Page 56 of The Darkness Within

“Can I bring my cat and my plant?”

“You can bring anything you want.”

“Then it sounds like a plan.”

“Good, we can discuss starting your second step.”

Yay, just what I want to talk about when I have him sitting across the table from me.

On the other hand, it’s a step in the right direction. Forward.

“Hey, Brewer?” He pops his head out of the bathroom. “What’s your favorite kind of ammunition?” Brewer looks puzzled, completely lost and thrown by the question, and I can’t help but laugh, thinking of the bullet tucked away in his drawer.

Mandy answers my call immediately. “Hey, are you busy?”

“Just finishing up. I’m here at the hospital with Liza and West. We’re doing the pre-surgery appointment for my micro dermabrasion.”

“Liza? No wonder she didn’t answer.”

“What do you mean, you called her first?” He sounds slighted.

“That’s besides the point. I need a favor.”

“Anything, just name it.”

“I’ve got an errand to run, and I need a wingman.”

Mandy clears his throat. “Sure, sounds serious. Text me the location and I’ll meet up with you when I’m finished here.”

Before he can hang up, I ask, “Hey, do they have to put you to sleep for the procedure?”

“Yeah,” he says, sounding deflated.

“Well, I’d like to be there. What is that thing you call West?”

“My ball buddy?”

“Yeah that, I want to be your ball buddy.” The phone sounds like it’s being jostled or passed around and then West’s deep voice comes across the line.

“Listen, Sommers, he’s already got one nutter buddy, and there’s only room for two nuts in our ball sack, so find your own buddy.”

My lips twist into a grin as I laugh. “You should get your head checked out again while you’re there. It sounds like your TBI is progressing. Put Mandy back on the phone.”

Jostling again, and then from Mandy, “See you soon.”

Nothing but rows and rows of plants and flowers in every color. I’m completely surrounded and lost. Maybe even overwhelmed.

Mandy shakes his head. “Are you kidding me? This was your super secret errand? You had to buy plants?”

“I never said it was super secret.”

“You said you needed a wingman,” he accuses.

“I do. I know fuck-all about plants.”

“What makes you think I do?”

Shrugging, I remind him, “Hey, that’s why I called Liza first.”

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