Have I been fired?
Stop catastrophizing and read it. I bet it’s a love note.
Bowie wasn’t sure where his animal got these ideas from, but he sucked in a breath and picked up the folded piece of paper. With another deep breath, which he held, he flipped it open.
Good morning, Babycakes,
I hope you slept through the night and feel well rested this morning. I’ve left the cream on the counter for your elbow and neck, make sure you use it after your shower. There is a plate of food in the kitchen for you to heat. Please eat it all to help your body heal.
First, I want to assure you, Bowie, that you aren’t in any kind of trouble. It’s perfectly legitimate to take time off after such a trauma. Second, if you aren’t up to coming into work today,that is fine. Just send me a text message, and I’ll come and check in on you later.
Third, I’ve let Hollis know you are okay, but I have shared nothing with him. That is your decision to make.
See you later.
Kari
Bowie reread the letter no less than six times as he kept getting stuck on the nickname ‘babycakes’. The rest was important, Bowie knew that, but his heart gave a little bump at how Kari referred to him.
The sweetness of Kari’s actions came next, and back was the sniffing as he went through to the kitchen after seeing it was just before seven. Clutching the note, he found the plate of potato cakes, sausage, and grilled sliced tomato. The note that sat on the cling wrap said‘eat me’and had a tiny smiley face.
His chin trembled, his gaze sweeping the tidy kitchen before going beyond the counter to the carpet where he’d…
The pricking at the back of his eyelids increased until his vision blurred as he gave in to the overwhelming urge to cry. Gone were the reminders of that awful night—if he didn’t think about his elbow—and Kari had done that with no fuss.
It was silly. He knew it was okay to feel all emotional over it. He just didn’t understand why Kari had been so… kind? The word didn’t fit the vastness of emotions inside Bowie. It was likesomeone had tied a bow around his heart and was squeezing it, but in a good way. How could that be?
He sigh-hiccuped at his own stupid thought and placed the notes carefully on the counter, dashing his hands over his wet cheeks. “Stop being silly, it’s just food.”
He scrubbed your pee off the carpet.
He blew out, deciding not to think about that when it made his stomach dip unpleasantly. Taking the plate to the microwave oven to heat it, his tummy grumbled as the scent of sausage meat filled his kitchen.
Bowie went in search of his cell phone and found it by the couch. The notifications on the screen for the group chat were enough to have him open the app to read.
A lump formed in his throat at the obvious concern from his friends. He just wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened.
Delicious & Vicious
Bowie:Hey…
Bowie stared for a long minute, trying to think of the right thing to write. When nothing seemed appropriate without getting lots of questions, he hit send on the single word he’d typed and immediately shut down the app, placing his phone down when a loud bing alerted him breakfast was ready.
Yes, it was cowardly, but he needed a little more time before he could voice what had gone on with Rex. His gaze went to the locked door and he chewed on the inside of his cheek to hold back the next bout of blubbering at the possibility of running into Rex when he stepped outside his door.
Call Kari, he’ll protect us.
He wanted to argue with his animal half, but Bowie’s fear of meeting Rex was big enough to make it hard to do that.
Won’t that appear a little overdramatic?
Something he did not want to appear after how Kari had found him. He was a man, and not small, he should be able to defend himself—shouldn’t he?
Size has got nothing to do with anything. Rex is a pig, and Kari will kick his ass for us. Ring him, come on, you know you want to.
I could take the day off,he hedged, weakening when that wasn’t a work ethic that Bowie had ever followed.
Stop that nonsense, there’s nothing wrong with you. Now ring Kari.
