Page 50 of Head Over Feels
Malcolmgrunted, whichIunderstood to mean he'd wait to see how many people he’d have to make small talk with and decide then.Ididn't have the heart to tell himSteveandCalwould find a way to stick around untilMalcolmreturned so they could interrogate him.
AfterMalcolmleft,Ichanged into the swim trunksI'dpicked up from my apartment and headed to the ranch house.Colewas in the kitchen mixing margaritas.
"MyPA’son vacation this week, so no one’s here to make me do things.Ifigure it’s a good afternoon for some day drinking," he told me. "I'vealso got someCokesand iced tea if your friends would rather not have alcohol."
"Wow, thanks,Cole.That'sreally nice of you.They’llbe here for a few hours so whichever one of them is driving might have one drink, but after that they’ll switch to non-alcoholic."SteveandCalwere both conscientious about making sure they were sober before they got behind the wheel.
ItoldColeabout running intoTrentand how he’d started his own business and was datingXavier.
"Shit, this is like a movie,"Colesaid.
Ihoped not.Willhad told meNetflixandAmazonwere vying for the rights to make a movie out of all the dramaWill,Cole, andJasonhad been involved in last year.Theguys were stressing out, having to choose between giving up some control over how the story was written or having the networks just film something wildly fictional "loosely based" on what was publicly known.
Withluck, no one in the entertainment industry would become interested in my story.
Anice-cold chill washed over my entire body.Marcie.
Oh, please, let it never occur toMarcieto make a movie out of my life.
Iwas grateful whenColechanged the subject to the guest cottage and howMalcolmandIwere liking it.Hepeppered me with questions about improvements that could be made until his phone sounded with the gate buzzer.CalandStevehad arrived.
Coledirected them to come to the main house, andIwalked outside to meet them on the front porch.
Calhad driven, and he andSteveexitedCal'sancientSUVwith wide eyes and open mouths, looking around at the house and the animals in the paddocks.
"Hey, guys!Gladyou could come."
"Thisis raucously radical!"Steveenthused. "Thanksfor inviting us."
Theguys climbed up on the porch whereIwas waiting for them.Stevemade as if to hug me, butIheld my hand out. "Sorry,I’vegot a pretty nasty bruise.You'llsee it in a minute when we get in the hot tub."
"Areyou okay otherwise though?"Calasked urgently. "Dothe cops have any leads?"
Iwaved them through the front door, saying, "I'lltell you everythingIknow.ButColemade margaritas, andI'mgoing to need one."
Calstopped suddenly. "Cole?Ithought no one else would be here."
StevepattedCalon the shoulder. "Dude, you've been twitchy sinceFelixinvited us over here.He’sjust a regular guy.It’llbe fine."
Calwas saved from answering byColewalking out of the kitchen.
"Heythere.Whichone of you isSteveand which isCal?"
Iperformed the introductions, andColeherded us out to the back deck where he’d set up the pitcher of margaritas with some glasses, as well as the iced tea,Cokes, and even some chips and salsa.
AfterI’dtaken my t-shirt off andCalandStevehad had a chance to exclaim over my bruises, we got in the hot tub.Colehad been right.Theheat of the water and the icy cold and tart margarita were incredible together.
Steve, who’d never met a stranger, said toCole, "Dude, this is optimally outstanding.Youshould join us."
Colebarely hesitated before agreeing.Hedashed off to put his swim trunks on.Assoon as he was out of sight,Stevemade a muffled, squealing noise. "Sugaredshihtzu!ColeWashburnis going to get in the hot tub with us!Inhis house!"
Calused one of his giant hands to splash water inSteve'sface. "Ithought you said he was just a regular guy."
Stevewiped his eyes and stuck his tongue out. “I'mgetting it out of my system before he comes back."
Wasthe hot tub big enough to hold the combined energy ofColeandSteve?Igrabbed my margarita with both hands and began sucking it down in earnest.
Colereturned, wearing tiny black swim shorts that left very little to the imagination.Stevedidn't hold back. "Holyhalf nelson, dude!You'reas ripped as you were when you were making movies!"
