Page 49 of Infected By Virus

“Yum, sounds delicious.”

“They were, and Uncle Barks came by while I was eating and I met a girl named Carrie but she wasn’t as pretty as you.” Adam spoke in a long, excited drawn-out run-on sentence. Rae was sure he was still going, but she heard nothing after Carrie.

“Here little man, play this and let me talk to Auntie Rae. You can tell her about the rest later.”

“Sunny.” She could tell she was off speaker as the background noise faded. “Honey, listen, I can explain. It’s not like it sounded, I promise. I didn’t introduce him to her. She was at the diner and sat down and?—”

“Virus?” she interrupted his spiel. She realized the old her would’ve needed his explanation to reassure her. That was not the relationship she wanted with Virus. Her accusing, him explaining, and somehow neither was satisfied with the outcome.

It was killing her not to hear every detail and obsess over it, but trust started with small acts. With a steadying breath, she spoke.

“I don’t need your explanation. If you say she’s just someone from the diner, then I believe you.”

“Really?” He sounded so relieved and happy. She hated to spoil the mood, but she’d have to. That’s why she called after all. “That means so much to me, Sunny. I fucking love you, but in the spirit of full disclosure, she was someone I had a one-time thing with months ago, and I had no idea she’d started working at the diner.”

His words made her cringe. The thought of him with another woman, one she might run into at that, wasn’t palatable at all, but that was a worry for another time.

“And your honesty means just as much to me. Seeing as how Barker mentioned it, I can’t lie and say I wasn’t curious, but new leaf and all that.” She gave a humorless laugh.

“Yeah, don’t get me started on that son of a bitch.” He lowered his voice, sounding as if he was covering the phone and his mouth with his hand.

Such a dad move.

“I don’t want to tell you who you can and can’t be friends with, but …” The sound changed again, and she heard a door close. “Damn it, Rae. Why him?—”

“Virus?”

“No, Rae. Don’t Virus me, I can’t do this. I can’t let it go. You don’t know him like I do, and I can’t, won’t?—”

“VIRUS! Take a breath and listen.”

“You’re not going to change my mind on him, Rae. It’s nonnegotiable.”

She wanted to be annoyed with his high handedness, but he was right, and to be honest, it felt kinda nice.

“He’s actually the reason I called.” Her voice broke and it all finally hit her.

“Shit, Rae. What happened? Are you all right?” She heard the door whoosh open through the phone and a small flurry of activity while she tried to recompose herself. When she heard the car door close, she realized he was rushing to her side.

“I’m fine, Virus. Just a little shaken up.”

“You don’t fucking sound fine,” he shouted so loud she pulled the phone from her ear.

“Virus, where’s Adam?”

“He’s in the truck and I’m pacing here trying to calm down because I don’t know what the fuck is going on.”

“Virus, calm down. I’m fine. Barker was here and we had words. Enough so Harmon and I felt you needed to know, especially since Adam loves him so much. He never laid hands on either of us, but it’s safe to say the friendship is over.”

“What the fuck? There’s something you’re not saying.” She heard the car door slam and an engine start. “I’m on my way, sweetheart. You’ll tell me every single detail and then … then … he’ll pay.”

“Virus, no. We can talk about it tonight at dinner. Enjoy some time with Adam and I’ll see you two around seven, okay?”

“Fine.” His voice didn’t hide the fact that he wasn’t happy at all about it. “But I want every word and your promise that you’ll let me handle it.”

“Handle it? There’s nothing?—”

“Rae, your promise.”

---