Sam smiled. “Sounds like we’ve decided. I could go for some good barbecue.”
    Travis leaned in. “It’s not just good. It’s amazing .”
    They found the vendor and ordered, then chose a table near some of Levi’s friends from school. He scarfed his food and was soon playing with the other kids near the tables.
    Sam and Travis ate slower, and kept their eyes on Levi as they talked.
    “So,” Travis began. “You never mentioned you were ‘Uncle Sammy’.”
    Sam chuckled. “After my mother died, my sister was the only one who ever got away with calling me Sammy. Levi gets away with it because he’s Levi and, well, who in their right mind would prefer being called ‘Uncle Sam’?”
    Travis laughed. “Good point. No, I meant that I didn’t realize you were his uncle. I assumed you were his father. You never corrected the assumption.”
    “I was kind of panicking,” Sam admitted. “I’d never taken him to the doctor before. I couldn’t answer your questions, and you started looking at me funny because of it.”
    “That wasn’t why I was looking at you funny,” Travis whispered, gazing into Sam’s eyes.
    Flustered, Sam hurried to look back at Levi, who was still playing happily. “I, uh, didn’t know you liked to ride. Of course I didn’t, I barely know you. I meant, I was wondering about the garments you’re wearing under your shorts and shirt.