Page 90 of Save Me

He picks up with a dry, “Hello?”

”Hey, it’s Micah. I have a problem.”

There’s silence on the line.

“Like, a big problem. Like a come over kind of problem.”

“Did something happen to Princess?” Ronan’s voice gets closer.

“No, uh, I mean kinda. He tried to stomp on him, but I think Princess took more than he got.”

“Stomp on Princess?” Ronan’s voice lowers and gets dark.

“Yeah, uh, can you just come over here?” I glance at the body, then at Maddox to make sure he’s still okay. He’s still staring. “I have to get rid of him.”

“Of Princess?”

“No! Of the…” I trail off. Can I admit this over the phone? Can they pull our phone records or something? “Of the no longer a problem.”

There’s a sigh on the other end of the line, then Ronan pipes up, “Oh, cool! You finally grew balls and did it yourself.”

There’s the sound of a smack, and Ronan hisses. Then Logan comes back on the line. “Yeah, we don’t do that.”

For a second, I’m stunned. What does that mean by they don’t do that?

“Hold, please.”

There’s more silence before a tiny voice answers. “Ryan.”

“Is Cal there?”

There’s a muffled thump. “The one and only!” It sounds like his mouth is full.

“Yeah, well, we’re gonna need a cleanup at…Micah, what’s your address?”

I rattle it off, and the men continue talking.

“Messy?”

It takes me a second to realize the question is aimed at me.

“Uh…yeah? There’s–”

Logan cuts me off. “Spaghetti sauce, I’m assuming. Gets into all the nooks and crannies when the blender explodes.”

Ryan says, ”I mean, we can squeeze them in, but we have to be back by seven. Mr. Dearth’s service is at nine.”

“Thank you, we owe you,” Logan says. “Be sure you have no more incidents, Micah, if you’re not prepared to handle them.”

It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to me, then the line goes dead. I stare at the phone. Slowly, it dawns on me that I got it figured out. I did it! Fudge yeah! I’m killing it!

Well, bad pun.

I almost jump up and down, but instead I look at Maddox. He’s still staring like he’s not here in this world.

“Here, why don’t you sit down?” I go to guide Maddox to the bed, but he snatches his hand out of mine, and in an almost panicked voice, says, “I don't want to sit!”

“Okay.” I hold both hands out to him. I creep toward the gun and grab it, and when Maddox isn’t looking, hide it under a pile of laundry. I just don’t want Maddox to make a horrible choice and hurt himself over this loser. Speaking of, I push Arthur’s foot out of the way to check under the bed. “Princess?”