Page 33 of Missed Steps
“Now, now,” Tommy interrupts loudly. His large hand plants itself on my shoulder, and the other lands on Marks. “That is a veryaggressive grip you’ve got on my friend, Mark.” On the surface, Tommy’s voice is friendly. His rigid body and glare shouts that he’s about to plough into Mark.
Mark pulls back. Or, more accurately, Tommy pusheshim away, and Mark glowers.
I see Eddie approaching, and three angry rowing members bringing up the rear.
Tommy has one hand planted on my shoulder, and Mark’s grip slips from hair-tangling to shoulder pressure. He’s tugging me toward him, away from Tommy. I look between the two of them, bewildered. In the years of fighting between me and Mark, I’ve never seen Tommy actually angry.With anyone. He’s always had my back, sure, but he never started anything. Not ever.
“Let go of him,” Tommy says. He drops the friendly act.
Mark’s grip tightens. “Youlet go.”
I have the distinct thought that they’re both being stupid. I nudge their hands. “Stop that,” I say, vexed. I worry that there’s a fight coming, and my self-preservation is kicking in. The swelling on my leg has only just gone down, but if someone takes a swing at Tommy—and I see several people more than ready to do just that—I’m going to have his back. It’ll most definitely end badly for me.
Mark releases my shoulder when I say. Tommy doesn’t.
Mark bristles, glaring at Tommy’s hand. “He said let go.”
I worry now that Markis going to take a swing.
“What’s going on?” Eddie’s voice booms, cutting into the stand-off. I’m aware of Louis sidling up close. He glances apprehensively at the group facing us but remains steadfast at my side. Given that Louis is on the shorter side, and I’m much slighter than I was before, only Tommy matches the size of the opposing group. In fact, he has an edge over them, but he doesn’t have an edge against five guys. I’m not even sure who would win if only Mark and Tommy grappled. I don’t want to find out.
Nobody speaks. My brain doesn’t pick a fight—I guess deep down I know better than to sabotage myself when I really will suffer consequences for it.
Eddie looks at Mark for an answer, who continues to glare at Tommy like he’ll murder him. Tommy glares back while holding me by the shoulder. I’m starting to feel like I’m a kid that’s scruffed by a parent. Eddie’s gaze finally lands on me, an absolute knowingin his eyes. He has no doubt that I began the fight, even though, this once, I don’t think I amresponsible. But I can’t stand being the centre of Eddie’s attention; goosebumps prickle up my arms. I don’t even want to fight; I want to flee as quick as I can.
“I’m going,” I say.
Mark jolts, his gaze jerking to me. “What? No.”
I bat away his reaching hand. I’mgrateful when nobody blocks my leaving, and I only pause to make sure Tommy is following suit and not staying to get beaten up.
It’s drizzling outside and I’m careful walking down the stairs winding to the ground floor. The stairwell is covered from above, but mist blowing in at an angle has left the steps slick. Stairs really are the worst. I hold the handrail, taking my time, and Tommy walks silently beside me, keeping my slow pace.
“You shouldn’t ask him out,” Tommy snaps.
I jump at his raised voice. “What?”
Tommy is glowering at the air in front of him. “Possessive—I can just about forgive. Aggressive? And withyou? Forget it.” He’s practically spitting.
The outburst surprises me. Tommy is the guy I’ve been closest to for years, and I think I’m his closest friend too, but our comradery has been more of the back-me-up kind, with no over-protectiveflavours.
“Is this about my leg?” I realised after lunch the other day that I accidentally implied my injury without outright telling Tommy. I’m now certain, based on his behaviour, that he’s figured out the rest.
Tommy’s jaw tightens. “Even if you weren’t—even if you hadn’t—I would still have!” He sniffles and wipes aggressively at his cheeks.
“I’m alright, Tommy,” I say, heart squeezing in my chest to see him upset. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I don’t appreciate you interrupting Mark telling me I’m attractive.”
“Who cares what he said? He’s a no-good, possessive, aggressive, little shit,” Tommy says.
While I admit Mark had grabbed my hair, it hadn’t been aggressive. Or maybe it had been, and I was just too turned on by the gesture to register it the way Tommy had? I hum.
“Promise me you won’t ask him out.”
“I’m not promising that,” I reply immediately. If I ever work up the courage, I’m doing it.
“It’s not just that,” Tommy adds after a pause of silence. He looks at me, hesitating, before he continues. “You and Eddie—”
“What about me and Eddie?” I interrupt, sharp.
