Page 84 of The Biker and the Baker
To say I'm shocked that Kendra, of all people, is here to check in on me is an understatement. Dope chick, but she’s sort of antisocial. Not a talker, not the friendliest, never warm or welcoming. Although she'd beenkind ofcool with me when Onyx and I were a thing, she's the last person I'd expect to see.
"Uh, hi, Kenny…"
She sets the paper bag she came with on the kitchen counter and begins unpacking its contents. Two boxes of tissues, cough syrup, Vitamin C, paracetamol, a bunch of decongestants, and packets of Fisherman's Friend.
After she’s done, she walks around the couch to where I’m at and asks, “You good?"
"Toni brought me some chicken soup earlier," I tell her. "It's helped a lot."
She nods. "Good."
Shocking me further, she proceeds to collect all of the balled-up tissues scattered around me, toss them in the garbage, then wash her hands at the sink.
Hands dried with a paper towel, she tells me, “Try getting some rest, you look like you got run over by a truck." She gestures to the stuff on the counter. "And take these. They’ll help."
She's gone before I can get out a “thanks.”
~
Two hours later, I stir from my nap pain-free. Thank you, paracetamol. It’s a temporary reprieve, but I’m basking in it while it lasts. On the flatscreen, Netflix wants to know if I’m still watching. I feel around for the remote and hit “yes.”
Arching my back, I stretch with a satisfying moan and instantly regret it when I feel a dull ache in my lower back.Welp,that didn’t last long.
Time for more painkillers. And Fisherman’s Friend. Those lozenges have helped a ton with the congestion.
As I swing my feet off the couch and start to stand, a voice startles me. “Sit down. Tell me what you need and I’ll get it.”
Glancing around, I find Cookie lounging on the long couch on the other side of the RV, opposite the kitchen. “When…what are you–”
“Heard you were sick,” she says. “Brought you some honey-lemon-ginger shit that’ll help. Some brownies and ginger cookies, too.”
“How long have you been here?”
“About an hour or so.” She stands up. “What do you need?”
“Um, just some of those painkillers and lozenges Kenny got me.”
“I got it,” she says, straightening up. She brings me the painkillers and cough drops along with a glass of water, then goes about making me tea.
So, mybossis here. Making me tea. While I’m at herengagednephew’s home.Nota good look for me.
Their knowledge of my condition and location is no surprise to me. As brief as my friendship with them had been, it’s enough for me to know how they operate as a unit. They have a private chat called “Oil and Water,” so word gets around the circle in a matter of seconds. And I have no doubt that I’m a hot topic in that chat today. They look out for each other and are there in a blink when needed. What I don’t understand, though, is why they’re all looking out forme.
I’m not even supposed to be here. Onyx had expected me to be gone once the weather eased up, not holed up in his house welcoming guests as if I live here and spreading my bug all over his clean, shiny surfaces.
Minutes later, Cookie brings me a tray with a cup of peppermint tea and a saucer of ginger cookies.
After taking a few sips of the tea, I ask, “Are you judging me right now?”
Her attention is on her phone, fingers flying across the screen. “Just here to make sure my prized employee’s on the mend.”
Looking down into my cup, I admit, “I fucked up, Cookie.” I can sense her stare on me now, but I’m too ashamed to hold my head up. “I know it’s a shitty thing to do to another woman, but…I don’t want him to marry her.”
Vulnerability’s never been my color. But there it is. The truth. The reason I drove here through a thunderstorm. The reason my whole body is expressing symptoms of rebellion. Refusing to let me leave here.
Cookie doesn’t respond. Instead, she gets up and walks out.
~
