How It Rolls Read online

  “See what I mean?” She was pinned between me and the door and after showing me those shorts, it was not a good place to be.

  “What? It’s what derby girls wear. You bought them for me.”

  “But when I bought them, the image in my mind was of you and the shorts but trust me, there were no skates, and not much else. So you see? We both get jealous. Everyone gets to see my girl in those.”

  She gasped and squirmed, probably trying to hit me. I continued, “I’ll be there tonight. Remember to keep your head in the game and not on me.”

  “You’re so damned smug. What makes you think you even cross my mind when I’m skating? Huh?”

  “Because when you get on that track, you’re gonna remember me kissing the crap out of you.” She leaned her head forward and knocked her forehead on the door.

  “Now I am. You suck.” She laughed as I backed off and let her leave and damn if I didn’t love to watch her go.

  I met Owen for breakfast. I just sat there as an audience the whole time. He ordered two of everything and then went on a tirade about not knowing if he was going to be a good father. And not knowing if he was ready to share Nellie. Then he started on their apartment being too small for a family and not knowing how to change diapers.

  “Owen, it’s gonna be fine. I’m sure there’s gonna be a learning curve for Nellie too. Mom and Dad will be right there to help y’all. It’s not like you’ll be alone. “

  His shoulders slumped forward as he exhaled. “You’re right Falcon. It’s just a lot to handle.”

  “I’m sure it is. Your whole life is changing. But it will be worth it.”

  He started eating again, a good sign. I polished off my eggs and could tell by the way he kept looking at me that there was something else on his mind.

  “Spill it.” I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

  “I wanna ask you something but I don’t want you to get pissed.”

  I knew this was headed for a conversation about Reed. Maddox had been giving me crap every time we went to work on it. Nixon had even chimed in. He and Maddox were tight, always had been. I also expected a lecture from Dad, but he was busy planning their vow renewal thing.

  “Just say it, everybody else has.” I readjusted my arms.

  “Look, I’m just worried, ok? You’ve only been with her a few weeks and you went out and spent who knows how much money and bought her a house. A house! I mean, I know you like her but what in the Hell possessed you to buy a house?”

  I blew out a breath through barely opened lips, trumpet player’s mouth. I thanked God that Maddox could be trusted with a secret. He and Mom were the mafia of secret keepers. But I guess I needed to tell him to throw him off my trail. And he was no stranger to the lengths one went when they’ve fallen in love. No one knew it, but Nellie called me the night Owen rearranged Lucas’ face and I went to the hospital to make sure he was ok for her. That’s when Nellie and I became friends. She knew she could trust me.

  “There’re things you don’t know Owen. There’s a reason.”

  “Well tell me please. ‘Cause right now I think you’re stupid. I mean, I know you have money in the bank from all that stock crap you do but why blow it on a girl?”

  “She’s not just a girl. She’s the girl. And even if she never looked my way again I would buy her that house. It’s better than the alternative.”

  “What’s the alternative?” I rolled my eyes and looked out to the parking lot.

  “She’s homeless Owen. I went out to buy her an apartment or a townhouse or something. But then I saw that house and it was perfect for her. If I never see her again in my life, I will at least know that she has a place to sleep that she loves. At least, I hope she loves it.”

  His face had paled after I said she was homeless. It was hard to swallow.

  “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know. I was just trying to protect you. Save you from doing something stupid. Shit, I’m an idiot.”

  The waitress came and interrupted his spiel. I paid the ticket and he tipped her. We got out of the booth and I could tell it was gnawing at him.

  “Don’t worry about it, man. I didn’t even know. Maddox found out. But I just couldn’t let it continue.”

  “Do you love her Falcon?” He said as we walked out to our cars, parked side by side.

  “What do you think?” It was a smart ass response but I couldn’t help it.

  “I think you’re in so deep, you’re drowning.”

