Page 64 of Rough

I needed to sit, before I fell.

I walked soft-footed into the living room and sat in the chair across from the couch. I crossed my legs and pointed to the other side of the room. “Have a seat.”

I felt my nipples hardening against the inside of my shirt, the fabric feeling like sandpaper against them. Self-conscious, but incapable of changing it, I folded my arms and fought to remain straight-faced. “What possessed you to do that?”

“A lot of things,” he said.

“Like?”

He smiled until dimples showed, and at that moment, I was even more pleased that he’d cut his hair. I melted into the seat a little.

He shrugged. The smile stayed plastered on his face. “Just wanted to make a change.”

He reached into his vest, and winced when he did. When he pulled his hand out, he was holding a blue envelope. “Can you give this to Marcus?”

As I took the envelope from his grasp, I noticed his hand was covered in lacerations and puncture wounds.

“What happened to your hand?”

“Dumped my bike.”

“Oh my God! You just got it fixed.”

“I was on the Sporty. My bike’s okay.” He looked at his knuckles. “It’s no biggie. They’ll heal.”

I looked at the envelope. Marcus was hand-written on the outside.

“What is it?” I asked.

Again. The smile. “Nothing. Just. I got him a get well card.”

“You got Marcus a get well card?”

He nodded.

I melted a little more. A lot more, really.

I needed him to leave. In fact, I needed him to grow his hair and the beard back. I was beside myself, and needed all my former thoughts and feelings to return.

Immediately.

They protected me.

“Tried to pick out a funny one. There ain’t that many to pick from, though. Not good ones.”

I wanted to cry.

Marcus was an important part of my life, and I wondered what Pee Bee’s thoughts would be about him if they met. Upon seeing them interact, I was pleased. Now?

I was astonished.

“I’ll uhhm.” I clutched the card. “I’ll give it to him. So, that’s why you stopped by?”

His smile returned, as did his dimples. “No. Not exactly.”

Gorgeous.

You are gorgeous.