Page 47 of Alex
Athin man with eyes that seem to take up half of his face slowly approaches us.“Sidney, this is Alex, he’ll be staying with you at night,” Gary says. “Alex,this is Mr. Sidney Todd.”
“Goodto meet you, Sidney.” I stick out my hand and he reluctantly reaches for it.It’s not a handshake really. He barely squeezes my fingers before stepping backagain. Skittish, but with all he’s been through, it’s more than understandable.A large barely healed slash runs down the side of his face from his temple tothe corner of his mouth, and he rubs it self-consciously.
“Right,well, I’ll be back in the morning then,” Gary says, and Sidney thanks him.
AfterGary leaves, we sit in the living room. “You don’t look like a bodyguard,” hesays and quickly adds, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but the other twoare built like a house and kind of terrifying.”
It’snot the first time I’ve heard this in regards to my slender frame and it makesme laugh. Mason is built like a bull and Parker isn’t far behind him, but I’vealways been the lean muscled type. “Don’t worry, I know what you mean. I’m nota hulk, but you’re safe with me. I have a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and Karate.I’m also armed and I know how to use it. In all the years my brothers and Ihave done this, we’ve never lost a client. The worst part is trying not to die ofboredom while you’re trapped inside.”
Asmile finally breaks out on his face and he relaxes a bit. “I’ve only been herea couple of days, but so far it’s been okay. Peaceful.”
Afterreading his file, I don’t doubt he needs some peace. What started out as arelationship turned into a nightmare when his considerably larger boyfriend oftwo years decided Sidney was going to obey or pay the consequences. Sidneytried to leave a few months before and ended up with a broken arm and fracturedeye socket. Feeling like he had no choice, he went back. When the boyfriend cuthis face so no one else would look at him, he ran and ended up at one of ourshelters in Tennessee. Since his psycho ex is still on the loose, we moved himhere to Alabama.
“I’mgoing to grab a shower,” I tell him. “Six hours in the car makes me feelgrimy.”
“Sure.”
Ican tell by his hesitant glance he wants to ask something, but isn’t sure. “Doyou need something?”
“Doyou think we could run to a grocery store? I’d be happy to make dinner.”
“Gettingsick of pizza and Chinese?” I laugh, pulling my suitcase into my room. “Sure,just let me get cleaned up.”
Iwill take Sidney to any grocery store he wants if he keeps cooking. I don’tknow what he did to make a simple Chicken Parmesan taste so good, but I want tohire him to cook for me every night. After stuffing ourselves, Sidney heads offto bed and I flop into the recliner to read. Silence settles around me and Ican’t concentrate on my book. I wonder what Ian is doing, if he misses me likeI do him. It strikes me that this is how it will be every night if I move outand if that isn’t fucking depressing I don’t know what is.
I’mdreading going to bed because he won’t be there, but I need to be up early.When Gary shows up to take over in the morning, I’ll be free for the day andI’ve already got permission to work out at a local MMA gym. My fight takesplace a few days after I return and I have to be ready.
Theguest bed is soft, but heart breakingly empty. Ian’s face haunts me every timeI close my eyes and I carry it into my dreams. A really twisted nightmare wakesme at dawn, and I sit up in bed trying to catch my breath, sweat pouring offme. It’s already fading and I try to remember, but it’s like grasping at fog.Ian was in it, of course, and Cooper too. I was chasing them, trying to findthem, then…something horrible happened, but my brain has decided I don’t needto know what it was. I’m probably better off, but it’s frustrating.
Cooper.Guilt washes over me when I realize I haven’t thought about him in a while, andsadness seeps in to join it as I struggle to remember his voice. I’m startingto forget. How he sounded, how he felt, his smile. I thought I’d never forgetthat smile that brought out his dimples, but now when I picture it, I just seea photo of him smiling that I keep on my phone. I can’t picture him. I can’tkeep him.
Thesmell of frying sausage lures me out of my bed, and I find Sidney and Garysitting at the kitchen table around enough food to feed a small army. “Hungry?”Sidney asks, and I grab a plate and join them.
“Iam now. Where’d you learn to cook like this?” I ask, around a mouthful of eggsand peppers.
“Mymom. She was a chef. I could follow a recipe as soon as I could read.”
“Youcould do this for a living. It’s fantastic.”
Hisface lights up and I wonder how long it’s been since someone complimented himon anything. “Yeah, you think so?”
“Absolutely.”I make short work of the eggs, sausage and hash browns, thank Sidney forbreakfast, and head off to the gym.
Luckily,my car has GPS or I’d be in trouble. I don’t know this area at all. Thenavigator leads me into a rundown neighborhood that has obviously just beenslated for revitalization. For every two or three rotted, gutted out houses andbuildings, a freshly renovated and painted one appears. Weed filled lawnschoked with long brown grass rest side by side with green sod covered plots,drawing an instant line between poverty and luxury, indigence and affluence.
Inbetween a check cashing business and a discount tobacco store sits the placeI’m looking for, simply named Mike’s Gym. The small lobby is bright andwelcoming, a stark contrast to the building’s grim exterior. I’m greeted by athin girl with green streaks in her hair.
“IsMike in?” I ask.
“He’sin the back. Who should I say is asking for him?”
“AlexReed.”
Shedisappears around a corner and is followed back by a man the size of Mt.Everest. No shit. Mason’s a big guy, but this dude could step on him. “Alex!Good to meet you. I’m Mike.” A hand the size of a bear’s paw juts out towardme.
“Thanksfor letting me train here while I’m in town.”
“Noproblem! I met your brother, Mason when he was still competing. That man was aforce to be reckoned with. Damn shame he dropped out of the game.”
