Page 25 of Script Swap
“Do you think Kyson knew something?I thought he was reading the wrong lines in the script.”
“I don’t know.I mean, maybe he did.”
“Maybe the theft is completely unrelated to Kyson’s death.I know you’re not a big fan of coincidences—”
“They weaken the plot.”
He waited the length of a long breath before he continued, “—but we have to consider that possibility.”
“I guess.”Around us, the rest of the cast and crew were still doing their—well, their performances.The word popped into my head, but once it was there, I couldn’t shake it.Terrence’s histrionics.Tinny’s determination to be the biggest weirdo possible.Nora’s solemn grief.Jonni’s, uh—
Well, Jonni had unbuckled the paramedic’s pants.
“That poor man,” I said.
“Uh huh,” Bobby said, and I couldn’t quite parse the tone.
The paramedic was trying to pry Jonni’s hands off him, but he was having a surprisingly difficult time of it—especially for somebody who had such big biceps.He must have a killer arm workout.I should ask him what he did.Did guys do that?Was that a straight guy thing?You see some guy with massive—let’s say massive quads.And you walk up and say, what?Bro, how’d you get that tight patoot?That seemed more like an invitation to a broken nose.But if I said,Hi, sorry, I know this is weird, but I couldn’t help noticing your arms—
Uh, maybe not.
“Bobby, do you think it would be weird if I told that guy how much I liked his arms?”
He didn’t answer right away.And then he asked, “Excuse me?”
“Look at his biceps; they’re massive.”
He didn’t say anything.
The paramedic was doing something that required incidental flexing, and he was in danger of tearing his sleeves.
Bobby still hasn’t said anything, my brain pointed out.
And then I realized the silence was—well, one of those silences that’s even worse than nails on a chalkboard.
I looked over.
Bobby looked over.
“Uh,” I said.“So, what I meant was—”
“See something you like?”
It took several seconds, but the best I could come up with was “Huh?”
“He’s not going to take his clothes off and do a dance, if that’s what you’re waiting for.”
“Oh my God, Bobby!”I must have still been thinking about the suspects, though—and, I have to admit, I was entranced by Jonni’s unstoppable efforts to get this strapping young man to console her in her hour of need—because somehow I said, “Is he even gay?”
“Interesting question,” Bobby said, his voice dropping into we’re-going-to-have-a-talk-about-this territory.“Why don’t you go ask him?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Okay.”
“I didn’t!I was—I mean, it’s important information.”
“Right.”
