Page 66 of Head Over Feels
TelestrationsAfterDarkwas one of my favorite games, even with the drawing part—thoughI’dnever admit that toanyone—butIwould’ve much rather been back at the guest cottage holdingFelix.Afterthe call with his sister this morningI’dspent the day twisting myself in knots about why he hadn’t mentioned me to her.
Myreluctance to discuss emotional topics combined withFelix’slack of relationship experience could end up causing major problems for us.Iresigned myself to talking toLisaabout it at my next session.
Imade myself get into the swing of the game, focusing on deciphering what the hellCraighad meant with his picture.Hewas almost as bad at drawing asIwas.Butwhat could he be trying to convey with a dick wearing a crown and a... hula hoop on fire?
Igave up and, shrugging, wroteBigDickEnergy.AsIpassed the booklet toFelix,Artie’sphone rang.
“Fuck, it’sDispatch,”Artiesaid.Hestood and answered the call as he strode into the living room.Carlosgrimaced and put his beer down.We’dbeen here a few hours and he’d only just started his second one of the night, as he andArtiehad known they were on call if anything went down.
Wepaused the game, andCarlostook his andArtie’sbeers into the kitchen and poured them down the sink.
Artiecame back in wearing a grim expression. “Sorry, everyone, we’ve got a case.”Heglanced around the table, but his gaze lingered onFelixa bit longer than the others.
Inarrowed my eyes at him. “Anythingyou can share?”
Artieshook his head, glancing at me and then back toFelixagain. “Somebody’sdead, that’s all we know right now.”
Nextto me,Felixtensed. “Whydo you keep looking at me?” he asked.
Artie’sface flushed.Hesure as hell wasn’t getting picked for any undercover assignments ever.
“Wedon’t have any facts yet.”
Felixreached out blindly toward me and grabbed my hand. “Butyou suspect something.Isit someoneIknow?”
Artiehesitated.Carlossaid, “Whateverit is, just tell them, man.It’llbe worse if they’re all sitting here speculating.”
Artiegrimaced. “Sorry,Felix.Youknow how we’ve been tracking down your... former dates to see if they had anything to do with the bomb?”
Felixsqueezed my hand. “Yeah?”
“Onlytwo of them weren’t part of the group that’s been sending you glitter bombs.EzraRatcliffemoved toSanFranciscoat the end of last year, and we’ve verified he hasn’t left.Butwe’d been having trouble locatingDonaldThorpe.Hehasn’t been home or at work in a couple of months.Hisboss figured he’d quit and ghosted them.Hisrent is autodrafted from his bank account, and no one reported him missing.”Hewaved his phone at us. “Weleft a message for his landlord this afternoon, and instead of calling us back she decided to check his apartment.Shefound his body.”
Felixsucked in a breath. “Oh, no.”Iput my free hand on his arm and he leaned into the touch.
Artiegrimaced in sympathy. “Wedon’t know anything for sure.Itmight not be murder.Ifwe have anything we can discussI’llcall you tomorrow.”
OnceCarlosandArtieleft,CraigandFosterstarted putting away the game.GregandSilviacleared the dishes and beer bottles.Isat withFelix, who was silent, staring at our hands where they were joined in his lap.
Finallyhe spoke, still not looking at me. “Thebomb, you know, it didn’t seem real.Evenright after it happened, it was scary but... it was like something from the movies.”Hepaused, breathing deep. “ButnowDonis dead.AndIknowArtiesaid it might not be murder, but....”
“Butthat’s an awfully big coincidence,”Iagreed.
“Whatif he was killed because ofFeliciain theCity?Whatif my thoughtless complaints toMarcieabout our date gotDonkilled?”
“Okay, no.”Icupped his face in my hand. “Firstof all, we don’t know if it was murder or not yet.Secondof all, if itwasmurder, even if his killer is somehow associated with the show or your ex-dates, that’s on the murderer, not you.”
Felixslumped, leaning his head harder into my hand. “You’reright.Iknow.”
“Likewe talked about before, it can be hard not to second-guess every decision you ever made, but you have to focus on the present and what you can do differently from now on.”
Felixleaned in to kiss me. “Iguess you’ve been paying attention in your therapy sessions.”
Ismiled. “I’mpretty much an expert by now.”
Henodded, leaning his head against my shoulder.Gregstopped next to me on the other side. “Youguys okay?Youwant me to drive you back to the ranch?”
Ishook my head and smiled at him in thanks.Hemade a shocked face, soIstopped smiling and flipped him off whereFelixcouldn’t see.Gregwas such a shit sometimes. “I’mokay to drive, but thanks for offering.”
