Page 58 of Head Over Feels
Icouldn’t stop the enormous grin that took over my entire face.Malcolmhad probably never dated such a dork before, butIcouldn’t help myself.
Wereached for each other at the same time, meeting in a hot, deep kiss.Ipulled back, about to askMalcolmhow his leg would handle me straddling his lap, when his phone rang.
Malcolmclosed his eyes as if pained. “Letme see who it is.”
Hedragged his phone out of his pocket and groaned. “It’sBrian.I’msorry, butIneed to talk to him.”
“It’sokay.”Isat back against the arm of the couch. “Youwant me to leave?”
Malcolmshook his head and answered the phone. “Hey,Brian.”Hegrabbed my hand and held it in his lap.Ismiled and picked up my own phone.Wasit too soon to textSteveandCalmy big news?
Ididn’t thinkIcould wait, soIopened my text thread with them and started typing with my left thumb.Ugh, this was going to take forever.Iwas a two-thumb typer.I’dfind a gif to send instead.
WhileIsearched,Ilistened absently toMalcolmtelling his boss he could come into the office tomorrow if he was needed.
“Yeah,Felixis gonna hang out at the ranch all day and work on some of the animals here, soIdon't need to escort him anywhere."Ihad other clients onTuesday, though.Hopefullythe cops would catch the bomber before then.Iwas certainMalcolmneeded to get back to work too.
Malcolmsaid, “Areyou sure?” and “Okay, thanks.”Hmmm.Soundedlike he had tomorrow off.Ieyed him speculatively.Hopefullyhe’d be on board with us spending tonight sexing each other up, butIalso wanted to show myboyfriendoff in public tomorrow.Athrill ran through me.Icouldn’t believeIfinally had a boyfriend.Andeven better, it wasMalcolm.
Malcolmsat upright, and his hand tightened on mine.Ilooked over, and he was staring straight ahead.
"I'msorry,Brian,” he said.Histone was almost dejected.Whatthe heck was happening? “I'vebeen meaning to talk to you about the firearms qualifications for a while now.”Hetook a big breath. “Gunsand me, well, after my leg and thatMancusoasshole….I'vebeen working on it with my therapist, but right nowI'mhaving trouble even thinking about holding a gun, much less firing one."
Holycrap.Malcolmsounded like he was worried he was going to get fired.Iturned in my seat, grippingMalcolm’shand while trying to remember what the employee handbook at the call center had said about rights for medical accommodations under theAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct.
Malcolmdidn’t relax exactly, but his head cocked. “Youdo?” and then, “No,Inever noticed.”Hebarked a short laugh. “Yeah, the optics are a little problematic if neither of the two people in charge can use the guns we require our employees to use."
Whew.Itsounded likeMalcolm’sjob wasn’t in danger.AndmaybeBrianhad the same issue after being shot last year?Itmade sense to me.Ihated guns.
Malcolmlistened for a minute. “Doyou want the name of my therapist?”Hemade a face and said, “She’shelped me a lot, but she’s not a magician.Andif you’re not ready it won’t do you any good.Iwish you’d said something, though,Brian.Youshouldn't deal with shit like that on your own.Trustme,Iknow."
Heglanced over at me, andIgave him whatIhoped was an encouraging smile.Hesmiled back, and my heart felt warm and big in my chest.Iwondered how long it would take me to absorb the fact thatIhad a boyfriend.ThatMalcolmwas my boyfriend.
"Okay, well, is it a huge issueIcan't use a gun?Ican't guarantee it's ever going to change."Brianmust have responded in a good way, becauseMalcolmwent on to say, "Yeah, butIpromiseI’dprefer to be armed."
Iwrinkled my nose atMalcolmand shook my head.Hewinked at me.Thenhe said, “Thanks,Brian.And, really, if you ever need to talk about anything,I'mavailable."
IexpectedMalcolmto hang up then, but he chuckled and said, “Um, not a good time,Brian.”IheardBrianlaugh on the other end of the call.
Malcolmsaid goodbye and dropped his phone on the couch next to his leg.Heleaned back against the cushions and stared at the ceiling.
"Thatcan't have been an easy conversation to have,"Isaid.
Heshook his head. "You'reright, butIshould've toldBrianbefore he even hired me.Helisted out all about the periodic firearms qualificationsI’dneed to pass, andIhad plenty of opportunity to let him knowIcouldn't do it."Hegrimaced. "Basically,Ilied to get my job."
Ithought about pointing outSheltonSecuritywould probably have been required to accommodateMalcolm’srestrictions under theADAbutIdecided it would only makeMalcolmfeel defensive.
Iwent with, “Itsounded likeBrianis dealing with something similar.”
Malcolmmade a face. “Yeah,IwishI’dknown he was struggling.Heseemed to be handling things okay mentally after he got shot.”
IpokedMalcolmin the side. “Ona completely unrelated topic, how long did it take you to start therapy afteryouwere shot?”
Malcolmsighed. “Itwas a few weeks afterIgot out of the hospital.And, uh, not til after a guy from my undercover op tracked me down and held me andCraighostage.”
“What?”Atmy screech,Mariposaran out from under the coffee table and intoMalcolm’sbedroom.Igot on my knees on the couch soIcould loom over him.Thatwasn’t threatening enough soIput my hands on my hips and shouted, “Youwere heldhostage?Wereyou hurt?Whathappened?”
Malcolmmade a face and pressed himself back into the cushions.Hah, like that was going to help.I’dyell in his ear all day if he didn’t spill the details.Now.
