The Flu 1/2 by Jacqueline Druga Read Free Book Online

didn’t.
    That was six months earlier.
    The relationship wasn’t exactly where he’d hoped it would be, but it was further than he thought it would be. And after all the years of waiting and chasing, despite what he outwardly showed Dylan, Mick was really happy with what they had.
    “I’m back,” Mick announced just before he dropped down to the blanket next to Dylan. He watched her reach, lift her drink cup, wait until he was settled then she put it down. “Dylan, I wasn’t even close to knocking that over.”
    “Oh, I wasn’t worried about that. See, you cause minor earthquakes when you drop that big body to the ground. I can just hear the Seismology department in Cleveland right now. ‘Oh, we have seismic activity.’ ‘Nah, that’s just Chief Owens sitting down.’”
    Mick blinked at her. “Why do you have to kill me every single time?”
    Dylan smiled.
    Rolling onto his side, Mick leaned into Dylan and she backed up. “What? I want a kiss.”
    “Right,” she scoffed. “No can do. That’s a blatant public display of affection.”
    “Oh, yeah? Well, if I don’t get a greeting kiss from you, this big body, as you call it, will roll itself on that little body, and I’ll cite us both for indecent exposure and sell the story to the Review . Up to you.”
    After a little smile, Dylan kissed him. “There.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” She picked up her drink. “How was the accident?”
    “Boring. Where are the boys?”
    “Well, Tigger’s over there with...” she sighed as she pointed, “Patrick.”
    “Stop that.”
    Dylan giggled. “Dustin’s got himself a little girlfriend to talk to and Christian...” she pointed again, only to the stage, “he’s got his head buried in that amp.”
    Mick laughed. “Oh, that is funny. But you have to admit, the band is kicking tonight.”
    “Especially Dexter,” Dylan commented. “Sixty-five years old. I don’t think the man has stopped wiggling that body for over an hour. The energy that man must have.” She exhaled. “Probably has more energy than you.”
    “Probably. He has a secret to that energy, you know. Brags about it all the time.”
    “What? His energy?”
    “Sexual energy.” Mick stole her drink.
    “Oh, get out of here, he does not brag about that.” Dylan took her drink back.
    “Does too. Heard him giving away his secret. Was saying at the diner, he jerks off every day after his morning piss, releasing the built up testosterone that wears him down, all while insuring longevity for whenever Lil Carter gives him a call.”
    “Liar.”
    “Am not lying. Can I make up lies that fast and that good off the top of my head?”
    After thinking for a second, Dylan shook her head. “No. You’re too creatively impaired.”
    “Geez, thank you for...” The hiss of his police radio and the call of the name ‘Chief’ made Mick cringe. “Goddamn it.” He picked up his radio. “Yeah.”
    The male voice spoke, ‘Hey, Chief, got a carload of intoxicated kids out at Barrett’s farm. They hit his fence. Problem is Old Man Barrett’s got them tied down with a shotgun until the police arrive. You wanna take it or you want me to call County?”
    “I’ll take it, thanks.” Mick hooked the radio back and sat up. “Duty calls.”
    “No, it did not. County could have handled it. You just don’t want to miss anything.”
    “You’re right.” Mick stole a quick kiss. “I shouldn’t be long, but if I am, can I stop by your house?”
    “Yes.”
    Mick’s mouth opened, he was preparing to argue, to ask, even beg, but he didn’t have to. “Yes? Just like that, yes?”
    “Yes,” Dylan repeated.
    “Aren’t we becoming the couple now?” Mick stood up. “I’ll see you in a bit.” Smiling, he walked off. He reached the end of the park thinking about the progress he and Dylan were making, turned around to wave again, and when he did, he froze. There approaching Dylan was Sam. It didn’t take Sam long to sit right down.