For the remainder of the time in the check-out line, he ignored Jodie’s blatant glares. After paying, he finally broke down with an exasperated, “What?!”
“I need a cigarette,” Jodie grumbled, then spun around and put several steps between them. She was already through the sliding glass doors before he processed the words.
“Hold on.” Mitch quickened his pace to catch up, then quietly watched while she fumbled with her lighter. A chill in the air signaled summer’s near conclusion, and he shivered. “Jodie, c’mon.”
She eyed him while taking a long drag, then exhaled smoke. “You gonna call him?” She responded with some detachment, but Mitch knew better, he could taste the contempt which radiated off of her in waves.
“I-” Mitch swallowed and glanced at his screen again, once more swept up in this ongoing tension between his best friend and his boyfriend. The delicate truce they established some time ago would remain uneasy at best. He nodded. “Yeah.”
He pressed the phone icon, then moved to put some distance between himself and Jodie. Several rings passed until it picked up. “Hi,” came a creaky voice through the speaker, still thick from sleep.
“Hey Calv,” Mitch squeaked out during a subdued yawn. “Sorry to be calling so late.”
“What’s going on?”
“I uh, there was an accident. During my match, I fell and I landed on my head.” After a moment of silence, he continued. “But I just got out of the hospital. My shoulder’s messed up, I’m in a sling right now, but I’m OK.”
“Jesus, Mitch,” came the response that followed another pause.
“Like I said, I’m alright!” Mitch repeated, the words now spilling out faster. When he heard the deep sigh, several visuals accompanied it: a hand running through hair, a pinched bridge of the nose, an indent appearing on a cheek that was being bit. His heart thundered in his ears.
“You know that what you do is dangerous, right?” Calvin impassively remarked. “I’ve told you this at least a hundred times. And for what?”
“I…I know that. But accidents happen, and-“
Calvin cut him off. “What are you going to do?”
“Jodie said that I could stay with her.”
“And you said you’re fine?”
“Yeah.” He stared down at the sidewalk’s crack below his feet, specifically at an ancient piece of gum embedded in it, and ignored the way that his face flushed. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Cool. So I have a meeting first thing in the morning. Can we talk later?”
“Sure.”
“Great. Later, babe.”
And before Mitch could complete the phrase “love you”, the call disconnected. He let the buzzing drone on for a few seconds before finally lowering the phone.