Page 21 of Alex
Iansteps into the room, his hair wet from a recent shower. “You buy out theplace?”
“Notquite. You get that one’s name?”
“Sam,I think, or maybe Sarah. Doesn’t matter.”
“Shouldyou be fucking? You know…”
“Wantedto do it one more time as a complete man with all original factory parts.” Histone is joking, but his eyes aren’t.
“Youwon’t be any different. From what I read, most people can’t even tell thedifference between the prosthetic and the real thing. All you’ll have is a fourinch scar on your groin.” I put away the groceries while I talk, slipping thevideo game into a drawer.
“Yeah,”he scoffs. “I’m sure it’ll feel completely natural.”
“Ifit makes you feel better, I’ll fondle it real good. I’ve felt enough nuts totell the difference.”
Hischuckle makes me smile. “Anything to get your hands on my junk.”
It’safter one a.m. when Ian decides to call it a night. I’ve been struggling tokeep my eyes open through the last hour of zombie gore, but I didn’t want toleave him alone. Whether he wants to admit it or not, he’s scared.
Myalarm pulls me out of a twisted dream about testicle eating zombies. It doesn’tfeel like I’ve slept at all, and I imagine Ian didn’t exactly have a good nighteither. I’m greeted with a grunt when I grab a cup of coffee and microwave abreakfast burrito. Ian can’t eat or drink, of course, so for once I eat in thekitchen where I’m out of sight.
Wemanage to beat the worst of the early morning traffic and arrive at thehospital a few minutes early. I’m grateful it isn’t the same hospital whereCooper died. I’m not sure I could’ve gone in. The receptionist smiles and batsher eyes at Ian, but he doesn’t notice. Seriously, who flirts with a guygetting ready to lose a testicle? With a pout, she hands him a stack of forms.“Fill these out. They’ll call you back shortly.”
“Forfuck’s sake, do they need to know my favorite color too?” he grumbles, workinghis way through the forms while we wait in the world’s most uncomfortablechairs.
“Killian?”I ask, surprised when I see his name written down. “Ian is short for Killian?Like Captain Hook from…”
Heglares at me. “Shut up. I hate that show.”
“Howhave I never heard that?”
“BecauseI don’t like it.”
“Comeon now, Killian,” I tease.
Despitehis mood, the corner of his mouth twitches up. “You’re sworn to secrecy aboutthat along with the cancer.”
Igaze at him, squinting. “You do actually look a bit like him. Let me hear yousay Arrgh.”
“Don’tmake me kick your ass in here.”
Wesit in silence for a few minutes, the scratching of his pen competing with theticking of a clock hung on the wall behind us. Finally, his name is called andwe’re lead back to a small pre-op room.
Thenurse takes his paperwork and asks a million questions. After she’s confidenthe isn’t allergic to anything and hasn’t eaten in the past twelve hours, shehands him a gown and gestures to a tiny attached bathroom. “Everything off,”she chirps, and I struggle not to laugh at the look of pure loathing eatinginto her back when she exits.
“Allthe shit we come up with, and no one can design a gown that doesn’t let yourass hang out,” he grumbles, returning from the restroom. He doesn’t protestwhen I approach and tie the rear lace he missed. And I totally did not lookdown to see his tight perfect ass. I mean, what kind of friend would do that?
Oncehe’s settled on the bed with a sheet pulled over his bare legs, the nursereturns. “I’m going to get your IV started and draw some blood, then theanesthesiologist will be in to talk to you.” She inserts his IV and hands me alarge bag. “You can put his clothes and belongings in here and they’ll bewaiting in the recovery room.”
Ianhas hardly spoken a word since she left, and I can see fear creeping into hisface. Suddenly, he yanks back the sheet and exclaims, “I changed my mind. I’mnot doing this.”
Ireach him before he can tear out the IV. “Stop.”
“Ican’t. I just can’t let them…”
Igrab his hand and sit beside him on the narrow bed. “I know you’re scared, butyou aren’t going anywhere. You have to do this. There’s no other option.”
“They’regoing to neuter me like a goddamn dog!” Panic rings clear in his voice.
