Page 121 of The Scientist
“Yes, a lot of foreigners really love American Westerns and cowboy culture. It’s how I learned most of my English when we first moved here. I found out the hard way though that no one in Chicago said the words ‘howdy’ or ‘tarnation.’”
I laughed and started singing, “Where is my John Wayne? Where is my prairie sun? Where is my happy ending? Where have all the cowboys gone?”
He smiled before pulling me completely into his lap and pressing his lips to my ear. “Is this marathon something you do solo or is company allowed?”
“Of course. Any marathon is much better with company. You know, they throw the word ‘genius’ around about you a lot, Lex.” I tapped my finger to the tip of his nose. “But now you’ll get to see a real genius at work—acomedicgenius.”
He chuckled. “I can’t wait.”
We cleaned up the kitchen together before Lex went upstairs to take a shower. He was going in to work today, which meant I’d finally have a chance to tend to my garden that I’d been neglecting. Maybe Professor Dunbar would help me whip it back into shape.
Just as I was about to head upstairs, there was a knock at my door. I answered it to find Stuart standing there without his usual look of mischief.
“Hey, you’re back,” he said. He must have noticed my car was back in the parking lot after being gone for almost a whole week.
“Yeah, I was at my mom’s,” I told him.
He nodded. “Listen, I know it’s none of my business, but I’m worried about Lex. I know something happened between you guys, but he won’t talk to me about it. He’s in bad shape, Hadley. He didn’t even come home last night.”
“Stuart, he—” I started to say, but he interrupted.
“Look, whatever it is, I know you guys can work it out,” he said determinedly. “And I know I give him a lot of shit, but he’s the best person I know. And he’s crazy about you. I’ve never seen him like this. Just give him another chance.”
I didn’t get the chance to explain myself, because Lex walked down the stairs at that exact moment in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
The look of shock on Stuart’s face was almost comical before his face split into a wide grin, and he shook his head.
“Hey. What are you doing here?” Lex asked.
“Hey, buddy. I was just telling Hadley that you didn’t come home last night, but I guess I didn’t need to worry after all.”
“Yeah, there was a misunderstanding,” Lex said darkly. Stuart’s eyebrows raised when he heard Lex’s tone.
“Why don’t you come in, Stuart?” I offered. “I still have some French toast left over if you want some.
Stuart pretended to twist his French mustache. “Merci, mademoiselle.”
I went to the kitchen to make Stuart’s breakfast when I heard Lex say to him, “You were right about Nicky.”
“What do you mean?” Stuart asked.
Lex proceeded to tell him the whole story, and Stuart seemed truly appalled.
“What did I tell you?” Stuart said, but his tone wasn’t gloating. It was sympathetic.
“I know,” Lex answered.
Stuart sighed loudly. “I always knew she was a waste of space.” He paused before adding, “I’m sorry, man.”
I came back in and gave Stuart his breakfast. He thanked me as I sat down next to Lex, whose hand automatically found my legs.
Stuart dug in. “Work should be really fun today.”
A knot twisted in my stomach. I hated the thought of what this falling out with Nicky would mean for all of them at work. Lex started stroking my knee with his thumb when he noticed me shifting around uncomfortably.
“So, did you ask her about tomorrow?” Stuart said, perking up.
“What’s tomorrow?” I asked.