Meant For Each Other (Wattpad Version)

Mack and Bob

Mack

After the holidays, I went in and had a heart catheter put in to help with the blood flow. I hate hospitals but did this because of my family. The procedure took thirty minutes, but the process took seven hours total. Why? Because it took longer to prep me and for recovery. Plus, I was awake for it. It's a good thing because I refuse to have them knock me out. You never know if you'll wake up.

The best part, the nurses put in the same damn hospital room as Bob since that's the only room available. It seems the cardiac unit had many people taking up space. Getting old is a trap, don't do it.

I sat in my bed and stared at Bob, who looked pitiful. We warned him that his junk food obsession would catch up with him. He didn't listen.

"How are you feeling?" I asked Bob.

"Like hell," Bob answered.

"You look like hell," I commented.

Bob gave me a look, and I shrugged.

"Nice sympathy, Mack," Bob retorted.

"Well, don't eat junk, and you won't end up in a place like this," I reasoned.

"The doctor said I need to lose weight, change my diet, and exercise," Bob told me.

"Doctors always say that. I do all of those things and still had a heart attack. Their argument is invalid with me," I replied.

Bob looked at me. "Why are you here?" He asked.

I knew this question would happen.

"I had a heart catheter put in," I answered.

"Oh," Bob said, saying nothing else. The guy didn't even cry.

"You okay?" I asked. I know that's opening Pandora's box with Bob.

"No," Bob answered.

I looked at Bob as he ate his broth. I joke about Bob a lot, but the dipwad is one of my best friends. He helped me when I got shot, with Paige, and dealing with the miscarriages. Our kids fell in love and gave me two incredible grandkids.

"It's scary, isn't it?" I asked.

Bob looked at me with furrowed brows.

"You think you're untouchable until one day; you're not. You experience loss several times over, but your life is something you take for granted. Then you have this friend who gives you a hassle but is always there when you need them. That friend turns into your best friend even if they wear hideous shirts," I told Bob.

Bob looked at me, blankly.

"I prefer that best friend to stick around longer because he has a family who needs him. Plus, I'm not good with consoling his dipwad kids, and I don't want our grandkids to hurt," I added.

I watched a smile curl on Bob's lips, making me smile.

"Thanks, Mack," Bob told me.

I nodded. That's as much sentiment that someone gets out of me. Paige and Bella came into the room to see me while Ruth, Andrew, and Tyler came into see, Bob.

"Are you behaving yourself?" Paige asked me, glancing at Bob talking to his family.

"I always behave myself," I answered.

"Uh, huh," Paige replied.

"How are the kids?" I asked Bella.

"Kevin and Mariana are helping since Ian has surgeries to perform. Gavin will be up in a few minutes," Bella told me.

"That didn't answer my question," I told Bella.

Bella looked at me. "They're upset because you both are in here. The kids worry that one of you won't come out of here," Bella told me.

"Well, tell the kids not to worry. We're both walking out of here. Well, wheeled out, but the same thing. I refuse to let Bob kick the bucket and leave me to handle his dipwad kids. Plus, I don't want the grandkids upset and having a setback," I reminded Bella.

"Andi," Bella said, knowing what I meant.

"Why don't you have Kevin and Mariana bring the kids up here? I think it will help them," I suggested, surprising Bella and Paige. I looked at Bob with his family and figure he needs all the support he can get.

Bella left the room and called Mariana.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Paige asked me.

I looked at Paige. "Everyone needs reassurance, including kids," I answered.

Thirty minutes later, Andi, Coop, and Casey walked into the room, surprising everyone except us.

"Wow, I can't believe you came to see me!" Bob exclaimed.

"Why wouldn't we see you? You're our grandpa," Andi said, making me smile. The kids hugged Bob.

"How was Christmas? Tell me everything," Bob said.

The kids told Bob about Christmas as his face lit up like a Christmas tree. The one thing I know about Bob is he loved his family and the holidays. I knew how vital the grandkids were to him. Hell, he cried when they were born.

"That was very sweet what you did," Paige mentioned.

I looked at Paige. "Sweet has nothing to do with it. Knowing someone for since you're kids have everything to do with it. Do you know how I met Bob?" I asked.

"No, I thought you met in college," Paige mentioned.

"I met Bob when we were ten. Some dinks were picking on him because of his clothes and weight. So I picked on them with my fists. After that, Bob wouldn't leave me alone, so I sucked it up and became friends with him. The same thing with others. I collected strays," I explained, making Paige giggle.

"Yeah, but they're loyal strays," Paige reasoned.

"Yeah, they are," I agreed.

The thing with friends, you meet people along the way, and they stay or leave. The ones that stay are the ones that mean something to each of us. The friends I acquired through the years stayed, now if I could get them to learn a few tricks, that would be great.

Let's see; you have Bob, who has no fashion sense. Ian, who can't leave the oil alone. Martin, who's stuck in the sixties even though he wasn't born in that decade. Miguel still isn't up with TV shows. Chad, who goes along with everything because he thinks it's a grand idea. Then you have me, who shows them the errors of their ways. We all need a Mack in our lives. My friends are lucky to have one.

Eventually, the nurses kicked everyone out because visiting hours are over. I'm here for a night. That all this place is getting out of me. Any more and we have trouble.

"Hey, Mack?" Bob called me.

"What?" I asked, looking at Bob.

"Thanks," Bob answered.

"You're not going to cry, are you? Because you're doing well. Don't screw it up," I reasoned.

"No, but I know you had the grandkids come and see me. We've been friends a long time," Bob mentioned.

"Yeah, and we're remaining friends for a longer time. If you think that you are getting out of here from dying, think again. I didn't spend my life beating the hell out of people so you can take a dirt nap. You get better and come home so I can make fun of your horrible fashion sense," I ordered.

Bob looked at me and smiled. "I love you, too, Mack," he said, know what I meant.

My friends knew I cared about them and didn't need me to express it every minute of the day. No one is dying on my watch. If anyone kicks the bucket first, it's me; then, I don't have to suffer listening to people cry. It's bad enough when Bella subjected me to that god awful music when Andy Pandy dumped her. Two weeks of listening to that crap were sufficient for me.

No one's dying today.