I wanted to do nothing more than run to them and comfort him, but just as my hand landed on the door handle, Erika called me. “Dominick? Shouldn’t you be doing your prep work?”
I swallowed and looked from her to my ex and his brother. I saw them talking, Lee murmuring to him like he had when he’d been a kid and Kaine had experienced a nightmare. Kaine would often wake up crying, and the only two people who could calm him were Lee or me. At least he was in good hands.
I went into the back and grabbed the items I’d need to prep for the next crew and loaded them on to a tray. I debated for a moment what I should do, whether I should reach out to Kaine or not. I’d almost thought he’d be better off without me, but when I went back out to the hostess station something made me grab my order pad. I ripped off the top ticket and wrote a quick note on it and scrawled my new cell phone number on the back.
Kaine - Please give me the chance to explain what happened. It’s not what you think. —Nicki.
I started loading the salt, pepper, sugar, jam and honey containers and ran back out front. I could see Kaine sitting on the low stone wall. Lee had walked up and was getting his keys out as he was standing next to a dark green Jeep Wrangler with an Autobots sticker on it. I looked around anxiously for Erika, but not seeing her, I stepped outside.
I walked up to where Lee stood.
“Is he okay?” I demanded as soon as we were in speaking distance.
“Not really,” Lee said angrily. I could see the fury boiling in his eyes, and I knew I deserved every bit of it.
“I’m… I’m sorry,” I whispered, my eyes fixed on Kaine where he sat on the retaining wall, facing away from the restaurant so he wouldn’t have to see me. I wished I could have gone back in time, found another way to keep my mom safe. Found some way to let Kaine know that I had never stopped loving him.
“You should be,” Lee said angrily.
I nodded. He was right. I still had to try, though. I thrust my hand out toward Lee and offered him the folded-up square of paper in it.
“I know… I know I don’t deserve his forgiveness,” I began, the paper trembling in my hand.
Lee’s eyes jumped from my outstretched hand to my face, then back to my hand. Shit. Not my hand. Mywrist. Where my uniform sleeve had ridden up, and the biohazard sign was there in all its scarlet glory.
His eyes flew to mine, widening in alarm. I grabbed the sleeve of my uniform and tugged it down in shame.
“Pleasedon’t tell him,” I whispered. “I-I need to t-tell him myself.”
Lee held my gaze, the note still extended to him.
“Do I need to make sure he’s tested?” He asked angrily.
I jumped in shock.
“What? God,no! We never…” I stammered a moment before continuing. “We were just… kids. I wanted to… but he wanted to wait…”
I blushed and forced myself to stop. TMI much, Nicki?
“Please, just… just give him this,” I asked, again thrusting the scrawled note toward him.
Lee held my stare for a minute before finally relenting and taking it from me. I went back inside the building just in time, as I saw Erika coming out of the back office. I finished my prep work at the front table and watched Lee drive his car over to pick up Kaine. As they drove away, I couldn’t stop the tears, but I finished my work quickly so I could clock out and get the hell out of there.
I had been riding my bike for a good twenty minutes before I realized I had no idea where I was. The tears were slowly drying in the sunlight and I looked up and down the street trying to catch my bearings. After a minute or two I gave up and got out my cell. I pulled up the maps app, and realized I’d been riding in the opposite direction of our apartment.Sigh.
I was exhausted, and I knew there was no way I’d be able to make it home like this, so I reluctantly texted Viv.
NICKI: Hey babe, I need a favor… or twelve… or a million… or something…
VIVIAN: Sure thing, Baby Cakes! Need a ride?
NICKI: Is it too much like begging if I say, “Pretty please”?
VIVIAN: LOL Where are you? I’m OMW.
I gave Viv the address and waited. I started walking my bike in the direction I figured she would come from. After a few minutes I saw her new Civic pull up in front of me.
“Hey baby! Looking for a good time… Ohshit!” she exclaimed when she got a good look at my face. She slammed on the brakes and turned her emergency flashers on and jumped out of the car.
