Page 113 of Head Over Feels
“Thatwas awesome!Igot some great angles!”Daniel, whose mostly white t-shirt was now sparkling, jogged over to his brother to compare videos.Iwas leaving the editing up to them.
Xavierchortled as he took pictures of all of us.Ididn’t want to see mine.Glitterwas still falling from my hair and sticking to my sweaty cheeks, eyelashes and lips.Ideeply regretted not shaving my beard off this morning.I’dworn a white t-shirt with black shorts for maximum glitter contrast, and they were coated.
Thepiles of glitter on the blue tarp sparkled in the sun.Itwas beautiful.
Trentwalked up. “Howdo you feel?”
Igrinned. “Otherthan being covered in glitter,Ifeel great.Likeit was all hanging over my head and now it’s gone.”Iconsidered the glitter strewn across the tarp again.Iwas covered in the stuff already....
Ipushed the red wagon out of the way and laid down in the glitter, moving my arms and legs to make a glitter angel.AugustandDanielshouted with laughter and came over to toss more glitter on me and take pictures.Thenthey dared each other to do it too.
Soonall five of us were lying in the pool of glitter, covered in shiny bits of color.
Theback door slid open, andMalcolmstalked outside.Elliewas smart enough to stay in the doorway.
“Uhoh,”Isaid to the others. “Helooks like he’s going to yell at us to get off his lawn.”
Evenwith his grumpy expression,Malcolmwas the sexiest thingI’dever seen.Hislight blue short-sleeved button-up did nice things for his complexion, andI’dfinally convinced him to start wearing shorts.Peoplewere already going to stare at him because of the cane and the car,I’dreasoned.Mightas well be comfortable while they were doing it.Malcolmhad rolled his eyes, but he’d bought some shorts the next day.
Malcolmwalked up to the edge of the tarp andtskedat us.Thesun highlighted his right forearm, where the outline of his unicorn tattoo had been inked in a couple of weeks ago.Greg’sniece had adapted her drawing for his arm, and she’d referred us to a friend of hers from art school who was now a tattoo artist.Malcolmhad three more sessions scheduled to fill in the color.
Iespecially liked the way the tattoo matched the smaller unicorns decorating the new caneI’dbought him.He’dneeded a backup, andCalliehad been more than willing to customize it.
“Hey, sugar muffin,”Isaid. “Wantto join us?”
Malcolmtried to hide it, butIcould tell he was amused. “Ifeel likeIneed to come up with some sort of penalty system for you based on how many pieces of glitterIfind in the house.”
TrentandXavierlaughed and threw glitter inMalcolm’sdirection.
Itapped a glitter-covered finger to my glitter-covered lips and blinked my glitter-covered eyelashes at him innocently. “Likekisses?”
Malcolmglanced at the others, who were listening avidly. “We’llnegotiate later.”
“Soundsgood, puddin’ pop.”Itried to wink but my eyelashes were too encrusted to do it effectively, soIjust grinned instead.Malcolmwinced.Imight have had glitter in my teeth.
Whichgave me an idea.
“Youknow,Malcolm,”Isaid, sitting up.Glitterslid into my lap and down the back of my shirt. “Idid promise we’d do our best to keep the glitter out of the house.”
Standing,Imade eye contact withEllie.Shegave me a thumbs up and, smirking, pulled the sliding door shut.Weall heard the click of the lock.
Giggling, everyone else got to their feet andIwaved them into a line behind me.Malcolmedged backward, holding one hand out as if that was going to stop us.
“But,Malcolm,Ididn’t promiseI’dkeep the glitter off of you.”
“Felix,”Malcolmsaid in a warning tone.
“ThoughIcan be persuaded.”Iglanced behind me. “Noneof us will hug you.Onone condition.”
Malcolmstopped backing up.Heplanted his cane and said, “Whichis?”
Itapped my encrusted lips. “Onekiss.”
Malcolmtook several seconds to consider his options. “Fine.”
Hewatched me warily asIapproached, probably worriedI’dtrip, and he’d have to catch my glittery self.
WhenIwas less than a foot away,Itapped my lips again. “Righthere, big boy.”
