“I’m trying not to be a big problem,” Felix replied softly. “Whatever you want will be fine.”
“Felix, you’re going to be staying with me for a while. After a bit, whatever I want will start grating on your nerves. You’re the one needing the most comfort food right now, so let’s get what you want. I’ll pick up my regular stuff and together we can make meals that we both like.”
Felix stood a little straighter. “As long as you let me pay for stuff.”
“I’m okay with that.” Leo knew how important it was to feel like he was contributing something to life.
“Good.” Julie steered them toward the bakery. “’Cause you don’t have nearly enough baked goods to handle the shit that’s been flying lately. And we’d better grab extra chocolate.”
They settled into their shopping. It was not the first time they’d gone shopping together, but it was the first time Leo and Felix were trying to get things for a shared kitchen. It felt odd to Leo. He tried to keep his overall negative opinion of some of Felix’s choices to himself. He’d never stopped to realize how bad Felix’s diet was before. The number of Pop-Tarts, loaded Lays chips, and energy drinks made him almost nauseated.
Every so often, when they turned a corner, a chill went up Leo’s spine. He’d glance around, particularly when the sensation was of someone watching him, but he never spotted anyone overtly staring in his direction. There weren’t even faces he recognized among the masses around them.
The good thing about shopping was that Felix appeared to relax and become more animated, joining in the conversations with a vigor he hadn’t shown in several days. Just as he was about back to his normal self, a large woman with her arms full of toilet paper didn’t watch where she was going and brushed her arm across his back.
Felix jumped. “Don’t touch me!” he shrieked, jerking as far away from the woman as he could.
“I’m sorry,” the woman replied. “I didn’t see you there.”
Julie moved to Felix, stopping just shy of touching him. “It’s okay. She didn’t mean it.”
Leo glanced at the woman. Her face looked horrified. “I’m sorry, he’s been through some pretty rough stuff lately.”
Her face softened. “Oh, PTSD? My son’s going through that. At least you were able to get him to go shopping.” She moved her gaze from Leo to Felix. “It’s okay. Just keep working at it. Life will get better.”
“Thank you,” Felix whispered as he gave her a nearly imperceptible nod.
The woman turned and hurried away.
“Do you want to go now?” Julie asked.
“I guess we should.” Felix moved to the back of the cart and took a shaky, white-knuckled grip on the handle.
“Okay. I think we have everything,” Leo said. “Let’s get out of here.”
Felix held it together as they made it through the checkout and into the parking lot. They had made it to the car when a rough voice shouted at Leo from behind them. “You need to stay away from Aud. He’s too good for you.”
Leo turned toward the voice. “Randal? What are you doing here?”
“Get away from me!” Felix shouted. “Stay away from me, Axe!”
A knot formed in Leo’s gut, and he glanced from Felix to Randal. “Axe? Randal is Axe?”
A sneer danced across Randal’s features. “Oh, you. I’m surprised you never contacted me. I’m probably the best man you’ve ever been with. I can give you some attention when I’m finished with Leo here.”
Felix ran the last couple of feet to the car. He pounded on the locked passenger door. Julie stood between Felix and the others as if she were protecting him.
Cold fire flooded through Leo as he put all the pieces together. “You’re a monster!” He advanced on Randal. “You raped Felix. You’ve been stalking Aud. Now you’ve got the balls to follow us all through Walmart and tell me I have to leave Aud alone? You need to be locked up!”
Randal punched Leo in the stomach. Pain lanced through him, but he forced himself to stay on his feet. He swung at Randal.
Randal laughed at him as he calmly stepped out of reach. “I didn’t figure you’d have much fight in you. Like your friend. But then I enjoy it when they give up and just cry. Crying makes everything so much sweeter, don’t you think?” Moving faster than Leo could follow, Randal rushed forward and punched him in the head, knocking his glasses to the ground.
Stars filled Leo’s now-blurry vision as he made another failed swing. His head pounded. “If you’re so into weaker men, why do you want Aud? He’s not weaker.”
Randal laughed. It was a sick sound that gave Leo the chills. “No, Aud’s perfect, just like me. We should be together. He didn’t understand that.” He struck Leo again.