  I got into my car without answering. He already knew the answer. And besides, her house was finished, it was done. She would be getting her fake letter this week and I just hoped she bought it. The dastardly devil of a lawyer I hired had decided to make it seem like the house and the check was part of an unclaimed settlement. He made it all seem legit, so I agreed. Now I just had to try not to shake when I handed it to her when it came in the mail.

  I also needed to convince her to let me help her with getting the electricity, gas and water turned on. She had only received a couple paychecks, so I didn’t know if she had enough saved up or not.

  I went into the restaurant to finish the paperwork that I left on the desk the day before. Although how I was going to concentrate after what happened in that office, I hadn’t a clue. I got in and Mom was looking for something on the computer in her office.

  “You need help, Mom?” She waved me off and I proceeded to my office to get my work done. After a few hours and checks written, I grabbed some to go boxes and brought them to the bookstore. Nellie wasn’t in her office, so I hunted her and Reed down. They were both in the inventory room having some kind of whispery conversation. I cleared my throat to stop them, even though I would love to know what Reed was all secretive about.

  “Hawkeye, if you bring that food any closer I’m gonna hurl on your girl. Hey that rhymed.”

  “Ok, Reed, are you hungry?”

  “Yeah, but this one’s gonna puke again. Can you go to the break room with that?”

  “Yeah.”

  I went to the break room and put Nellie’s box in the fridge in case she wanted it later. I ran across the street to the little grocery store and got some crackers and a ginger ale. I ran back and went back to where they were. Nellie looked worse than before and she was trying to hide the fact that she was holding on to the bookshelf beside her, but I could see it.

  “Come on Mama,” I handed the bag to Reed and picked Nellie up and carried her to the couch in her office. She groaned as I put her down and nodded to me, permission to call Owen.

  I picked up her office phone and he answered on the first ring.

  “How are you sweetheart?” He cooed.

  “I’m fine honey bunches but your girl is not. She needs some rest. You wanna come get her or you want me to bring her to the apartment?”

  Nellie started barking from the couch, “Make up your minds ‘cause I have a bout to coach in six hours.”

  “Did you hear her,” I asked Owen.

  “Yeah, take her up, please. I’ll be there in a minute. I’ll stop and get her some crackers or something.”

  “I already got them. Get here when you can. I’ll stay until then.”

  I hung up before I could hear his answer. I went to the couch and tried to joke around to distract her.

  “Come on She-Ra, bed for you—gotta regenerate those super powers.”

  “Oh, does that make you He-Man?” She gripped the front of my shirt as I carried her up the stairs. Reed was behind us with the bag of stuff.

  “Yes, I’m He-Man, cause I’m the twin brother. Owen’s Bow, ‘cause that’s She-Ra’s man. Though his man status is questionable with that ‘stache and the big ass heart on the front of his shirt.” I opened the door to their apartment and I could tell she was churning old She-Ra and He-Man episodes through her head.

  “Well, who does that make Reed?” I lowered her to her couch and grabbed a blanket while Reed poured her a glass of ginger ale.

  “Duh, that makes me Teela, He-Man’s
orange haired and smokin’ hot girlfriend. Come on Nellie.”

  “Oh my God, Falcon, she gets us. She really gets us.” She dramatically wiped a nonexistent tear from her eye.

  I laughed at her and went to sit in one of their weird garage sale chairs. Reed sat her glass of ginger ale on the coffee table and I flipped channels on the TV until we heard Owen coming in.

  He ordered us out immediately, which was fine with me. Reed and I went down to the break room and devoured Andre’s lasagna. She belly ached about not being able to skate after such a big meal.

  “I need to warn you about something.” She said sitting back in the chair.

  “Shoot.” I got up and put everything in the trash.

  “Tonight’s gonna be rough. That team we’re playing has a rep for sending people to the hospital. I don’t want you to freak out.”

  “Really Reed? When’s the last time you saw me freak out?”

  She rolled her eyes at me and then answered, “Um, the last bout you left because the zebra was getting friendly. I can’t imagine how you’ll act if I actually get hurt.”

