“’Bout time you showed up. I was about to put myself out of misery,” Kansas grumbles as he lifts another box and dips his head so he doesn’t hit it on the truck on his way out.
“Sorry, had to drop Alicia off. Everyone here?”
“Everyone but Wolf,” he explains, giving me a sad smile. He doesn’t need to explain.
“Fuck you, I can get the box. I can get all these boxes. I don’t need you.” Homer pokes Arrow in the chest.
“Go ahead. Let me see you break your back.”
“They have been—” Warden starts.
“—Going at it all morning,” Bane finishes.
“Annoying. I’m starting to get a damn headache.” Colt rubs his temples. “I’m about to roll one of these and try the product. They are infuriating.”
“Sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get out of here,” Bane states, shoving a box into Warden’s arms. “Go on.”
“Go on,” Warden mocks in a childish voice. “Jeez, I feel like everyone is so grouchy since Decay, Void, Nails, and Teeth left.”
“We’re four members down right now. We had strength in numbers and now we don’t,” Kansas offers. “I want to talk to Prez about adding four prospects.”
“Good luck with that,” I mumble, dividing the boxes up in each corner of the shop by flavor.
Wild Wanton.
Cherry Chaser.
Blueberry Balling.
Electric Avenue.
Who the hell came up with these names?
I know this isn’t O’Crowely’s doing.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kansas asks, taking a swig of water as he puts down another box.
A different flavor.
Blackberry Buzz.
“I just think Prez has his own shit going on. Hey, where is Pulse?” I look around for one of the biggest members who could help us unload the truck quicker, but he isn’t here.
“Had an appointment with Scarlett and Boomer, actually. Everything okay with them? They have had a lot of appointments.”
“I don’t know,” I lie. “I’m sure they will tell us when they are ready.”
“Old man, I’m warning you. I will turn your bones to dust. You owe me twelve hundred bucks for draining all my damn boxes!”
“Call it collecting insurance for dealing with you!” Homer spouts.
They are in the truck now and there are only a few boxes left.
“Let’s go break them up. I want to go home,” I say, slapping Kansas on the chest.
I limp toward them, trying to get their attention by stomping my good foot against the metal floor of the truck. “What the hell is going on? You two are ordered not to speak to one another for a week. It’s pissing everyone off. Can’t you shut up so we can get this done? We’re on a tight schedule.”
My words fall on deaf ears as Arrow and Homer continue bickering.
Something about saggy skin and a tiny penis.
I do not have the patience for this.
Colt hits the side of the truck and the wall rattles with a boom. At the same time, Homer lights something and slams the door shut, locking us all in.
“What the hell are you smoking—” I start, but then I realize it wasn’t a joint that Homer just lit up.
It was a firework.
“Oh fuck,” I curse. “Open the door, Bane!”
He wiggles the handle with his brother. “It won’t budge.”
“Ha! Fucker,” Homer crows as if he has won the war.
He tosses the firework in the air and it explodes, sending small sparks everywhere. I throw myself on the floor and cover my head, the embers slightly burning my hand.
“You fucking idiot! Are you getting dumber with age, Homer?” Arrow coughs as smoke begins to fill the truck. “Are you getting dementia? Why would you light a firework in an enclosed space with weed?” Arrow is so pissed he punches one of the boxes.
“Now you won’t fuck with me.”
“Oh, fuck,” I mumble again when I realize the smoke isn’t from the firework, but from the pot.
And we are locked inside the truck.
We have no choice but to inhale different strands of weed as it burns.
Warden is the one to burst out laughing first. “We’re in the dark. Aren’t you afraid of the dark?”
“Fuck you,” Bane snickers. “Maybe. Things go bump in the night. I don’t like those things.”
“I once held a cat I couldn’t have and it made me sad,” Colt says out of nowhere.
I begin laughing too. At him.
At everything.
Wait.
Why am I laughing again? I forgot what’s so funny.
Haha.
Who cares?
“Your stupid rice-crispy-treat brain did this to us!”
“Oh, that sounds so good,” Carson says.
I forgot he was here.
“The floor smells like skittles. Think it tastes like skittles?” I ask, sniffling the floor. The smoke gets thicker and it gets a little hard to breathe.
“Why did the potato cross the road?” Arrow calms when the smoke begins to get to him.
“Why?” Homer begins to cackle before he even finishes telling the joke.
“Cause there was a fork in the road.”
Everyone bursts out laughing. I’m holding my stomach, tears leaking down my face from how hard I’m chuckling. I can’t stop.
Oh, potatoes.
Potatoes.
“I’m fine, I promise,” I explain to Glenn for the third time. “I swear, the guy I left with is the guy. My guy.”
“The sexy eyepatch guy?” he gasps excitedly. “Are we happy about this?”
Are we? Just a few days ago I’d have been confused, lost, trying to figure out my life, but now…
“Yes,” I confirm. “We are very happy about this.”
Glenn lets out a whoop so loud that I have to hold my ear back from the phone.
“What about you? Did you have fun? Meet anyone?”
“Maybe, I don’t know,” he sighs. “I’m weird when it comes to dating. I want to, but then it feels so overwhelming, I don’t bother.”
“It’s the worst. So many things to do.”
“Hey, Alicia?” Boomer knocks on the door. “I just got a text from Homer. Something is up at the shop. I have to go down. I just wanted to let you know. Scarlett and the girls went to go pick up some food for the night, so it’s just you and Kimmy here. Will you be okay? I don’t like leaving you alone. I’d have you bring Kimmy if you wanted to come, but I’m not sure what’s going on, so I’d rather not have her see that.”
“Sure, it’s fine. We’ll be okay. She’s still asleep. You guys really knocked her out.”
“Anytime,” he grins, leaving me back to my phone call.
“Sorry, that was Boomer. You sure you’re okay? You can come over.”
“No, it’s alright. I have a hangover. I had way too many whiskeys last night and if we’re going to open tomorrow, I need to rest. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Sounds good. If you need anything, let me know.” I hang up the phone and toss it on the side of the bed, staring across the room to see Kimmy sound asleep.