Chapter Twenty-One #2
“Maybe you go with Mars, Marcello,” I said. “I like to talk to Rex too.”
Marcello turned toward me. His smile and friendliness from earlier was gone, replaced with a worried expression. I nodded, pleading with my eyes.
“’Ow’s he getting ‘ome then? I can’t just leave ‘im here,” said Mars.
“Hello! I’m right here.”
We all turned to look at Rex as Mamá got off the couch. “I go make coffee,” she said, throwing me a helpless glance before turning to her sister and Tio Francisco. She motioned to them. “You two come and help make coffee.” They stood up.
“Mamá, is okay. I take Rex home.” I held up the keys Marcello had given me.
Marcello turned back to Rex. “You gonna be able to get the chair into the convertible? Cachi can’t lift it.”
“Marcello!” I said, a little louder than necessary. When all eyes turned to look at me, I felt embarrassed for Rex, for my stupid friend, and for practically shouting at him.
“Tell you what,” Rex said. “If Mars can help get my chair into the back of Cachi’s car, you can leave now. Cachi can take me home and then I’ll have Alain help with the chair or a neighbor if he ain’t home yet. See? The cripple’s got the situation all figured out.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yeah, you did,” Rex said. “But that’s fine.”
“What’s happened with you two?” I asked as Mamá, my auntie, and uncle slipped quietly out of the room.
Marcello didn’t answer, just glared at Rex.
“I’m sorry, Cachi,” Rex said. “I didn’t mean to start somethin’ in your house. I just wanted to come and talk to you a bit. I have some things to say.”
I nodded. “Si, and I have things to tell you, Rex.”
“I need to apologize too, Cachi,” Marcello said, reaching up to run a hand through his hair. “I was shitty trying to start something with him in front of you. If you think it’s okay, I’ll just grab that ride back to the office with Mars.”
I walked over to him, throwing my arms around him and squeezing him hard. “It’s okay. You no apologize. It’s no necesario, Marcello. We are friends. I know that.” I patted his back as he hugged me harder than usual. When he stepped back, he looked embarrassed. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
Rex cleared his throat. “Can I—can I talk to you, Biagi?” His expression was open and honest as he stared at my friend.
Marcello looked between Rex and me. “Okay, I guess.”
Rex nodded sharply. “Cachi,” he said, looking at me. “I’m gonna go thank your family before we leave. I’ll come right back.”
“Oh, okay.”
He looked at Marcello. “Wait for me.”
“Sure,” Marcello said.
Rex wheeled out of the room, and Mars stood.
“I’ll come with you, Rex.”
I watched them leave the room before saying, “What the hell happen? Marcello? You fight with Rex?”
He looked slightly embarrassed. “I wouldn’t call it a fight exactly, Cachi. I just told him what I thought about the way he pushed you out of his life. He treated you very badly. I just think he’s a really shitty person.”
I blinked at him and then blinked again, shaking my head. “No, Marcello. Is not true. Rex, he is wonderful.”
Marcello shrugged. “I know you love him, so of course, you’d say that, no matter what I say.” He was going to say more but closed his mouth when Rex and Mars came back into the room. Mars was carrying a Tupperware container, no doubt filled with more food.
Rex stopped as he came up, glancing between us, probably realizing he’d intruded due to the silence that hung heavily in the room. “Did I interrupt?”
Marcello sighed as he looked at Rex. “No, it’s fine. We were done.” He waved at Rex. “You said you wanted to talk with me?”
Rex nodded. “Yeah, in private.” He glanced at me. “Stay here, Cachi? It’ll only take a minute or so.”
I nodded. “Okay, Rex.” I watched him wheel toward the door as Marcello threw his arm around my shoulder.
“Don’t let him treat you badly, Cachi. You’re a wonderful man. I hope you know it.” He punctuated the whispered words with a tight hug before letting go. I couldn’t say anything because my throat felt tight with emotions. I just nodded at him.
He smiled and whirled on a heel before striding after Rex.
REX
Marcello followed me outside and we stopped on the porch. I waited until he’d closed the door, before sticking out my hand.
He looked down at it, thinking hard—I could tell—for a long time, before taking it. “What’s this all about?” he said, quickly letting go. “I think I made my feelings perfectly clear the last time I talked to you.”
I smirked. “You did. I only wanted to say somethin’ to you because after you came to talk to me…well, dammit, I wanted to apologize for the way I talked to you. I treated you real badly.”
