Page 6 of Hate Notes

Kora’s smile was uncertain but eager. “Right… So I’m still not sure if we’re going to be working with plants, but I’m loving the energy either way!”

"Good," I said. "Because I’m going to do several stupid things all at once. But I think stupid works like negative numbers. As long as you combine the right amount of stupids, you wind up with a smart.”

Kora frowned and tapped her chin. “I… don’t know if it works that way, Em.”

“Well, we’re about to find out, aren’t we?”

I would show Cole exactly who he was messing with. And if this Orion Foster guy was half the tyrant people said he was? Well, maybe he deserved whatever was coming to him, too.

3

ORION

Iwas exhausted. A recent hire had accidentally forwarded a private company email to a client—an email which didn’t paint us in the best light. I had spent a few hours on various phone calls trying my best to smooth things over, which meant completely missing dinner and fucking up my carefully ordered nighttime routine.

I spent a good deal of time and money making sure I knew how to optimize my body, and part of that was sticking to routines. Thankfully, I pre-portioned my meals and kept them in the fridge, so I would be eating late, but wouldn’t need to sacrifice nutrition.

It wasn't the first time I'd been grateful for my systems. They were like armor against the unpredictability of life, a shield against the disorder that had nearly broken me when Dad died.

I stifled a yawn as I slid my key into my apartment door. I tried to push it open, but something was in the way. I gave it a few shoves, but whatever was blocking it was solid and did not budge.

Frowning, I stuck my hand through the narrow opening and flicked on a light, which caused... sounds.

What the fuck?

I gave the door a more brutal shove and heard a thump.

"Ow, shit!" Somebody hissed.

I pushed my way in and found a dozen people in various states of sleep scattered across my pristine living room. Colton was the first to lift his head from his impromptu nap.

"Surprise!" he yawned.

"There are people in my apartment..." It was a statement more than a question. The last thing I wanted to see right now was people. My sanctuary had been invaded.

Everybody was rubbing their eyes, sitting up, and blinking through their sleepiness.

I spotted Remmy and my mom on the couch. That answered my next question. I was going to ask how they got inside, but of course my mother still had her key. A key that was supposed to be for emergencies only.

"Happy Birthday!" Remmy shouted. "Surprise!"

Ah. Of course. I had foolishly thought this was my lucky year when Remmy and mom hadn’t reached out asking for some sort of party today. I should have known better. "I hate surprises..." I said slowly.

"Oh, come on," Remmy said. "You love them. Remember how happy you were when we got you the cat?"

"I was not happy you got me a cat. He and I are still enemies," I said, though my voice softened slightly at the thought of my nemesis. As if he could understand me, Goblin made that weird, whispery meow of his and stalked into view.

Goblin was easily the world's ugliest cat. It wouldn't even be a competition. He was hairless, wrinkled, bug-eyed, and his paws all had an extra toe. He looked like something that had crawled out of a nuclear testing site and decided to make my life hell.

There may have been a secret, never-spoken-aloud kind of bond that had formed between us over the years as our quiet war of wills went on. But it was more of a grudging respect for a worthy enemy and less of the gushy love my sister expected me to feel for him.

I was still pissed that she had the audacity to surprise me with a pet. You didn't give people pets as a surprise. Pets were living creatures who needed to be cared for. She was just lucky I happened to bond with him. Sort of.

I glared at Goblin, who gave my leg a combative headbutt, as if he was promising this was only the beginning. Goblin wandered toward his litter box, leaving me with my unwelcome guests.

“Oh, come on, Orion,” Colton said. He was maybe the closest thing I had to a true friend. Colton was thirty-eight and traveled extensively for his work. He was a highly specialized expert in medical technology, and either flew to distant hospitals to fix million-dollar equipment or sell it. He was tall with a permanently serious expression and dark, wavy hair. “Even you can let loose every once and a while, right?”

“Let loose?” I asked, scanning my eyes around at the expectant faces. I took inventory of everyone Remmy had roped into this. Irecognized three of her friends—Ruby, Celeste, and Ivy. All three were just as artsy as my sister but weird in their own ways. There were a couple of my mom’s friends, too. I spotted a handful of people from the office, and while I worked closely with them, I hardly counted them as friends.

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