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

When will the boys be back?”
    “They just left.”
    “Even better.” He grabbed her hand. “I’ll carry you if you’d like.”
    “Mick... Mick, we can’t.”
    “You think the boys will be right back?” Mick asked. “‘Cause I have to tell you, posed shots or real, after seeing pictures fifteen through eighteen, I won’t be that long.”
    Dylan chuckled.
    “Come on, what do you say?” he brought his lips in softly. “Huh?”
    “We can’t, Mick. See...”
    “Are you on your period?”
    “No.” She laughed. “Look. We can’t because...”
    The sound of the back porch screen door slamming shut silenced Dylan, then Sam spoke. “I tried to take as little space in the closet as I could, but I think I gained more clothes or...” He stopped talking when he saw Mick.
    Mick’s jaw twitched as he looked at Dylan. “Clothes? Closet?”
    Dylan sat up. “Let me explain.”
    “Is he living here again?” Mick asked.
    Sam answered, “Yes, Mick.” he stepped off the porch. “ He is living here again.”
    Mick slowly stood up. “I see.”
    Dylan reached up to him. “Mick, let me explain.”
    Mick pulled his hand away. “No need.”
    Dylan huffed. “You don’t want me to tell you what’s going on?”
    “What’s there to explain?” Mick asked.
    “A lot.”
    “I don’t need to hear it.”
    “Then fine.” Dylan crossed her arms. “I won’t tell you.”
    “Sorry I bothered you,” Mick said snidely then moved back from the pool.
    Sam stepped closer. “Mick, you have to remember she is a married woman, has been for quite some time. You didn’t think I’d be away from this house for good, now did you?”
    “Not at all,” Mick stated. “Expected your return.” Mick started to walk away but stopped. “However...” he said with a lifted finger, “that little marriage speech...” He reached to his back pocket and pulled out the rolled up paper. “You may want to give it to...” he handed the sheet to Sam then looked at Dylan with a smirk, “Tracy. See ya.”
    Dylan shrieked. “Mick! You asshole!”
    “Bye!” Mick wiggled a wave and kept moving.
    “Shit.” Dylan slipped trying to get out of the pool. “Sam, don’t look at that—”
    “Holy fuck,” Sam said, his eyes widening as he unrolled the paper.
    “Picture.” Dylan dropped into the pool in defeat. “I’m killing him.”
    A chuckle, a shake of his head, then a relief-filled ‘whew’ came from Sam. “And here I thought it was Mick.”
    Frustrated, Dylan sunk into the few inches of water.
     
    * * *
     
    Anchorage, Alaska
     
    The loud sneeze that carried from the living room took Isabella’s attention away from the sandwiches she prepared. “Bill?” She snickered as she grabbed a towel to wipe her mayonnaise-laced fingertips. “What the heck was...” Her eyes widened when Bill did it again.
    Thunderous, almost belly ripping, the sneeze reverberated up through his chest and sloppily exploded from his mouth.
    Snickering again, Isabella, Bill’s girlfriend of three years, walked into the living room. “Fall allergies acting up already?”
    He sat on the floor hooking up the camera to the television and he looked up. He rubbed under his nose with the back of his hand. “Yeah. Either that or the change of temperature has taken its toll.”
    “Nah, it’s almost September. You get this way every September.”
    “I suppose,” Bill sniffed. “Don’t feel real clogged. But heavy, you know, like I’ll be feeling the effect tonight.”
    “I have some cold medication.” She pointed back toward the bathroom with her thumb.
    “Green liquid?” Bill asked.
    “Pills.”
    “I prefer the green...” Bill paused to release the sneeze that shook his whole body off balance. “Whoa.”
    Isabella chuckled again. “Bless you.”
    “Thanks.” He sniffed and rubbed his nose. “Maybe I will take those cold pills. I’ll grab some of that green stuff for tonight. I wasted so much time lost in the damn Eskimo wilderness with