Page 80 of The Falcon and the Foe

“Hey,” I squeaked out.

“Dan.”

“D—Dan. Right.” A black hole of shame opened up, ready to swallow me whole.

“Good to see you.” Dan was as tall and broad as l remembered. Or as best as I could remember because most of our times together were in the dark with alcohol.

“Wow, it’s been a minute.”

“Yeah.” I glanced at Russ, who didn’t say anything. “This is Russ.”

Russ went to shake his hand, but Dan turned to me as if he were invisible. “Man, I was thinking about you the other day. We had some good times together.”

I wouldn’t call them good. It was drunk sex a few times. Booty calls weren’t worth reminiscing about ever.

“Do you live around here?” I asked, hoping the answer was no.

“Still in the city. But I came out to the country for some kayaking.” Dan stepped forward, gleefully violating my personal space like only entitled, rich, hot guys could. “Holy shit. I barely recognized you. You’ve gone from twink to grizzly bear.”

Dan let out a cackle that put me right back in his dirty bed all those years ago. I had wanted this guy, like all the rest, to like me, to give me companionship that I had so lacked. And like the rest, Dan turned out to be a disappointment.

Russ shoved in between us. “Nice to meet you. We were on our way out.”

Again, Dan paid him no attention, keeping his hunting eyes on me.

“Damn, you used to be so skinny. I could throw you over my shoulder. Still have that cute smile, though.”

I looked down at my chubby stomach and legs.

“Hey, more cushion for the pushin.’” Dan shrugged and shot me a disgusting grin. Just like back in the day, he went from zero to creep in seconds.

“Well, it looks like middle age has smacked your face with a shovel,” I said.

That shovel-smacked face went white. Hell hath no fury like a man who is humiliated.

“The fuck did you say?”

“Goodbye, Dan.”

Now he decided to acknowledge Russ. “Is this your boyfriend? You shoulda seen him when he was younger. Passed around like a fucking joint. You know what we used to call you back then?”

I wasn’t going to find out.

Russ’s fist connected with his pretty mouth and gleaming teeth with shocking force. Dan flew back so far he should’ve been wearing a harness. He landed on the ground, and his kayak landed on him.

“What the fuck?” Dan yelled.

Russ squatted down, eyes dark as coal. “Consider that a warning shot. You ever talk to or look at Cal again, I’ll really make you bleed.”

Russ didn’t say another word. He coldly turned away, took my hand, and walked us to the car. The hum of the engine took over the awkward silence.

We drove off, putting distance between us and the woods, me and my past.

“I’m sorry.” I wanted to crumple into a ball and toss myself out the window.

He turned to face me, his eyes clear and full of care. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Cal. That guy was a piece of shit.”

“A piece of shit I had sex with years ago. When I was skinny.”

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