Chapter Seven: Another Fine Mess
“Hi Kevin. Nick and I ...” He didn’t get any further. Kevin pushed his way around Michael, stood in front of me, hands planted on hips, and glared.
“Nick. I. See.” Oh was he mad. “ That. You.”
“Are taking stomach meds again, they are stronger than before...what was that Michael? Last ditch strength?” Michael didn’t seem to know which one of us to look at. “I’m having some serious health problems and I didn’t tell you.”
Perhaps I shouldn’t have related this in a sing-song tone. Kevin looked liked he was about to explode, and I was in the direct line of fire.
“You little SHIT!” What? “You bastard!” Kevin grabbed the front of my tee and pulled me to my feet. “How dare you. How dare..”
“Kevin!” Michael seemed shocked.
“Why didn’t you tell me? What the hell were you THINKING!” Kevin had resorted to shaking me. This was not a good idea and considering the events of the past year, you would think Kevin would know that. “I guess you weren’t thinking, were you Nick?”
“KEVIN!” Michael grasped Kevin’s arm in attempt to stop the back-and-forth motion. Perhaps Michael gets landsick.
“You weren’t thinking, huh Nick? As always you just let things go until they are out of control. But hey, why think when Kevin can do it for you?”
“Damn you stop!” Michael actually pushed between us. He looked at Kevin with complete disbelief. “How can you do that? How can you come in here and treat him that way? God Kevin, what are YOU thinking?”
“Stay out of this Michael.” Kevin was shaking by this time. I had seen him this mad before so I was prepared for it. Michael, obviously, never had. “You don’t know the history here..”
“History? I don’t need any freaking history to see you are being an ass.” Good one Michael. That’s going to go over well.
“An ASS?” For all the attention they were paying me I might not have been in the room. “Nick’s the one that is hiding things!”
“Hiding things? What in the HELL makes you think Nick has to report his health problems to you? Who died and left you in charge?” Ooooohhhhhhh. Michael was up for the challenge.
“Don’t you talk to me like that!”
“What, in that TONE? Don’t like it, do you Kevin. You know what, I’ll bet Nick doesn’t either, do you Nick? Nick?” What do you know, they noticed I was missing.
“Nick, oh no...” The break from the fight enabled them to hear me wretching. Music to Kevin’s ears, I’m sure.
As I was engrossed in my current activity I missed some of the details, but I did get my head held, my face washed, assistance with rinsing my mouth, and put to bed.
“Here Nick. Michael said this would help.” Kevin was trying to make up for his earlier behavior. If he thinks this glass of milk is going to help he’s only partially right.
“Thanks.” No sense in being rude when you can vomit on someone.
“Listen...” While Kevin contemplated his next comment I calculated the exact angle necessary for a liquid projectile to make contact right between Kevin’s eyebrows. “ ...I’m not sorry for what I said...” About 63 degrees from my present position. “..but I am sorry for the way I said it.”
“Fine.” Hold still, I’m gonna blow.
“Nick...”
“Move Kevin!” Michael was fast with the waste paper basket.
“Kevin, maybe you should go. Huh?” Kevin looked at us, Michael who was holding the basket, and me who was using the basket. Kevin looked completely lost, after all someone else was in charge.
“Nick?” As I was finished I looked up at him. “Will you be OK?”
“Yea.” No thanks to you.
“Fine, I have some stuff I need to do before tomorrow....” He trailed off.
“I’m fine Kevin. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
He motioned to Michael as he left and as I curled up under the covers I could hear them discussing what I assumed was me in the other room. I waited for a blow up, but none came. Finally I couldn’t stand it and sat up, just in time to see Michael stick his head back in the room.
“He’s gone. He has stuff to do before the wedding and the rehearsal dinner tonight. You don’t have to go since you guys aren’t actually in the wedding, so you can rest today. Why don’t you stay there for a bit and I’ll get you something that you will be able to keep down, OK?”
I nodded in reply. Michael reached in and switched off the light and cracked the door. I waited until I hear the front door close before I rolled over, pillow clutched to my stomach. Well, this was another fine mess Kevin and I had gotten ourselves into.
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