  “You saw that, huh? Easy, just don’t get hurt. We should be fine.”

  “That easy, huh?” She laughed and gave me a way too short kiss before going back to work. I finished out the bookstore’s business and went back to the apartment before heading to the bout. And as I neared the spot, I knew she was dead on. I felt sorry for whoever got in between me and her if she was hurt.

  I parked and got out and some girl was looking at me as I opened the door. I opened it wide and motioned for her to go in, she smiled a tight smile and reluctantly walked inside. I spotted Owen and my parents and went to stand by them. Owen said Nellie was fine now. And even if she wasn’t, she had lied to him to make sure she was here. The first half of the bout was just a blood bath. Reed wasn’t joking when she said they were hard core. One girl had gotten thrown out after five minutes for punching a girl in the face, on her own team.

  I watched Reed and Nellie bantering about some play which ended in Reed sticking her tongue out at Nellie and skating away. And the shorts? They didn’t disappoint.

  Damn, I need to buy her a hundred more pairs of those shorts. Hell, I need to buy stock in the company.

  Then, someone looped their arm through mine and I turned to see who it was. It was the girl who stared at me before. I unlocked our arms and said, “Hi, do I know you?”

  “No, but you need to get to know me,” she said. I looked around to see if Maddox was looking guilty. This was the kind of weird thing he would set up. But he was off talking up a blonde girl.

  “And why would that be?” I kept my eyes on Reed, who now had her eyes on me while she listened for the second whistle signaling the jammers.

  “Because you and I could have a lot of fun. Your little derby girl would never have to know.”

  I moved to the side, trying to get away from her a little. “Yeah, I’m good. I’m not the cheating kind. Have a nice night.”

  “Oh, come on. I’m sure she’s really busy always practicing and these things. I’m sure you get lonely. Derby widows always get lonely.” You’ve got to be kidding me.

  “No, I don’t.” Then she started laughing. And when Reed passed by after a successful jam she leaned over the railing and hugged the girl and fist bumped her. Then she skated off.

  “Farrah, I presume?” I said and laughed with her. “Did I pass the test?”

  “You totally did. Especially since I’m so lame at coming on to guys.”

  We watched the rest of the bout and she told me how much she loved Reed and how she had been dealt a shitty hand in life. After it was over, Reed in one piece but looking like blue and purple camouflage, we all went out to eat at the pizza place where the team usually went for Friday night dinners. Farrah was really funny. My phone alerted me to a text and after I realized it was from Reed I tried to act casual since she was sitting across from me but couldn’t say whatever she wanted to say out loud.

  R: See? Whole-Team-In-Your-Pants.

  I looked around and a lot of girls suddenly were very interested in their pizza.

  F: Only one girl in this world for me.

  She answered in the form of a blush and suddenly this pizza place was the last place I wanted to be. Strike that, I didn’t want to be any public place. I wanted to be with Reed, alone, anywhere but here. And by her pinked cheeks and neck I knew that she would go with me if I prompted her. But she hadn’t seen her friend in a while so I squelched my desires and listened to Farrah tell stories about a young Reed. They had managed to stay friends through all of Reed’s moves.

  The team began to file out one by one until only the four of us were left. Maddox wanted to go back to the eighteen and over club they had gone to before and Farrah looked like she would go into an erupting volcano if he went.

  “Are you coming Falcon?” Farrah asked me and the last thing in the world I wanted to do was go. But Reed gave me that ‘please don’t leave me with them’ look.

  “Yeah, I guess I can tag along.”

  I drove my truck even though Reed rode with Farrah and Maddox. If I had to go, at least I wouldn’t get stuck there. I was the only one who wasn’t asked for an ID. And when Reed pulled hers out, I saw the other ID that sparked Maddox’s revelation. We entered, crossing the threshold my ears were barraged with obscene decibels of noise which, according to the people gyrating on the dance floor, was called music. Mad and Farrah went straight for the pit and it swallowed them. I looked at Reed and she looked as uncomfortable as I felt. She grabbed the cuff of my shirt and dragged me to a corner.

