Page 79 of Head Over Feels
Bracingmyself,Istepped over to him. “Yeah, mine.”Itook the phone and showed him the shots of the other angles. “Itwas my cast.Lastfall.Greg’sniece drew it.She’sin art school.”
Felixsmiled. “Howcute.Howold is she?”
Isighed and ran my hand over my face and down my beard. “She’sin college.Ineed a drink for this story.”
Felix’seyebrows flew up, but he followed me asIwalked to the kitchen.Idug out a couple of beers and some salsa, thenIaskedFelixto find the tortilla chips.
Wesat at the kitchen table, andIwas able to delay the conversation a good two or three minutes by stuffing my face with chips.ButFelixwas starting to look more and more concerned, soImade myself talk.
“Itwas a little while after that guy took me andCraighostage.Craigwas still living here.HeinvitedGregandCallie,Greg’sniece, over for dinner with him, me andFoster.”Ifiddled with my beer bottle, unsure how to convey the complicated set of emotionsIhad surrounding the cast.
“Craigtold meCalliehad a project due for art school and she needed to do it on an unusual surface.Heguilted me into letting her use my cast, and he told me the subject would be a surprise.”
Felixblinked. “Thatmust’ve been some guilt trip.”
Iwaved this away. “Iwas feeling weird about things back then.Youknow, with thePTSDstuff.AndCraigwas letting me stay here for free.AlsoI’daccidentally thrown a wrench inCraigandFoster’srelationship for a few days, soIdidn’t fight him too hard.”
Ipicked at the label on my bottle and chuckled. “Craig—that little shit had it all planned out.Afterdinner it was time for my pain pill, and he made sureItook it.ThenCalliesat on the floor to draw on the cast.Craigstarted some long story about work andIpretty much passed out.”Ishook my head. “Theymust’ve helped me to bed at some point, but it wasn’t until my bladder woke me up in the middle of the night thatIsaw whatCalliehad drawn.”
Felixfrowned. “Sothe class project wasn’t real?Itwas a prank?”
Imade a see-saw motion with my hand. “Onceyou get to knowCraig, you’ll find out he’s a good guy wrapped up in this irritating little package.”Igrimaced. “Remindme to tell you about the dayImet him.”
Igot back to my explanation. “Anyway, he does nice things for people, but he’ll make out like it’s no big deal, or he’ll say he’s doing a favor for someone else or whatever.”Ichuckled. “Likethe cast thing.Firsthe tells meI’dbe doing a favor forCallie, whoI’dnever met.Thenhe pisses me off because nowI’vegot a pink unicorn on my leg for the next however-many weeks.But.”Ipointed a finger atFelix. “Ittook me a few days, butIfinally understood what he’d really done.”Itipped my beer into my mouth.
“Okay, what was it?”
“Rememberthe guy who took me andCraighostage?”
Felix’seyebrows flew up. “Uh, yes?”
“Sowhen we were wrestling for the gun, he kicked me right on my cast.”
“Holdit!Backup there, cowboy.”Felixheld his hand up in astopgesture. “Youwrestled him for thegun?Witha cast on your leg?”
“Yes?ButCraighelped.RememberItold you he used his dog leash to take the guy down and tie him up.”
Felixsat there and stared at me, wide-eyed. “Uh, you kind of glossed over most of that story.I’mgoing to need you to start at the beginning.”
Iwaved my hand at him. “HowaboutItell you that part over dinner?RightnowIneed to tell you about the unicorn.”
Felixlooked frustrated, but he nodded. “Okay?”
“Right.SoI’mwrestlingMancusofor control of the gun.”
Felixrubbed his forehead. “Uhhuh.Andhe kicks you in the cast.”Felixwinced. “Ihope it wasn’t right over one of your injuries.”
Iresisted the urge to flinch at the memory of the searing pain. “Hecaught the lower one pretty good.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, but at the time the adrenaline helped me ignore the pain, so it wasn’t that bad.”
“You’relikeDeadpool.Gotit.”
Iglared at him. “CanIfinish the story?”
“Yes, of course.I’msorry.Dogo on, tater tot.”
