CUBBY LOVE - MANxMAN

Chapitre Sept

COOPER

That awkward moment when you’re bumping into that same bastard off of Grindr.

Oh my God tell me about it. He was wise enough not to call the police or else his ego would be bruised and tainted as well not just dragging me down with a stupid confession to a violence that he so deserved.

I really didn’t even expect him to be shopping around here, let alone show up his face. The beautiful shiner that I left on his left eye that night, a fortnight ago was still visible especially under the sunlight. I am actually quite proud with my powerful blow on his stupid, jerk-ass face which makes me smirk a bit, not too intentionally.

He’s the exact reason why I shouldn’t even have bothered with that nasty-ass hookup app in the first place. He’ll be my first and definitely my last reminder of how stupid I’ve been for not fully using my brain and followed my desperate heart instead.

We didn’t really bump shoulder to shoulder but the hatred that I have building up inside me is more than enough to make me hold it down before I could give him a second round of punches. This is a public place and a stupid brawl would only resort in more questions and embarrassment for the both of us. I was somewhat glad that he didn’t involve the police after what happened that night and I wouldn’t even mind letting the cat out of the freaking bag if I had to. I got nothing to lose on my part, not so much for him though. I’m sure he would be more petrified of the social repercussions if something like that came out against him.

“Do you know that guy?”

“Nope, I’ve never seen him in my life.” I turned the other way round the aisle of frozen foods, after realizing that he saw me after a few seconds I saw him which is to say the least, superbly awkward.

Shawn followed me as I wheeled my shopping cart further away from him, hoping that I wouldn’t have to see him ever again. This one time is more than enough, a third one would probably ended with me losing my patience and would at least give him a powerful smack in the face.

“You’re avoiding him, anything you’re not telling me?”

“Shawn, do you know how much I hate you right now?”

“Come on, you’re not as spiteful as you might think. He seems like a total creep anyways. So I was just wondering if you’ve had anything illegal done with him.”

“Wh-what?! How… Where on earth would you even get that impression?”

“I don’t know, Coop. You tell me.”

I stopped on my track by the canned and pickled food section, the wheels of the shopping cart screeching a bit with the sudden halt and I turned around to face him. My annoying, sometimes quite insufferable but yeah, I couldn’t really deny that he’s the most awesome best friend anyone could ever ask for. I sighed and wonder if I should just let him know all about it.

“Do you think I’m like, you know… fat?”

“Wow, is that your best effort to steer this conversation away from that creepy guy? If so then, yeah sure you are fat.”

“No Shawn, seriously. Am I considered fat or not?”

“You’re a healthy, wonderful gay guy. Need I say more?” He suddenly replied with a shouting, excited voice, his arms opened wide over his shoulders.

I my point finger on my lips, trying to hush him down and throwing him a serious glare. Is he insane or something? Not everyone has to know my sexual preference especially here inside a goddamn supermarket. I looked around us in order to make sure that nobody is in close vicinity to hear what he just said and I felt slightly relieved.