Page 77 of Masters of Control

“Wait, really? I haven’t been because I figured they’d just tell me more diet and exercise, but I’m already doing that.”

“You should get checked out,” Sam said firmly. “Request bloodwork. If they tell you no or say you need to diet and exercise, even though you already have been, tell them to write down in your file that you requested tests and were refused and require them to write it in front of you.”

Unfortunately, Sam had all too much experience with needing to take such measures. Her doctor now was great, but some of the ones in the past had seen her size and her weight and discounted literally everything else about her. Didn’t matter what the actual problem was, they thought ‘lose weight’ was the solution.

“I can give you my doctor’s information if you want. She’ll take you seriously.” Just in case Amy’s usual doctor didn’t.

“I might take you up on that.” Amy’s smile was a little tremulous. She looked up at Morgan and Kincaid. “I’ll take a tiny piece of yule log and a half scoop of ice cream. They do sound good.”

As Morgan and Kincaid moved to the kitchen, chatting about their favorite parts of the movie, Sam pulled her phone out of her pocket.

“Are you going to text him back?” Amy asked in a low voice. “I think you’ll regret it if you don’t.”

“Yeah, I am.” She stared at her phone screen for a long moment.

Sam: Merry Christmas Q. I hope you’re having a good one.

Less than thirty seconds later, her phone buzzed again, and when Sam saw the attached picture, she burst out laughing. Which, of course made Amy want to look and had Morgan and Kincaid hustling back. Turning the phone screen, she showed them the picture of Q on all fours, reindeer antlers on his head, with a little kid wearing a Santa hat on his back.

Maybe they would be alright.

Q

Marquis was still beautiful decorated for Christmas when Q walked in, even though it was a few days after. Making his way to the bar, Q almost stumbled when he saw Law there, talking with Shane and Freddy. He’d come because he hadn’t been ready to call Sam yet, despite the texts they’d exchanged the past couple days, but his empty house had felt way too cold and lonely after coming home from his grandmother’s. He hadn’t wanted to go to Stronghold where so many of their friends would be. Possibly even Sam herself. Marquis had seemed like the safest option for somewhere he felt like he was home but wouldn’t have to talk to anyone.

So much for that.

He wanted to know what Law was doing down at the bar. It had been years since Law had touched a drink, but he was a recovering alcoholic. While he sometimes hung out around the tables at Stronghold that were near the bar because his friends were, Q had never seen him at an actual bar before.

From the dark frown on his face, he appeared to be upset about something. For the first time all week, concern for something other than his own situation pierced Q.

“Everything okay?” he asked, coming up to the bar table where Freddy and Law were talking fiercely in low tones.

Freddy was wearing a flashy green suit decorated with reindeer wearing Santa hats. Like the rest of the restaurant, he didn’t appear to be done with the holiday season just yet. Sitting up straight, he ran a hand through his blond hair, rolling his eyes.

“Mr. Paranoid doesn’t think so.”

“I am not being paranoid, Julie is actually receiving gifts, and we don’t know from who,” Law retorted, his scowl deepening.

“I think that’s kind of the point of a secret admirer.” Q slid onto one of the barstools between them, amused. For some reason Law had a stick up his ass about Mistress Julie’s secret admirer and that he couldn’t quite figure it out.

The biggest problem seemed to be that a few of the gifts had arrived at times when Julie wasn’t scheduled to be working, which Law felt was stalker-y. Considering how everyone knew everyone else’s business at the clubs, Q thought it was possible that information was just getting around. Especially since the secret admirer seemed to know things like her favorite flower, her favorite kind of candy, her favorite brand for spanking implements…

“I don’t like that they keep showing up here at the club.”

“Because you’re a control freak.” Freddy shook his head. “I don’t know how Iris puts up with you. Even Patrick isn’t freaking out like you are, and I always thought he was the biggest control freak.”

“That’s because Patrick’s main concern is Stronghold, not Marquis. He trusts Marquis to those of us who spend our time here.”

“Olivia’s not worried,” Freddy pointed out. He turned to Q. “Anyway, what’s going on with you and Sam?”

Law sat up straight, his expression clearing immediately as he focused in on Q.

“Something’s wrong with you and Sam? How come Freddy knew, and I didn’t?”

“Because Sam had Christmas with Morgan, and I hung out with Morgan yesterday, so I got to hear all about it.”

Now it was Q’s turn to straighten. That sounded like information he could use.