The Wall of Winnipeg and Me

by Mariana Zapata

His nostrils flared at the same time as his thumb did that circle-massage thing that made my leg go numb.

“The only people in the world who can hurt you are those you let have that ability,

In my entire life, I’ve only cared what four people thought about me.

SCREAMS

know you don’t care what that asshole thinks, but that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to pretend he punched me in the arm. You’d just have to be my ‘witness.’”

“Team Graves, right?”

His forehead tipped forward, and before I could react, before he said another word to me, he leaned forward, forward, forward and pressed his mou...

“Don’t bother, Van,” he demanded, pokerfaced.

“I’m not going to say anything,” I said, even as I reached up with the hand furthest away from him and put it behind my head, extending my middle finger in hopes that the idiot yelling would see it.

“You just flipped him off, d...

“How do you know when I...

“I know everything.” He said it like he real...

“You really want to play this game?” “I play games fo...

“When is my birthday?” He stared at me. “See?” “March third, Muffin.”

“I pay attention,” The Wall of Winnipeg stated. I was starting to think he was right. Then, as if to really seal the deal I didn’t know was resting between us, he said, “You like waffles, root beer, and Dr. Pepper. You only drink light beer. You put cinnamon in your coffee. You eat too much cheese. Your left knee always aches. You have three sisters I hope I never meet and one brother. You were born in El Paso. You’re obsessed with your work. You start picking at the corner of your eye when you feel uncomfortable or fool around with your glasses. You can’t see things up close, and you’re terrified of the dark.” He raised those thick eyebrows. “Anything else?”

“I know a lot about you too. Don’t think you’re cool or special.” “I know, Van.”

“You know more about me than anyone else does.”

“And you know what I’ll do? I’ll go sneak into bed with you, so ha.”

“If you think I’m supposed to be scared…”

“I’m not.”

It didn’t look like this thing between us was fake.

I didn’t need to look at him to know his entire frame went rigid; I could feel it. Feel him. “Is that him?” he asked in a low voice that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise. “Who?” I was dumb enough to ask. “The guy who gave you the bruise on your arm.”

Before I could say a word, stop him, tell him that guy wasn’t worth the energy it took Aiden to get riled up, The Wall of Winnipeg had walked directly into my sister’s husband’s path, effectively stopping the five-foot-ten-ish man in place.

Aiden was pissed. Pissed. The king of control looked like he wanted to rip apart my sister’s boyfriend/husband/whatever the hell he was.

“Touch my wife again, and I’ll break every bone in your goddamn body.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t go with you.”

“I’ve let you down too many times. I won’t do it again.”

I smiled at him as innocently as possible. “So do you want to tell me who’s going to get the fists of fury?” I hoped I sounded as harmless as I intended, even though I felt the exact opposite as every second passed.

“You got into it with Christian?”

“You could have told me,” he accused.

“What he did to you. How he acts around you.”

“I’ll tell you what I told Zac: it isn’t a big deal.” The big guy went stone-cold still. A muscle in his jaw popped and a vein in his neck throbbed.

“It is a big deal, Vanessa. Zac mentioned it to me right before he left, but I thought if it was a big deal, you would have said or ...

“I’m not fine with you always thinking you have to deal with things on your own.”

“You didn’t have to get into a fight with him over it, Aiden. I don’t want that guilt on my head. The last thing I want is for you to get angry with yourself later.”

“I did have to, and I would do it again.”

A touch at the side of my jaw had me tipping my head back to look into those deep brown eyes.

“I know you think I wouldn’t care,”

“but I would. I do. We’re in thi...

“Trust me, Van. Tell me. I won’t let you down.”

“You believe me, don’t you?”

“What did he have to do? Take a running start to reach your face?” Aiden burst out laughing, not even grimacing as his cut split wide. “Seriously, Aiden.”

And he’d done it for me.

“Don’t worry about it. I did what I wanted to do.”

“Yeah, but it happened a long time ago.” “And that makes me feel even more responsible, Van.” I frowned. “For what?” “For everything. For not noticing. For not caring. For not making you feel like you could tell me things.” His voice was hoarse and just a little ragged.

“Aiden?” “Yes.” “Our Aiden?” I nodded solemnly. Zac still didn’t believe me. “You sure?” “He told me. He has the bruises to prove it.” “No. He wouldn’t.” He looked away and then looked back at me. “Aiden?” “Yes.”

The man known as The Wall of Winnipeg dropped his helmet on the ground almost casually. His big hands flexed and stretched wide at his sides shortly before he lunged. That huge fist went up and connected; Christian’s head flew back. Aiden hit him again with that dominant left hand, his big body up and towering over the smaller man’s by that point so that the only thing visible after the second hit was Christian on the ground just as players ran up to them.

“Van?” “Hmm?” “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” “Don’t make me ask you again.”

“I have time for you.”

And I’d never gotten to do what I wanted to do, I guess, you know? I just wanted to get away.”