Page 24 of Head Over Feels
Felixfrowned. “Areyou sure?”
Irolled my eyes. “Felix, let me do this for you.I’dfeel better if you had some protection just in case, and it’s a lot easier for me to do than for you to start from scratch and try to figure it out.”
Heregarded me suspiciously for a moment, then capitulated. “Okay,I’dappreciate it.Thankyou.”
“Great.”Icreaked my face into whatIhoped was a reassuring smile.Itfelt unnatural, andFelix’sfrown came back, soIdropped it quickly. “Um, how aboutIhave a draft ready for you when you come back onFriday?”
“Oh, wow.Okay.Thanks.That’sreally nice of you.”Hesat up, not letting go ofMariposa. “I’llbring you dinner as a thank you.”
“Youdon’t have to.”
“No,Iwant to.”Helooked so earnest.Fuckme sideways.
“Um, okay, sure.”Hissunbeam smile made me want to kiss him.Andnot like a sex kiss, like a fucking romantic kiss.
Icouldn’t help smiling back at him, but quicklyIdropped my gaze down at the cat. “Idid trim her claws yesterday.Soyou shouldn’t have any...Imean she won’t, uh – “
“Stabme in the family jewels with her toe daggers?”Felixlaughed. “Yeah, that was a little painful, so thanks.”
Withoutwaiting for a response he slid down to the floor and putMariposabetween his legs again.Sheturned limp, already anticipating the stroking session she was about to get.
Fuck, now my dick wanted its own stroking session.Mybrain and body needed to figure out if they were interested inFelixfor sex or for romance.Notthat it mattered.Itwasn’t likeIwas going to pursue him for either.Sunshinyguys likeFelixdidnotend up with fucked up bastards like me.
IndesperationIgrabbed my phone.Socialmedia was a decent distraction.Exceptmy buddyRobert, whoIused to work with at theFBIoffice inSanAntonio, had posted a photo of his new gun.Hewas excited about taking it to the range.
Ilooked away from the picture but it was too late.Iwas backthere.
Theapartment door slams open with a thunderous bang.Iwake up and reach for myGlockunder the pillow, butI’mtoo late.BennyandFrancoare in the doorway to the bedroom with their guns trained on me.
Iclosed the app with a jerk of my thumb and tossed the phone aside.Istood up, grabbed my cane and muttered “Goingto the kitchen.”
Ihid behind the part of the wall that blocked the view from the living room and leaned against the refrigerator, pressing the side of my face against the cool metal.Iput my hand in my pocket before rememberingI’dleft my phone on the couch.Fuck.Iclosed my eyes and started counting my breaths.
“Malcolm?”
Ijerked upright, blinking against the light.Howlong hadIbeen standing there with my eyes shut?Irubbed my cheek where it’d been shoved against the refrigerator door and blinked atFelix.Hewas standing at the entry to the kitchen holdingMariposaand looking worried.
“Areyou okay?”
Well, shit. “I’mfine,”Ibarked at him. “Just, uh.”Iwaved my hand around, trying to come up with something to say. “Nevermind.”Igot my cane under me and shouldered pastFelix.InternallyIcringed.Ineeded him to leave, pronto.
“Oh, okay.Sorryto, um….”
Withoutturning around,Inodded toward the front door. “Letyourself out when you’re done.”Iheaded for the bedroom as fast asIcould.
“Oh!Sure.I’llget out of your hair.Mariposawill be fine untilFriday.”
Shit.I’dhave to cancelFriday.Andany future sessions.I’msorry,Felix, butImade a fool of myself, andIcan’t subject you to looking at my stupid broken body and my stupid broken brain anymore.
ButthenIremembered.Felixneeded the money andGregneeded me to employFelix.
Fuck.
ON THE SCREWFELICIA DISCORD SERVER
TrentTJanuary23, 7:23pm
Bomb’saway!@ProfXandIdidn’t seeFelix’scar in the parking lot so we didn’t bother knocking and dashing – just left it at his apartment door
