Page 65 of Head Over Feels
Ishrugged at him. “Somepeople prefer even pet treatments stay private.”
Heshook his head, grunted again, and turned back toCraigandFosteron his other side.
Gregput both hands to his cheeks and goggled his eyes at me. “Youcan interpret the grunts!”
Irritationspiked through me, andIglared at him. “It’snot that hard if you just pay attention.”
“Holdon.”Craigcalled from across the table. “DidIhear we have a grunt interpreter?”
Gregleaned his head back to look at the ceiling, held his hands out to the side and intoned, “Heis the one who has been foretold.”
Malcolmwadded up his napkin and threw it atGreg, who laughed and batted it away.
Ifrowned atGregandCraig. “Hemakes himself understood if he wants to.”
Malcolmdidn’t appear upset, soIreached deep for my patience and turned back toGreg. “Mariposa’sdoing much better.She’sgot a much larger range of motion and isn’t exhibiting nearly as much stiffness when she gets up from sleeping.”
“That’sgreat.I’mglad to hear it,” he said. “She’ssuch a sweet cat.”
Ihesitated, then steeled my spine.Itwas the polite thing to say. “Thankyou again for referring me toMalcolm,”ItoldGreg. “Thatwas really nice of you.”
“Hah, you say that even after you’ve metMalcolm,”Craigtaunted.
Alreadystretched thin, my temper snapped.Thishad gone on long enough.
Ipanned my gaze over toCraig, and gritted out, “Malcolmis caring, thoughtful and everythingIever wanted in a boyfriend.Ifhe’s grouchy around you, maybe you’re the problem, not him.”
Aftera moment of shocked silence, cheers went up around the table, andSilviaandCarlosrushed out of the kitchen to ask what they’d missed.
Malcolm’sface was ruddy above his beard, but he had a little smile on his lips.Hetook my hand and leaned to speak into my ear. “Ithought you didn’t want to tell anyone?”
Iwhipped my head around to look at him so fastIalmost bashed our faces together. “Me?ItoldSteveandCalfirst thing this morning.AndItold my grandma.Ithoughtyoudidn’t want to say anything.”
Hetilted his head and lowered his voice as the crowd around us noticed we’d been ignoring them. “Ijust assumed….Youdidn’t tell your sister.”
Icould’ve slapped myself. “I’msorry,Malcolm.Marciewould’ve made aHownicecomment and started talking about something else.”Ishook my head emphatically. “Whatyou andIhave is too new, too precious to me.Listeningto her not giving a crap would’ve pissed me off.”
Malcolm’sface softened andIput my free hand on his cheek. “Thepeople that matter to us, they get to know.”Ifinally registered the silence in the room and raised my voice. “Evenyour asshole friends here.”
“Hey, wait a minute!”Artieprotested.
Malcolmgrinned at me and leaned in for a kiss.Thecheers started up again.
ON THE SCREWFELICIA DISCORD SERVER
ShawnNotRonMay13, 11:27am
@everyoneFYIthe cops just came by to ask if some guy namedDonaldThorpehad ever applied to join our server.I’venever heard of him before, but if they think he’d have a reason to be on this server anFITCcharacter must be based on him.Maybehe’s a suspect.
ConradMay13, 11:31am
[fingers crossedGIF]
CHAPTER19
MALCOLM
MAY
