Page 43 of Composed at Randy's
“You're a kid in need. My Abigail would have my head if I stood by and did nothing.”
I sniff and cry into tissue after tissue while Archie regales me with tales of his efforts to restore an ancient dirigible. It sounds freaking amazing, and I decide then and there that Archie is going to be my best friend forever (other than Marty, obviously) because once it's built, I need to ride that thing like I need air.
Halfway through the conversation, he switches to discussing mundane details of his life, and I realize I'm not entirely certain whether Abigail is his wife, his child, or his dog.
It’s comments like, “Abigail was trapped under the deck for an hour before I could coax her out,” and “She hates it when I wear tan, so I’m not allowed to buy anything that color.” And “Her art isn’t half bad, considering,” that muddy the waters for me.
When I ask him to clarify, he snorts and says, “You’re funny, kid.”
Then the door to the coffee shop slams open, and the bell on the door flies off and bounces off of an unoccupied table.
“Wren!” Kai shouts as he scans the room with a wild look in his eyes.
I wave to him from my table, hold up my banana bread, and point to it. Why? Because I'm an awkward person, that's why.
“Oh god, baby, I was so worried.” Kai races across the café as soon as he sees me and puts me in a stranglehold. I hug him back as strongly as my tiny body can manage.
“Kai, I missed you!” I cry into his suit. I’m probably going to need more tissues soon.
Kai pulls back and begins to check me over from head to toe, “We should get you to a doctor to check you and make sure you’re okay.”
I know how this looks, and I need to stress yet another time that Kai and I arenotlike that. I may have forgotten to mention that Kai can’t have children. He lost a wife due to this issue, and I'm pretty sure he thinks of me as either a little brother or thechild he could never have. This is why he’s so protective of me and overly handsy.
And because of how well he takes care of me and how kind he is, I love him like family too—even if he’s pushy, gruff, and won’t let me watch free porn on the internet. He makes me buy it from reputable sources!
What a monster.
“Okay?” I laugh nervously. “Why would you think I’m not okay? Look, I still have all my arms and everything else!” I do a little twirl to show off my fancy, still-attached appendages.
“You look like you’ve lost at least five pounds, Wren. That’s not my definition of okay.” Kai starts running his hands over my scalp to check for lumps.
“I don’t have a concussion!” I shout as I slap his hands away.
Kai steps back with good grace, and I give him a playful shove while laughing. Kai babying the shit out of me is familiar territory, and it makes me feel like I’ve finally come home even though I’m miles from my condo.
“You seem like you're in good hands here,” Archie says with a soft smile. “I'll leave you two to it.” He gets up and offers his hand to me. I take it and give it an awkward shake.
“I want to hang out with you again,” I blurt.
Archie gives me a little salute and says, “You can find me at Randy’s most days.”
Kai takes his hand and shakes it too, only he does it with style and class. “Thank you. Shelly told me what you did for Wren. I promise you'll be well-rewarded for it.”
“Nah,” Archie says and turns to leave just like that. I watch him through the window as he hops on his motorcycle and drives away.
“Please don’t tell me you rode on that thing.”
“Okay, I won't tell you that.”
Kai shoots me a fake glare and ruffles my hair. “Let’s get you to a doctor and then back home.”
“I don't need a doctor. I already saw one.”
“Well, you're going to get to see another one. Lucky you.”
“Fiiiiine,” I concede grumpily. It won’t be the worst thing to ever happen to me, and I can tell he needs me to let him mother hen me extra hard for his own sanity. “But I need you to do something for me when you get a minute.”
“Anything, Wren. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
