“I can’t do the rock climbing or some of the steeper inclines, but I can handle the smaller trails.” The only reason I hadn’t joined it first year was because after the climbs I’d gone on with Chris, the local trails seemed too easy. Now, Chris’s climbs are daunting while the park trails appealed to me. It’ll be nice to be out and moving my body.
“Can I come?” Mark asks.
“I won’t be competing with you,” I warn.
Mark grins. “I’m happy to get along instead. What time are your classes finished later? We can go into town and pick up hiking boots.”
“I have a lab left, then I’m done. Although, I have hiking boots. But I can help you find a good pair,” I add quickly, so Mark doesn’t think I’m turning down his plans. I stressed about seeing him after snapping on the weekend, and I’m glad he’s being normal with me.
“I guess, given Christopher’s job, you know your stuff?” Mark asks.
“He’s given me pointers,” I confirm. And I know from personal experience what kind are comfortable.
“What about me?” Tommy asks gruffly.
I glance at him. “Do you not have hiking boots from last summer?” I ask. We had gone on several hikes together.
Tommy grumbles and I pretend I don’t know why he’s griping. Mark casually puts his arm over my shoulders, casting me a mischievous grin, clearly pleased that I’m not letting Tommy tag along.
“Here you are,” Eddie says, stopping next to our table. His gaze darts over me and Mark’s arm as he sits down, placing a tray packed with food onto the table. “You couldn’t have waited in line for two minutes?” He scowls at Mark.
“I was saving us a spot.” Mark shrugs. He takes the plate with a burger and chips from Eddie, keeping that arm around my shoulders as he snags a few chips. “You want any?” Mark asks me. I’m trying to subtly get out from under his arm without drawing attention.
“I’m good, thanks,” I say.
Chris had a cooked breakfast ready when I stepped out of my bedroom. I’m still full from it and eating what I had for lunch—soup and bread—had been a struggle.
“Is Louis coming this weekend?” Eddie asks, directing the question at Tommy.
“Should be,” Tommy answers before meeting my questioning glance. “Basketball hang out.”
“We’re booked into an indoor adventure park,” Eddie elaborates. His gaze moves to me and he grimaces, though from the way his facial features twitch, I think he tried not to. “I’m sure nobody will have a problem with it if you want to join us,” he says in the tone of someone who has a problem with it. Still, props to Eddie for inviting me. Between this and the party, he’smaking an effort despite his clear dislike.
Mark’s arm tenses around me, and there’s no attempt on Tommy’s part to hide hisgrimace. He shoots Eddie a murderous look. Eddie throws up his hands. “Why has that gotten me dirty looks?” he demands, the frustration in his voice clear. “I’m being nice, aren’t I?” He glares at Mark. “Idon’t want him there, but I invited him anyway because I know youdo.”
It’s my turn to grimace, but my face doesn’t make that kind of expression. Instead, my features harden into place. I stop trying to quietly get Mark’s arm off me and instead shrug it off roughly. Mark withdraws his arm, and I see equal parts hurt and frustration on his face before his expression is hidden behind a controlled exterior. To say I feel shitty would be an understatement.
The silence is unbearably awkward, and the old me—the me with two legs—would have been rearing to go for a verbal throw-down with Eddie. Knowing that old spats sometimes got physical, and not wanting to risk even a shove, I get up. I take my tray and walk away.
I’m slotting my tray into place at the cleaning station when Tommy catches up.
“You didn’t need to get upset about the invite,” I tell him. “It’s not like he was saying that to taunt me.”
“I guess,” Tommy says after a long pause. We walk toward the main concourse. “He didn’t need to be an asshole, though.” There’s an edge to his voice. “Has he made comments to you before? Like something bigoted or—”
“Tommy, I told you that’s not it. And he wasn’t being an asshole,” I say, looking ahead to see where I’m stepping. “I’ve never been nice to him or Mark. If I really want him to change his attitude, I can show him my prosthetic. Worked on Mark, didn’t it?”
Tommy grabs my arm and drags me out of the main hall.
“Ow—hey!”
Tommy releases me once we’re in an offshoot hall that’s deserted. He crosses his arms and stares me down. “That is not what happened with Mark.”
“We never had so much as a conversation until after he found out about my leg. He treated me the same way Eddie treats me, and for good reason.”
“Mark has been obsessed with you for two years, Kyle. And the reason you never had a conversation before now was because you never let him close enough for that,” Tommy says.
I scoff. Sure, the second part has some truth in it, but the rest is ridiculous.
