Page 62 of Head Over Feels
Which, fair.
Malcolmstuck his head around the corner.Hecame into the room looking concerned.Iwas glad to have him there and didn’t try to hide it.Ipatted the comforter beside me, and he propped his crutches against the side of the bed and sat down.Hetook my free hand and held it in one of his, then put his other arm around my waist, caressing my naked skin above the towel.
Icouldn’t believe how muchIliked having someone next to me, supporting me whenIneeded it.Hehadn’t done anything but hold me, andIwas suddenly more confident, more competent to deal withMarcie’scrap.Noteven twelve hours in andIloved having a boyfriend.
EventuallyItuned back into what she was saying. “I’lltalk to the studio, butIdon’t feel right about continuing the show for another season.”
“Wait, what?You’recanceling the show?Becauseof the bomb?”
“Well, alsoIfeel like it’s run its course, you know?Thestudio people like it because it’s pretty inexpensive and the episode plots are easy to write.Butonce you stopped supplying us with ideas—andI’mnot complaining here,Felix, even thoughIknow you thinkIwas pressuring you when you gave up dating.”Isnorted.She’dtotally pressured me. “Anyway, it hasn’t been fresh for a while now, andIthink it’s time to giveFeliciaa happy ending.”
Thesuggestion to make her next show about the guysFeliciahad been out with and rejected was on the tip of my tongue.Marciewould eat up the story ofTrentandXaviergetting together.Andit would distract her from my own story with the bomb.
ButI’dintruded intoTrentandXavier’slives enough.
“Marcie, that sounds great.Look,Ineed to go.I’vegot some massage sessions this morning.I’llcall you ifIhear anything about the case, okay?”
“Wait!You’dbetter callGrandma.Ikind of called her first.”
“I’msorry, youwhat?”Istiffened, andMalcolmtightened his grip on my waist.
“AfterItalked to the detective,IcalledGrandmato find out what she knew about the bombing.”
Istood up, breaking out ofMalcolm’shold. “Marcie!YoutoldGrandmaabout the bombing?”
Hervoice went whiny. “Wellhow wasIto know you hadn’t called her about it yet?She’spretty pissed, fyi.”
Grandmawasn’t the only one. “Ihave to go,Marcie.”
AfterIhung up,Isat down and leaned intoMalcolm, wrung out. “Thanksfor coming in and sitting with me,”Isaid. “Ithelped.”Isighed. “ButnowIhave to call my grandma and tell her whyIhad a near-death experience and didn’t let her know.”
Hepatted my back. “Howabout while you do that,I’llmake you some breakfast.Thenyou can go wrestle the llama.”
“It’san alpaca.Andyes, thanks, honey pot.”
Malcolm, who’d been about to stand up with his crutches, stilled.Hishead slowly turned toward me.Ismiled and blinked as innocently asIcould.
“No,” he said.
Ipouted. “Butyou didn’t like it whenIcalled youDaddy.Ineed another term of endearment.”
“Youcan use my name.”
“Hmmm.I’lljust keep trying.”
* * *
Workingon an elderly but affectionate alpaca, a nervous sheep and a cranky gelding was rewarding, but it gave me way too much time to obsess over my new boyfriend.Overevenhavinga boyfriend.
Iwas stinky, sweaty, and covered in three kinds of animal hair, but whenIwalked into the kitchen of the guest cottage,Malcolmstill smiled at me likeIwas some kind of prize.Howthe hell hadIgotten this lucky?
Hewas on the phone and said, “Hangon a minute.Felixjust came in.Letme ask him.”Hepulled the phone away from his ear and pressed a button, probably to mute it. “Craigis inviting us to come over for a game night tonight.They’reusually onMondaysbutFosterandCraigwere bored so they’re having one tonight too.It’sokay if you’re not up for it,” he rushed to add.
“Um, what time?”Iasked, stalling.Iwas nervous about meetingMalcolm’sfriends.Andgame nightmeant more than onlyCraigandFosterwould be there.ButMalcolmlooked hopeful, like he wanted to go.Hehadbeen holed up here at the ranch with me for a couple of days now.
“Wecan get there any time after 6:30pm.”
“Soundsfun, let’s do it,”Isaid.Hesmiled when he toldCraigwe’d be there.
