Page 51 of Ice
“I do a lot of things I don’t have to do. I like to think it’s my penance for things I’ve done in my past.”
He stared at me for a moment.
“You’ve been crying.”
“I got fired. What do you think? My career is over, because Reacher reported me. He told them everything. The drinking and driving. ‘Abusing my position’. Ice’s relapse. My god, no wonder they fired me. I’m a fucking disgrace.”
Has-Been leaned back against the padded booth seat.
“I didn’t know he’d done that. I disagree with that course of action. I think he was angry and scared, and he reacted without considering the consequences.”
“The consequences don’t really affect him, so why should he? You know, I don’t know how a club voted in such an arrogant asshole to be president, but I don’t like him.”
Has-Been laughed. “You’ve only seen one side of him. Trust me, he’s a great man. And uh… yeah, presidents don’t get voted in. They’re uh… either a legacy, or they take over from a former president. Don’t ask. Club shit. Anyway, the main thing is, Idon’t think keeping you away is the right thing. I’ll help you and Ice communicate, if that’s what you both want.”
“Why?”
He stared at his black coffee for a moment.
“Because I’ve been where he is, and I wish I’d had someone like you to help me through it.”
I reached out and placed my hand over his.
“I’m sorry you went through that, Has-Been, and I’m doubly sorry, if you didn’t have proper support.”
He shrugged, a slightly haunted look crossing his face for a split second.
“It was a long time ago, and I know my limitations now. Booze, I’m okay with. Nothing stronger though. I don’t need it anyway. It was an escape from a life I hated, and I don’t hate the life I have now. I’ve never been happier… well, apart from the porn thing. Ice might hate me, but he did help remove the videos.”
“You weren’t joking about that?”
He shook his head, looking frustrated.
“Not the kind of thing I’d joke about, believe it or not. I guess someone saw pound signs when they realised they could market me as ‘child star gone bad’ or some shit. Ice was tracking the videos, to keep them from reappearing, but I guess that’s not a priority right now. Not that it ever was for him. We’ve always had this uh… hate hate relationship, I guess you’d call it. No idea how it started.”
“He needs friends right now.” I could see my words hit him.
“I’ve been doing the best I can, but he’s not an easy guy to help. He pushes people away much more easily than he asks for help. Honestly, one of us usually starts yelling, and then someone stops us before it comes to blows. I think that’s why it was easier when he was in the coma. I could help him without him knowing I was there. Weird, right?”
“You’re a nurturer. You have a really kind nature, and for someone who resents people helping him… I think I’m seeing why you guys don’t get on, but it’s a real shame.”
He waved a hand. “It’s irrelevant, especially right now. I’m serious about helping you guys see each other, or whatever. He deserves to be happy, even if he’s a prick half the time.”
We finished our coffees, and he offered me a ride home, and that’s when I realised he’d come on his motorbike, and the offer meant sitting on the back of it, and holding on to him. I felt guilty the whole way home.
Twenty-Four
Bythetimetheylet me out of the infirmary I was pissed. Monumentally pissed. Reacher had disappeared for a while, and when he returned, it was to ‘escort me’ to my room, where I was gonna be under fucking house arrest. The way they did with Ryder back when he was so fucked up after his lady drugged and assaulted him.
“So this is how it’s gonna be? Now I’m a fucking prisoner?”
Reacher shoved me into my room, and slammed the door.
“Act up all you want. Trust me, brother. I’ve got bigger shit on my plate, but here I am, fucking babysitting you.”
I watched him drop heavily onto my sofa.
“You want a coffee?”
