Page 32 of Drop Shot
He winces and presses his hand to his chest like I’ve mortally wounded him. “Whimsy. That hurts.”
“I’m being honest,” I defend, taking a bite of the blueberry coffee cake.
I have to stifle a moan, it’s that good.
“I take it that means it’s good?” he chuckles softly.
Apparently, I didn’t do a good enough job.
I give him a thumbs up in response because I’m not capable of words at the moment. Elias watches me and I feel my cheeks heat with the attention, but I don’t let it stop me from enjoying another bite of dessert. I box the rest up in an airtight container, and set it on the counter behind me, beside the toaster.
“You’re not going to offer to share with me?” he jokes as I join him on my too small couch.
I stick my chin in the air. “If you wanted some you should’ve gotten your own.”
He laughs and passes me the blanket when he notices I’m reaching for it.
“I did,” he admits. “I already ate it.”
“Then you’re definitely not getting mine.” I wiggle around, settling my body into the couch. If Elias wasn’t here, I’d have room to lay down, but oddly enough I’m glad to have the company. We’ve always spent a decent amount of time together, but never like this. I think we might even be friends now and not just boss and employee.
“What do you want to watch?” I ask, picking up the remote. I doubt he’ll have any interest in my reality TV show and besides I’m not in the mood for it like I thought I was.
He shrugs, smiling when Craig purrs and stretches her chin for him to have better access for scratches. “Whatever you want. I am crashing your off day.”
I huff a laugh, scrolling through options. “At least you’re honest.”
I settle on my personal favorite,Jurassic Park. A marathon of all the movies sounds like a good idea to me.
The movie has only just started when Elias muses quietly, “Maybe I should get a cat. After I stop traveling. I think I’d like that.”
“You should,” I say. “Cats are the best.”
He settles against the cushion, still petting a purring Craig and quiets to watch the movie.
When the movie is over, Elias clears his throat. “Do you mind if I use your bathroom? I have to pee.”
“Go for it.” I hook my thumb over my shoulder. “It’s through my room. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks.” He hops off the couch and Craig gives a mournful meow as he goes.
“He’s coming right back,” I tell my dramatic cat. She gives me an angry look like I’m the one who personally sent him away and not his own bladder.
While Elias is in the bathroom, I queue up the next movie in the franchise.
He returns, a moment later and the somber expression on his face takes me aback.
“Is everything okay?” I ask as he rejoins me on the couch.
He rubs his jaw as he settles against the cushions. “I’m not trying to be nosy, Whim, so please tell me to fuck off if I am—but are you okay? You have a fair amount of prescriptions on your counter. Are you … sick?”
I suck my cheeks in. I forgot about the medicine sitting out or else I would’ve tucked it away. It’s not that I’m ashamed of my disease, or even that I’m trying to hide it … okay, maybe Iamtrying to hide it. But is it so terrible to want to pretend that everything’s okay?
I’ve never told Elias because I didn’t want him to treat me any differently or to possibly think it meant I couldn’t do my job. But since I don’t have my job anymore, I don’t see the harm in telling him especially when it’s impossible to ignore the genuine worry on his face.
“I have lupus,” I say softly, toying with the fringe on the edge of my pink blanket. “I was diagnosed about a year and a half ago.”
He blinks at me. “You’ve been working for me for four years and you didn’t think to tell me?”
