Page 49 of Head Over Feels
"That'swhere all the glitter bombs used to be."ItoldMalcolm.
"Howmany were there?"
"Istopped counting at twenty, butIwould guess easily another ten to fifteen after that."
Malcolmgroaned. “I'dhate to be the crime scene tech who got to open all of those."
Iset the flowers down on the kitchen counter. “Weren’tthey just going to make sure there were no more bombs?Whywould they bother opening them?"
Malcolmcrutched over to the hallway to the bedroom, poking his head into the bathroom on the way. "They'llwant to see if there are any notes or other identifying information inside the packages."
Hemoved down the hall, soItook a moment to check the water level in the vase.Theflowers were pretty, butIwasn't going to haul them back to the ranch with me.
Malcolmcame out of the bedrooms.
“Didyou find any bad guys?"Iasked.Iwouldn't have been quite so feisty ifMalcolmhadn't come to the apartment with me.
"Cute."
“Havea seat, andI’llpack up my stuff.”Ipointed at the couch, andMalcolmmade his way over to it.
Ihad clothes, shoes, and my much more modest swim trunks in a suitcase in short order.Ihoped the police caught the bomber beforeMalcolmandIgot kicked out of the guest cottage when the next guest arrived in a week or so.
* * *
Westopped for a quick lunch before returning to the ranch.Thefridge in the guest cottage was stuffed with food, butIthink both of us appreciated the chance to be in public and pretend we still had normal lives.
We’djust passed through the security gate when my phone rang.Ianswered, andStevesaid, "Dude, where are you, and what are you doing this afternoon?Ionly had a morning shift today andCalandIwant to lay eyes on you and make sure you're okay."
Malcolmwas about to leave again to go to his therapist, andI'dbeen planning on sitting in the hot tub the rest of the day.
"I'llhave to check withColeand the guys, but would you be interested in coming out to the ranch and hanging out in the hot tub with me?Ineed to soak some of my bruises."
"Areyou kidding?I'vebeen so jealous you get to go out there all the time."Iheard him talking toCal, then he came back on the line. "We’rein, thoughCal’sbeing weird about it for some reason.Ithink he thinks we'd be intruding or something."
"Noway.Theguys are chill.Butlet me check with them and get right back to you."Wehung up, and asMalcolmparked in front of the guest cottage,Iopened my text conversation withCole,Will, andJason.
Hey, would y’all beOKwith me inviting my friendsSteveandCalover this afternoon to hang out in the hot tub?
Bythe timeIhauled my suitcase inside the guest cottage,Ihad my reply.
Cole
WillandJasonare going to run some errands, soI'llbe the only one here and it’s fine with me.Knockurselves out.
Feelingmore cheerful,ItextedSteveandCalback.Stevesaid they'd be over in 45 minutes.
Malcolmhad followed me inside to check onMariposabefore heading to his therapy appointment.WhenIcame out of my bedroom,Ifound him standing by the front door, staring intently at his phone.
"Malcolm?"
Hejumped, quickly shutting off his phone and shoving it into his pocket.Ifrowned.Washe texting somebody he didn't want me to know about?Givenhow antisocial he was, that didn’t seem likely.
"Areyou okay?"
Malcolmcleared his throat. "Uh, sure.Iwas about to head out.Youneed something beforeIgo?"
"No.I’mgood.SteveandCalare coming over to sit in the hot tub with me.Youshould spend some time in it too when you get back from your appointment."
