Page 14 of Shockproof

“This whole thing isn’tyourfault, Harvey. You aren’t the one who poked the African Buffalo.”

Bafflement doesn’t hesitate to arise. “What?”

“African Buffalo when threatened –orwhen one of their heard members is hurt by a creature – they unite as one and execute revenge. Oh, and the fun fact for theWhat The Fuck National Geographicarticle? This scary, trample your brains out bullshit applies to both other animalsandpeople.”

“Hm,” hums my boss in an impressed nature, “that is quite the accurate analogy.” He allows for a softer smile to cross his face once more. “Which shouldn’t be a surprise since you are one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met.”

“While I wouldloveto take credit for this one…” I slightly snicker in tandem with slowing down my thumb’s movement, “that little tidbit is all Slater. One of his earliest missions in R&R required him and Blu to travel to Abidjan where they rescued a nine-month-old – the infant had initially been stolen from his parents off a cruise ship – and one of the ways he kept the kiddo happy during transport was with this stuffed toy buffalo that he’d bought from a local souvenir shop where they told himallabout the animal. When they completed the return, he tried to send the toy with the child, but the parents refused, wantingnothingto remind them of the nightmare, so he just stuffed it in his bag. He totally forgot it was there until he swung by my place to pick up his mission success treat. He went to change in my bathroom, and when he came out, he showed it to me. Told me what they said which prompted me to encourage thathekeep it, let it remindhimthat he saved another innocent life, yet he insistedIkeep it. To let it remindmethat whenever he’s away from me on a mission thatthat’swhat he’s doing. Being fearless and dangerous and brave.” The image of the stuffed creature doesn’t hesitate to creep into my mind. “He also said Mark Buffalo would protect me as well as his desserts while he’s away which is why he has a permanent residence in the kitchen – even now.”

A new wave of bewilderment bursts in his expression. “Mark Buffalo?”

“Yeah…he’s unable to resist a bad dad joke the same way I’m unable to resist expensive tequila.”

Amusement appears and disappears at the same swift speed. “Was that the first souvenir he brought you?”

“Huh,” is mindlessly grunted before a wide grin grows on my face. “Pretty sure it was.”

And it was also the first one put up in our kitchen.

Hiskitchen.

The kitchen we are currently sharing.

The one I hope we continue to share long after I’m done being “the client”.

“And he um…healwaysbrings you something back? No matter where he goes?”

“Always.” I eagerly nod. “And I always make dessert to welcome him home.”

“When exactly did that start?”

“I don’t even really remember…” Clicking the pen casually begins again. “He just…came back from a mission one day…swung by my office for…something? Saw the piece of homemade angel cake I had been snacking on and asked could he try a bite.” The brightness in my beam suddenly gets brighter. Damn near blinding. “Kind of been baking him goodies ever since.”

It’s Harvey’s turn to nod, although his is slow and sad. “How come you never baked for me?” His hands fall defeatedly to his lap without waiting for a retort. “How come I didn’t even know you loved baking as much as you do?”

Unsure of how to reply, is what leads me to not.

Yup.

Silence isdefinitelythe answer here.

I don’t always know when that’s the case, but I definitely know it is right now.

“How come I never thought to buy you little things that made me think of you?”

The change in song to the cover band version of “When I Was Your Man” by Boyce Avenue has me internally swearing like I’m Samuel Jackson in aShaftmovie.

Oh! We should put that on our action movie watch list for the week!

We both not so secretly love an impersonation contest.

He always thinks he should be crowned the winner.

Typically, he probably should.

I’m better at musical reenactment.

Harvey shifts himself around more in his seat. “How come I never kept a spare set of glasses for you in my car?”

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