“Thanks for the apology but that wasn’t the issue,” he said. The way he’d folded his arms over his chest, told me this conversation wasn’t going to be as easy as I’d thought.
“The issue wasn’t the way you treated me, Monroe.
I couldn’t give a shit about that. The issue was the way you treated Cachi.
I told you what a standing prick I thought you were.
I hope you know I wasn’t kidding. You were a total dick, and you can do all the kissing butt with him that you want, but that still won’t change the fact that you’re a total dick.
” He hooked a thumb at the door. “He’s over the moon for you, but I can see right through your act. ”
I smirked, beginning to really like the guy. Something about the way he stood up for Cachi was growing on me. I still didn’t trust that he wasn’t halfway in love with him, but I really appreciated how he stood up for him.
He frowned deeply. “What are you smirking at?”
I grinned, unable to stop myself. “It’s just nice to see you fight for him. I really like that. You’re a good friend to him, Biagi.”
He blinked. “What?”
“I mean you’re standin’ up for him, steppin’ between him and me because you think I’m bad for him, and that’s damned admirable.
You’re bein’ a good friend to him. I really appreciate it.
” When he opened his mouth to respond, I held up both hands.
“Lemme finish.” He nodded. “I love that man in there. I think I fell in love with him the first time I saw him and my love for him never went away. Back there in the hospital, I told you them things the way I did because I don’t like the way you look at him. I have a feelin’ you love him.”
He shook his head. “Yeah, I do. But you couldn’t be more wrong about that if you tried, Monroe. I don’t love him that way. Cachi’s just my oldest and dearest friend.”
I pondered his words for a while, trying to determine the truth of them before finally nodding. “If you say so, then good.” I paused, sighing deeply. This falling on my sword thing really sucked.
“Anyway…back then, I was feelin’ pretty shitty about my lot in life…
about the way I figured I was half a man and lookin’ down a long tunnel of a future as a paralyzed man.
I admit I was a fuckin’ coward for sendin’ him away the way I done.
Makin’ him feel like he wasn’t loved…that’s unforgivable.
” Inhaling a deep breath, I said, “I wanted to set things straight so you knew what was really goin’ on back there in the hospital. ”
He was quiet for several seconds and when he uncrossed his arms, I thought it was a good first step. “So, you’re telling me you’ve changed?”
“I’m tellin’ you that I’ve always loved him. I never stopped. And now that I can feel my legs again, I’m not feelin’ so hopeless…like I was in the hospital.”
His eyes widened. “You can feel your legs? You mean the paralysis—”
“Ain’t gonna be permanent, no,” I replied. I glanced at the door before looking back. “I haven’t told him yet, so I’d appreciate it if you don’t spoil the surprise, okay?”
For the first time since we’d come out onto the porch, his whole body relaxed.
“Wow, that’s great news, Monroe. I’m really happy for you.
” He was quiet as I nodded. “And…I…thanks for the apology and the explanation. I guess I was kinda hot under the collar and quick to jump the gun back there in the hospital.”
I shook my head. “No. No you weren’t, Biagi. Every damned thing you said was justified.” I looked him right in the eye. “For Cachi’s sake, I hope we can forget all the harsh words and put it in the rearview mirror. Would that be possible?”
He finally cracked a small smile as he nodded. “Sure, Monroe. I’m…I’m good with that.” He held out a hand, and I shook it.
“Good. Glad we settled that. Now, can you and Mars fuck off so I can give him my good news and fall on my sword like the total dick I am?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I think we can do that.” When I turned the chair, he patted me on the shoulder. “Let’s not let this happen again.”
“Of course not,” I said.
“Because I plan on being around your team a lot more in the future.”
“Oh, yeah?” What the hell?
“Well, I hope so.”
“How do you plan on accomplishin’ that?”
“By dating one of the guys.”
I lifted an eyebrow, looking him up and down. “I thought you were straight.”
He smiled. “I’m bi.”
I pursed my lips, nodding slowly. “Okay…so…who you got your eye on?”
He chuckled. “One of them. Don’t worry about who just yet. Let’s just say I want the relationship to grow organically.”
I snorted. “My team ain’t a row of turnips, Biagi.”
He laughed, then reached out and opened the door. Cachi was standing in the foyer talking with Mars with his backpack on. He grinned widely, holding up the keys and jangling them. “Ready to go, Rex?”
“You bet, sugar.” I backed up and then pivoted, heading down the pathway to the Thunderbird and hopefully…my future.