CHAPTER SEVENTEEN #2
Both his parents took the hint. Estelle portioned out some stew, while Craig poured him a glass of tea. He put everything on a tray and handed it to Javi. “Why don’t you boys go out onto the deck? It’s such a nice night.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Malcolm said, taking his cane instead of his walker. “C’mon, free loader.”
Javi snorted, but he didn’t disagree, clutching his meal close. The pair set up on the deck, Javi somehow finding a beer along the way. Malcolm asked how the day had gone at work, envious that he missed the arrival of some new equipment.
When he was finished eating, Javi stared down at his beer bottle, lips dipped down in a scowl. “Either you’re really upset over the new axes, or something else is bugging you,” Malcolm observed, hating that his buddy wasn’t his usual jovial self. “What’s up?”
Javi ran a hand down his face, muttering under his breath.
“I can’t explain it, man. You ever meet a girl and you feel that zing?
Like an electrical charge or some shit?” He made explosion sounds and waved a hand in the air.
“It’s like that with Lola. I get, like, overwhelmed when she’s around—or I’m even just thinking about her.
It took me forty-five minutes to write an email to her this morning.
I mean it—nearly a freaking hour to basically say hello. ”
Pursing his lips to smother a smile, Malcolm nodded. Unfortunately for him, he was very well acquainted with that electricity. It burned him every time he was with Jessie. “Uh, yeah. I’m familiar with the zing.”
Javi’s frown morphed into a sad smile. “I need your help.”
“With Lola?” Malcolm blinked, unsure what he was supposed to do ... other than stay the hell away from her. “How can I help?”
After draining the last of his beer, Javi placed the bottle on the deck.
He swapped booze for his supper and shoveled in a few bites before continuing.
“She’s going to come to book club, and I need you to be my wingman.
It’s obvious she’s into you, but I need you to be less charming and attractive.
” Javi held up a hand and said, “And don’t be so nice and agreeable.
It’s hard to compete with you, but especially since you’re rocking that whole ‘fallen hero’ vibe. ”
Malcolm was incredulous, motioning toward his air cast and fading bruises. “Oh yeah, the ladies are clamoring for this.”
Javi playfully shoved Malcolm’s good shoulder.
“Dude, don’t even. You saw how I was with Lola.
I need help.” There had been countless nights out in Pinegrove with Trevor, Javi, and himself, and Malcolm had never—not once—seen Javier flounder and fumble.
He was always Mr. Cool, approaching any woman with the confidence of ten men.
“Javi, you’ve never needed a wingman. If you’re this concerned, maybe Lola isn’t the girl for you.”
“Pfft, have you seen her? Malcolm, she’s perfect for me.” Javi let out a long groan, as if rejection was causing him physical pain.
“She’s definitely your type.” Although that was a pointless observation. A vast majority of women between the ages of twenty and sixty-five were Javi’s type. “So how can I help?”
For the first time since they came outside, Javi smiled. “Can you make sure I’m on my game? Maybe talk me up with Lola, see if Maxwell can stop bad-mouthing my driving skills and dating history? I want to look perfect.”
Malcolm reared back in his seat. “Geez, man, I’ve never seen you like this.”
“I’ve never felt like this!” Javi jumped to his feet, pacing back and forth across the deck. “I don’t know why, but I really like Lola. Please, can you help? Jessie said she’ll talk me up, too, so if Maxwell lets me down, I still have the female perspective.”
“Jessie’s going to be there?”
Javi’s spiral paused long enough to register the fear in Malcolm’s eyes. “Yeah? Why wouldn’t she be? Her momma is the group leader, and, frankly, she’s moping around town like someone stole her puppy.” He snorted and said, “Which isn’t true, because I saw Gus when I dropped her home last night.”
Malcolm was on alert. “Why were you taking Jessie home last night?” Never would he think anything would happen between the two, but Malcolm hated having no contact with Jessie.
“Good Lord!” Javi threw his hands in the air. “Calm down, we went out with Whitney, Ms. Kim, and Ms. Daisy. If I knew you wanted to join the fun, I would have picked you up.”
“What did Jessie say?”
Javi screwed up his nose. “About what? We’re not chicks.
She seemed a little off and asked for a ride home early.
I wasn’t exactly feeling like being social, so I dropped her off and went home to drown my sorrows in a tube of cookie dough.
” He flinched and admitted, “Maybe I am turning into a chick?” He tugged on the ends of his hair before rallying. “Will you help me?”
Malcolm relented. “Fine, fine. Only if you chill the hell out. I’m exhausted enough without watching you spiral. If I wanted that type of theatrics, I’d go talk to Mom about the potential Atlanta Hearts reunion.”
“That’s really happening?” And with that, Javi sprinted toward the house. “Estelle, is it true that—” His question cut off when the patio door slid shut.
Malcolm could have focused on any part of his conversation with Javi, but he couldn’t let go of the little morsel that Jessie wasn’t handling their breakup ... if you could even call it that ... well.
That shouldn’t make Malcolm happy, but it did.
Parents and Javi distracted, Malcolm let his eyes go unfocused as he stared up at the stars. A streak of light dashed across the sky, and Malcolm made a wish.
He didn’t ask for a speedy recovery, or even anything related to his friends and family. Nope, he was a simp and wished that Jessie was across town, head tilted toward the heavens, missing him as much as he missed her.