Page 62 of Call Me Sir

“You need a shower.”

I laugh. “Probably.”

“Definitely.”

We both laugh.

The thought of dragging my body from this bed exhausts me.

“Just rest for now, Cole.”

My eyes flutter closed as if his permission immediately relaxes me.

* * *

I wake in the dark to the sound of boisterous laughter coming from the living room. I’m propped up by a bunch of pillows now, I don’t remember doing it and figure it must have been Sal.

Straining to listen, I hear two familiar voices chatting away. Well, one person chatting, Tony, and occasionally Sal chimes in.

It’s so uncanny and my mind is boggled.

There’s something I’m missing out on and it bothers me. Not that I can do anything to change it. My body is heavy like a rock.

“You’re something else,” I hear Sal say to Tony.

“That’s what makes me lovable,” my friend says back.

He’s not wrong.

The light from my phone plugged in at my nightstand startles me. With a shaky arm I reach out and grab it. Unplugging it, I hold it close to my face and read Danny’s name pop up several times.

It’s like a punch to my gut.

Opening it up, I read the full thing. I have to scroll up because there’s a bunch of unread, and unanswered messages from him.

Danny: Hey

Danny: U ok buddy?

Ew. Why is he calling me buddy?

Danny: Cole?

Danny: U cant be that mad?

Danny: Can I come over?

Danny: On my way over

Panic stabs me in the chest. Fuck.

I start to type out a response telling him not to come when there’s a pounding on the front door.

Fuck.

Lifting the covers off me, I try to move my body from the bed.

The front door swings open and I hear a ‘Hello?’ from Sal.

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