Page 87 of Rough

“When will she be home?”

He tossed his arm, cast and all, into the air. “How in the absolute fuck would I know?”

“Well, when do you want me to stop by?”

“We’ve got some shit to do this afternoon, why don’t you stop by at 6:00 sharp, how’s that?”

“You gonna be alright for a bit? I need to get by the shop.”

“I’ll be fine.” He lifted his plate. “Rinse that before you go, would ya?”

I rinsed the plate, put it in the dishwasher, and returned to the living room. “I’m going to get.”

Already immersed in his reading, he simply nodded. “Tell Navarro I sent my regards.”

I stared. “You sure you’re alright?”

He looked up. “Just go. Before I get up and put hands on you.”

I chuckled and turned away. “See ya, Pop.”

“6:00. Don’t forget.”

***

I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty, so I’d mentally prepared for the worst. I eased my bike to a stop at the far side of the shop, pulled off my helmet, and hung it on the bars.

Crip stood at the workbench tinkering with something. “Grab a beer and belly up to the bar, stranger. Where the fuck you been?”

“Just busy.” I took a few cautious steps in his direction. “Nothing really. Pop’s recovery’s slow.”

He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widened, and then he spun around entirely. “What in the fuck happened to you?”

Here goes.

I stopped walking and shrugged. “I decided to just cut it.”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Peeb. Just cut it? If you just cut it, it’d be to your shoulders. If you just cut it, you’d still have that beard.” He laughed and then shook his head. “You doing another T.V. show?”

“Nope.”

“God fucking damn.” He tossed what was in his hand aside. “You did it to fuck the nurse, didn’t you?”

“No. I just did it.”

“You fucked her in the ass, didn’t you?”

“Nope.”

“But you’re trying, huh?” he looked me over, and shook his head. “You look like a snitch, not the SAA of a 1% club.”

“Thanks, Boss.”

“This is what you had to come by and tell me? That you whacked off your hair and beard so you could dip your dick in the nurse?”

I pushed my hands into my pockets and waited for him to finish his shit-talking.

He cocked an eyebrow. “What? No answer?”