Page 105 of His Big Bad Stick

“You know that’s not possible, right?” Jess asks Colver. “I mean, she and I have the same parts. I don’t produce semen.”

“It was a joke, coffee lady,” Colver says to Jess. “Ease up on the caffeine.”

“I’m sorry about this,” I say to Jess.

“Don’t be,” Jess says. “I deal with assholes all the time. At least he’s good looking.”

I like that Jess can handle her own with Colver.

Just in case the two end up seeing more of each other.

Jess leaves and I think about slapping Colver for being such a jerk.

“Do you want the bad news first or the bad news second?” Colver asks me.

“Two things of bad news?”

“Depending on how you look at it.” He touches his jaw. “I got suspended today.”

“What?”

“Yeah. For that fight. I had a feeling it was coming. League had to step in and do something. There was a possibility of charges too. Luckily that cooled off.”

“I thought hockey fights were allowed?”

“They are. I went too far with this one.”

“Oh.”

Colver touches my arms. “It’ll be fine. Sucks for the team. I owe the guys an apology.”

“So what’s the other bad news then?”

“I can’t play hockey for a little while,” he says. “That means you’re stuck with me. I told you I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“Can you at least try to be a little bit nicer?”

“Nope,” he says boldly.

I sigh.

At least he’s honest, right?

“So what’s the plan for my paintings?” Colver asks.

“Your paintings…”

“Am I wrong?”

I take a deep breath. Last thing I need is a reminder of how things manage to fall into place and then fall right apart, over and over.

“I’m going to hang some up on the walls,” I say. “From the ceilings. Special displays on the walls with custom lighting.”

“Going to sell them or what?”

“I guess we’ll see,” I say. “Obviously whatever ones of these that sell, the money will go right back to you. That’s only fair. And it might keep your fucking mouth shut.”

That last sentence slips out with fire and anger.

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