“Here, I’ll take it.” Josie pushed out of her seat and came around to the boys. “You guys go stand on either side of Garth.”
I started to wheel back from the table so their photo wouldn’t feature a sixteen-ounce strip steak, and that was they halted, their eyes drifting to what I was sitting in. Both of their brows drew so tightly together it was almost funny . . . until I realized the reason for their confounded looks.
“What happened?” the young one asked, his gape on full display.
I tilted my head, not anticipating having to explain what had happened to the people in my hometown since I’d assumed everyone knew everyone else’s business about two minutes after said business went down. That two boys who were fans had yet to hear what had happened to me wasn’t what I’d expected to find at dinner. The staring and whispering I’d expected; the utter shock and dismay of finding out what had happened I hadn’t.
“I took my attention off the bull for one fraction of a second, and I got thrown good and hard. I landed on my head, and I’m probably lucky I didn’t break it open.” I kept my voice calm, trying to explain as logically as I could.
The boys stared at me as if they’d just born witness to their hero being thwarted by the villain.
“Did you break your legs?” one of them asked. “How long will you be in the wheelchair?”
If only I’d broken my legs. At least I’d have the reassurance that bones would heal when spinal nerve damage might not. “No, I’m paralyzed.” When Josie’s hand went to her hip, I added, “At least for now, I’m paralyzed. How long I’ll be in the wheelchair depends on if I stay this way for a while or forever.”
The younger one’s mouth fell open. “You might be in a wheelchair forever? You might never ride again?”
Josie cleared her throat and gave the boys a look that would have made me shrivel. “Do you want your picture or not?”
The older boy took the phone from her and started backing away. His younger brother followed.
“That’s okay.” The older boy’s gaze was zeroed in on my wheelchair, as if that were all he could see now. The man he’d so clearly idolized before noticing it was now defined by it. “Thanks though. Sorry to bother you.” Grabbing his brother’s arm, he pulled him away from our table and headed back to where they’d come from.
Josie watched them, both of her hands on her hips.
When she started after them, I spoke up. “Not worth it, Joze.”
“So worth it.” She thrust her hand in their direction. “Their mama clearly didn’t teach them any manners, so I think I’ll take a whack at it. While I’m whacking the backs of their heads.”
“Joze,” I said when she started their way.
Something in my voice must have gotten her attention because she stopped and looked back at me. What she saw on my face must have been enough to get her to forget about the boys momentarily because she turned around and crouched beside me.
“I’ve had a rough enough night without you going all crazy girlfriend on a couple of young boys for not wanting a picture with me after seeing me in this thing.”
She chewed on the inside of her cheek, holding back all of the things she wanted to say.
“Between Colt Mason suggesting I couldn’t protect you anymore, having every eye on me as I rolled through this place, and spilling wine down your mom’s friend’s shirt . . .” I shook my head, hoping future outings would go more smoothly. “Please don’t go and draw even more attention to us by giving what-for to a couple of boys.”
She blew out a breath. “They deserve it.”
“Maybe, but I’m not sure I can handle any more tonight.” I rolled back to the table and rested my hand over hers, which was clutching the table as if she might break it.
“Fine. I won’t go make a scene for your benefit. But not for those little shitheads’.” She glared at the spot the boys had disappeared from for a moment longer before making her way back to her chair.
I could see how upset she was over what had happened, and the truth was that I was probably just as upset, but I had to stay calm to keep her from blowing her lid. If she knew I’d been as affected by those boys as she had, I’d have no way of keeping her from chasing after them and giving them what-for.
After a casual inspection of the restaurant, I found a good quarter of the tables varying between occasionally glancing my way and unapologetically staring with a blend of pity and revulsion in their eyes. The steak that had looked and smelled amazing now seemed unpalatable as I lifted my fork and knife.
“Here they come.” Josie lifted her head toward Jesse and Rowen making their way back to the table.
“Rowen looks like crap,” I said under my breath. Her face looked extra pale and like every part of her was in pain. “Jesse looks worse,” I added. “That’s it. I’m just going to ask them both, point blank, what the hell is going on. I can’t take it anymore. They’re our best friends, and what’s bothering them bothers me. I can’t sit here and keep pretending everything’s okay.” I took a drink of my Coke and settled into my wheelchair for what would surely be an uncomfortable conversation. “What do you think’s going on?”
Josie wasn’t quite gaping at me, but she was close. “I know what’s going on with them. It’s pretty obvious. What isn’t obvious is why you can’t seem to figure it out.”
“You know?” I twisted toward her and hissed, “Tell me.”
“Tell you what?” Rowen asked with an arm draped around her stomach as Jesse helped her into her chair.