  “You don’t want to dance?” Please don’t want to dance.

  “Ugh—no. I just wanted to come so I could hang out with Farrah a little bit more but I guess that ship has sailed.”

  “Nah, I’m sure she just went to dance and she’ll be back to drag you out there too.”

  “Maybe,” she shrugged. We took seats at a sad excuse for a table while she rubber-necked the crowd for her friend. I mimicked her, trying to spot Maddox to no avail. Then I spotted someone I didn’t intend to and turned my gaze elsewhere as fast as I could, but I was afraid I wasn’t fast enough. It was Kate, dancing with not one guy but two and it was definitely not the tango.

  “Who is that?” Reed asked beside me.

  “Um, that’s Kate.” I shrugged.

  “Really,” she said and went back to her search.

  “You wanna go into the crowd and see if we can find them?”

  “Yeah, let’s go.” We got up and searched. It turns out the club was divided into different rooms and every room had a different theme, but the music was all the same. We finally found Farrah and Maddox in the corner of the ‘black light’ room and they were not dancing. I didn’t have to ask her what she wanted to do. We both turned at the same time and headed for the exit.

  We got into my truck and I drove us both home. I could tell that she was preoccupied. We climbed the steps to the apartment; I unlocked the door and she went in before me without a word.

  “What’s the matter?” I laid down on the couch, my head in her lap.

  She ran her hand over my faux-hawk, it was now growing back, and answered. “I don’t know. People change I guess. I really don’t have anything in common with Farrah anymore. She’s all about partying and guys now. I don’t know; it’s just weird.”

  “I guess they do. I use to have some friends in high school who had been my friends since we were little but then they went away to colleges and we e-mail sometimes. Mostly I just hang out with my brothers.”

  “And me.”

  “And you, of course. I’m just glad you’re not upset about me seeing Kate there.”

  She laughed a little, “No offense Falcon, but that girl looks like she’s been rode hard and put up wet.”

  “She didn’t look like that when I dated her.”

  “I hope not. And apparently your taste for women has changed significantly.”

  “Definit
ely for the better,” I said and turned towards her, my face now against her belly.

  She ran her fingers over the outer rim of my ear, down my jaw line, down the side of my neck. I couldn’t imagine lasting very long if I was ever deprived of her touch.

  Chapter 24

  Reed

  I want to wear flip-flops for the rest of my life. They’re not just mere footwear. They can act as makeshift fly swatters, they clap for you when your hands are tired. And once I saw a lady take off her flop and swat her kid on the butt. Yeah, that was probably going to be me one day. ‘The beatings will continue until morale improves.’

  Monday, Nellie and I argued about hair color. I desperately needed to color mine and wanted to keep my orange. Nellie had a different idea. We took off after work, before the family dinner, and went hair color shopping. Well, we both shopped for me. She read something about coloring your hair while you were pregnant, something about the chemicals getting to the baby, so she wasn’t going to color her hair until she had the baby.

  We went back and forth until she bribed me with a milkshake. I was such a sucker for anything that contained ice cream. It was ridiculous. So we settled on teal—teal! It was the color of Cyan wool blocks in Minecraft. Nellie, of course, likened it to the color of Uranus.

  “It is not the color of Uranus, give me a break.” I laughed as we drove back to the bookstore.

  “Dude, how do you know what color my butthole is? I might have some kind of mutant mermaid ass that’s teal, like Uranus.”

  “Wait, do mermaids have buttholes?”

  “Gross Nellie—well, otherwise how do they—I mean they have to—ah Hell, I don’t know.”

  We laughed all the way to the restaurant. We went in through the front and the guys were already seated, waiting for us. I kissed Falcon on the forehead and sat down to my plate. While we ate we found out that Chase and Sylvia were going to Italy exactly three weeks from that day. And then as Owen announced he was also leaving on some research trip the same day, all eyes turned to Falcon.