Page 60 of Addicted

But Owen didn’t seem ready to face anything. He wasn’t in. His office was dark and there was no coffee on his desk or jacket across the back of his chair. Liam’s worry deepened, for in the few months Owen had worked at The Pointe he’d never been late, not once. And he still hadn’t returned any calls or texts, not even theHappy BirthdayLiam had sent that morning.

If Owen didn’t show up in the next hour, Liam was going to find his address and go to his place but he still needed a little time to perk up. He wouldn’t be much help to anyone while looking and feeling like the walking dead.

Settling down in his office, he managed to get in a solid five minutes of starting his laptop and doing nothing before Marci honed in on him, knocking on his door and then letting herself in without waiting for his reply.

“Liam, my favorite person!” She sounded very caffeinated.

“Shouldn’t Isaiah be your favorite person?” He closed the laptop and swiveled in his chair to face her.

Her eyebrows rose, her gaze running him up and down.

“Bad stomach day?”

It looked like all his attempts to appear fine were in vain. He sighed and crossed his arms.

“You basically just said I look awful.”

She mimicked him, crossing her arms as well.

“I’m only asking as a caring friend,” she singsonged, trying to lighten things. Despite all Liam’s efforts to keep Marci at a distance, she was starting to feel like a big sister - bossy, but also caring and sweet. So he played along because if she knew the real Liam, the drug-addict Liam, then he’d lose her along with Owen.

“Yeah, I ate something I probably shouldn’t have and I was up all night.” That was close enough to the truth.

“You poor thing.” She relaxed her arms. “You want a coffee? Can you have that?”

Liam tilted his head, considering. The double dose had raised his tolerance so his morning pill wasn’t doing much. Maybe caffeine would put some life back into him.

“You know what? Sure.”

“Cream and sugar?”

“Please.” He started to get up but she flapped her hands at him.

“Don’t worry about it, I have to check on the main room anyway and we can’t have you scaring the clients.” She giggled, heading for the door.

“I guess they haven’t met you yet?” Liam said to her back. She gave him the finger as she left and he shook his head with a grin. A big sister indeed.

It seemed like Marci was gone for too short a time. Liam had just managed to stop staring at the door and was reopening his laptop when he heard her shuffling down the hallway, giving orders through her headset. As she reached Owen’s office she hesitated and Liam almost called out to her but then she appeared, closing the door behind her and handing him a large white ceramic mug.

“Thanks.” Liam inhaled the steam and took a sip. The warmth seeped into his body, zooming through his veins, and within seconds he felt a little more energetic. He might be able to make it through the day after all.

“No problem,” Marci looked at the wall that separated Liam’s and Owen’s offices. “Owen hasn’t been in today, right?”

Liam shook his head. “No. I haven’t seen him yet.” He took another taste of his coffee and was about to ask what was going on when she took off her headset and turned to him.

“This stays between you and me.” Her voice was concerned and she moved a little closer, perching on the table next to him.

“O…kay,” He was suddenly unsure and anxious.

“Those personal days Owen took? He was at court. But you probably know that already.”

Liam tried to remain impassive but Marci scrutinized him and then nodded like he’d given her affirmation.

“So, you know how Angelo will drive anywhere for good produce?”

“Um, sure?” Liam got whiplash from the change of subject but she wasn’t wrong. Their head chef spent a few mornings and early afternoons before work scouring the regional markets and stores, looking for in-season and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

“A couple of days ago he was at that big farmers’ market about an hour south, the one with the food trucks and the ice cream?”

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