Thirteen
Henry
I pace the room waiting for his call. I took a chance, blurting out what was on my mind, but he had the same thoughts. He wanted to be here helping me with the cage too. Or that’s what I got from it. Time ticks by and when I hit the side of my watch it tells me only ten minutes have gone by.
I plop back onto the couch. After so much practice, I no longer have to tap it with my cane first. I’m moving around this placea lot easier after becoming familiar with it again. It looks a lot different in the dark, but it feels all the same. Warm, cozy, and like home. More so than the house I was living in with my ex.
I hit my watch again and it’s been twenty minutes. Feeling for the throw on the couch, I toss it over myself, happy to be able to move a lot more freely than before. Ten more minutes go by and I start to wonder if he changed his mind, worried my request went too far after all. Then my phone rings and I quickly grab it, hitting answer without looking at the screen.
“Have to fight someone for those energy drinks?”
“Actually, they were stuck in this cage and I couldn’t find the key, so I had to call someone to help me find it first.”
I snort. “Funny.” I stretch my legs out on the couch, getting more comfortable.
“What, too soon?”
“Always.”
“My bad. Did you pick a movie already?”
“No . . .” I wince, realizing I’d forgotten. “Sorry, I was too busy getting over my humiliation.”
“Hey, like I said, nothing to be humiliated about. I’m sure these sorts of things happen to lots of people. No one I know, but I’m sure they are out there.”
I stifle a laugh. “Not many friends walking around with cock cages who drop their keys, huh?”
“No. Only this one from where I went to college and you. So, I guess I’m starting to collect them now.”
I shake my head, biting a smirk. “Something tells me there’s only one.”
“Yeah, okay, fine. Only you, but that’s exciting enough as it is.”
“Is it?”
“Yeah. I have a feeling someone is thinking about doing it again, and then I’ll get to make my first house call.”
I swallow hard. “Why wait, when I can give it another go now?”
“Mmmm. You sure you really want that?”
“I . . . yes, but it’s okay if you don’t.”
“Oh, I do. I’m just not sure you realize what you’ll be getting yourself into.”
“Why, are you some dangerous serial killer or something?”
The line goes quiet for too long. “I . . . damn, I forgot I’m supposed to pick something up from a friend’s house. Rain check on the movie?”
“Did I say something to upset you?” I ask, sounding small. “I was only kidding.”
“About what?”
“About you coming over to help me with the cock cage in person,” I push out.
“That wasn’t it. Look… I’ll uh…I’ll catch you for the next one, okay? Movie that is.”
“On the phone, you mean?”
