“Is that even a real question?”
His mouth flattens into a thin line as he goes back to the right movie channel.
“Dude, what’s wrong with you?” I finally ask, hoping he will fix his face. We had a weird minute but it’s over.
“Everything’s fine, Bird. It’s just that things are a little tense at work.”
I have to laugh at myself.
I thought things were weird because he almost kissed me, but that wasn’t it at all. It’s work stuff. Of course. Rush has little time to be concerned about anything else.
“A few of the guys are having a conflict and it’s spilling over into the locker room. I didn’t realize that you’d be starting the job this soon. I just hope everyone will be on their best behavior when they work with you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Ohhh, so that’s where you got the gash on your face?”
He nods.
“Don’t worry, I’ve worked with rowdy athletes for years. It’ll be fine. I’m not new at this.”
“You’ve worked with rowdycollegeplayers. These are grown ass men who sometimes don’t know their own strength. I was just in an all-out brawl with some of them not that long ago.”
“I’m sure that was a fluke.”
“And with your knee situation–”
“It’s all about good body mechanics in a PT room,” I cut him off. “And I promise to use my cane on the days I need to. I won’t hide it. I promise. You worry too much,paw-paw. Now mix up your salad. The dressing and some cucumbers may have sunken to the bottom.”
He sighs and shovels a fork full of the mixed green salad in his mouth. Rush doesn’t like his food to touch and only eats things on his plate one food group at a time in order of least favorite to most. Vegetables are eaten first, carbs second, and then he’ll save the meatballs for last. It’s a quirky but cute thing about him. We always used to argue in college when I wanted to order a half-plain and half-Hawaiian pizza because they would inevitably put a few pineapple chunks too close to his plain slices.
He still doesn’t look convinced, and I try to think of some comforting words to snap him out of this sudden sour mood. It feels as if he’s already regretting referring me for this job, and I can’t allow that to come between us.
“I understand your sudden reluctance. These are your friends. Your colleagues. You don’t want me breaking out in song in the training room or falling on my ass in front of them.”
“I’m not saying that at all, Mia. You’re missing the point. Forget I said anything.”
I squint my eyes as I take a bite of one of my meatballs. Dammit, I put too much oregano or something in them.
“Don’t worry so much. It’s going to be great. You and I will work at the same place, I’m starting work mid-pay-cycle so I’ll get paid next week, and my health benefits kick in on the first day of employment. No probationary period. I can keep my appointment with the ortho surgeon. This job is the gift that keeps on giving, and I will not let you put a damper on it with your worrying.”
“Fine, I’m done talking about it.”
“You’re done like you’re sick of me or done like we’re good.”
“We’re good, Bird. We’re always good.”
I stop chewing for a moment in solemn appreciation of Thor as his fine ass flashes on the screen.
“God, that man is amazing.”
“You do realize that’s computer-generated imagery making the actor look larger than life.”
“That is an absolute falsity. Each and every one of those muscles is real because one, the internet says so and two, I can tell. I work with athletic physiques for a living. Just like how I know your guns are real.”
I lean over and pat one of his ripped biceps, and Rush cracks a smile.
“You think I look like Thor?”
“I think you could easily be Chris Hemsworth’s Hollywood body double with the right blonde wig, of course.”
