Page 2 of Cream
“You’re a genius. It’s in everybody’s best interest to listen to you.”
Mr. Hartley sighed. “People are stupid, Jamie.”
I shrugged. “Some of them, maybe. You’re a misanthrope. Why are you trying to save the planet again? So all the stupid people can keep destroying it?”
He grabbed a pen and made another note while grumbling, “God complex, I guess.”
I chuckled. I loved my boss’s self-deprecating humor.
Mr. Hartley set the report aside and glanced up at me. “Sorry about the breakup with… What was his name? Brian?”
“Liam. And thank you. It wasn’t meant to be.”
He looked as if he wanted to ask something else but remained quiet.
“I’m leaving in fifteen minutes, sir. Do you need anything else from me today?”
“You’re leaving already?”
“Yes. I told you on Tuesday. I have a doctor’s appointment. It’s on the calendar.”
His eyes widened. “Are you sick?”
I surely hoped not. “Just a regular checkup,” I lied. He didn’t need to know the juicy details. “I want to get it done before we leave for the West Coast.”
“Good. Then go.” He gestured toward the door. “Shoo. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, sir. Nine thirty.”
“I’ll be there.”
The train left at nine forty-five, but it was always safer to give my boss some margin. His ability to focus was legendary, but when he focused on saving the future of mankind, some things on the periphery slipped his notice. He could easily forget about insignificant details like food, proper clothes, or clocks. I’d call him in the morning to check on him.
At the omega health clinic, I faced a fatherly doctor.
“At least one in ten omegas has spontaneous lactation. Yours is more intense than average but not that uncommon. Had you lived in the previous century, you could have been a sought-after nanny,” he joked.
I smirked. I did work kind of as a nanny, except my charge was a grown-ass man who didn’t necessarily need nursing.
“It’s not dangerous?”
“No. I’ve run all the tests I could, and I can assure you that you’re healthy. There are some aspects of your hormonal discrepancy that you need to be aware of, though.”
“Such as?”
“Most omegas with your condition have an augmented libido and fertility in addition to the spontaneous lactation. The increased discharge of slick you’ve been experiencing is a part of that. Your heats will be irregular and intense, with nearly one hundred percent chance of conception unless you use contraceptives.”
“Will I have heats more often?”
“That’s hard to say. Your cycle will vary.”
“I have a demanding job, doctor. I need to have a modicum of control over my life.”
“When was your last?”
“Seven months ago. It was strong, but I used an intrauterine contraceptive.”
“The quick test shows no signs of an upcoming heat yet. I’ve sent your bloodwork to another lab that could give us a more accurate prediction. We should have the results in a few days. I’ll email you the report when it arrives.”
