I turn to face Rex. “What happens to them when we die? They’re going to be alone again. Going to have to survive by themselves.”
The corner of Rex’s eye ticks right before he tenses. “Thanks for shitting on my mood.”
Looking back out the window, I let out a deep sigh. “Visit more. Let them bond. Maybe . . . if something happens to us . . . they can have each other.”
“This about them—or you?”
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Rex lifts his mug and takes a swig of whatever’s in there. “You’re guilting me into coming by more often.”
“Didn’t think of it that way, but fuck it. Sure. Yeah.” When he starts coughing again I lean into him. “You getting better or worse?”
“Better. Was bad there for a while. Thought I wouldn’t make it.” He stares off. “You’re right though. About those two bonding.”
“Damn, love when you say those magic words.”
“Asshat.”
“Gotta ruin it, fuckface.”
Rex places his mug in the sink, then leans against the counter, crossing his arms and pinning me with a stare. “Why you holding back with Cal?”
My spine straightens.
“Don’t gimme that shit. And, speaking of, hope you two enjoyed the show. You both weren’t exactly stealthy.”
I rub the back of my neck, heat crawling up my cheeks. “He wanted to watch. We got carried away.”
“I noticed. Devon did too. Or he noticed Cal at first. Had to really lay into him with the paddle to keep him from spiraling.”
My fingers clench and flex a few times. “And you think Cal will be safe when he spirals?”
“He’s possessive. But I don’t think his issue is with Cal. Otherwise, we would’ve been out back with a bloodbath on our hands by now.”
“So his issue is with me?”
Rex nods.
“Why the fuck did you tell him anything?”
His shoulders slump. “Didn’t mean to. Told you, I was sick. High fever and shit. Took Ambien and expired Nyquil. Supposedly had some sex dream about fucking you. Talked about it in my sleep.”
I rub my temples. “Jesus, fuck. Well, that explains it a bit better. Surprised he didn’t murder you himself.”
Rex shrugs. “Guess the seizure snapped him out of that. Wasn’t thinking straight about mixing meds.”
“What happened to him?”
My friend pales, his eyes becoming glassy. “Carrionites were in town. He felt, instead of hiding, he needed to protect me. Went after them.”
I look back out the window. Devon is thinner than Cal, a bit shorter too, not by much, but I can’t see that kid going after Carrionites by himself.
“He killed them but got hurt in the process. Real bad.” Tears streak Rex’s face. “Thought I might lose him. That concussion. He couldn’t fucking walk straight. Was vomiting. Wouldn’t be surprised if he had a brain bleed.”
“Sorry about tossing him into the wall.” And I am. Shit. That kid took on those cannibal motherfuckers and slaughtered them. I’m impressed, but fuck do I feel guilty now. “He’ll keep Cal safe?”
“Yeah. Don’t underestimate him. He really is a little psychopath.Mylittle psychopath.”
