“Oh jeez,” Tank said, his upper lip breaking out in a sweat. “You know about it?”
“Lula told me.”
“What did she say? Did she say how it happened? You know, how I proposed?”
“She said it was very romantic.”
Tank did a grimace. “Listen, can I talk to you real confidential? I mean, Ranger trusts you, and he doesn't trust anyone, so maybe I can trust you, too, right?”
“Sure.”
“I don't remember proposing. I guess I was so nervous, I blanked out or something. I don't even remember buying the ring! All I remember is I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I was engaged. Lula was wearing the ring, and she was all excited.”
Oh boy. “I guess the important thing is that you're happy about it,” I told him. “You are happy, aren't you?”
“I don't know. I'm confused. You won't tell Ranger, will you? He'll laugh his ass off.”
“Ranger laughs?”
“He laughs on the inside.”
“You're going to have to tell Ranger sooner or later,” I said to Tank.
“Why?”
“Because you'll get married and...”
“Married! We just got engaged.”
“That's usually followed by marriage.”
Tank's eyes were blank and his face went gray under the brown. He staggered back, went down to one knee, and crashed to the floor in a faint.
The elevator doors opened, and Ranger stepped out and spied Tank stretched out on the carpet.
“Fainted,” I said.
Ranger walked to Tank and stood hands on hips, staring down at him. “Tank doesn't faint. I've been in firefights with him. He's a rock.”
“Well, the rock fainted.”
Ranger toed him, and Tank moaned a little and opened his eyes.
“Why did he faint?”
“I can't tell you.”
Ranger cut his eyes to me. “Excuse me?”
“I promised.”
Ranger gave Tank another nudge with his foot. Actually, it was almost a kick.
“I do,” Tank said. “No, wait, I don't. I do. I don't.” He shook his head, his vision cleared, and he looked up at Ranger. “Crap.”
“You fainted,” I told Tank.
“I did not,” Tank said. “That's a lie.”