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I showed her the pregnancy test and set it on the nightstand. She looked at me for a long moment, and then her eyes flashed with concern.
“Are you late?” I prodded gently.
“No… it couldn’t be.” I could see the wheels turning in her eyes. “I always take my pill on time.”
I nodded. “I think you should take the test all the same.”
She went into the bathroom and closed the door. After a few minutes, I knocked on the door, the blood thundering in my ears. I wasn’t sure what I wanted the outcome to be. Addison would make a wonderful mother, and I’d wanted to start a family for years, but this wasn’t exactly the ideal situation.
“I just need a minute.” She said.
I paced outside the door, waiting. Finally, the door swung open, and she held up the stick, one pink line. “It’s negative.” She said, “I’m not pregnant. It’s just food poisoning. Happy?” Her tone was agitated. I didn’t know what to make of it. I couldn’t tell if she was happy or disappointed at the results.
“I don’t like you staying here by yourself.”
Addison weaved around me and got back into bed, pulling the covers over her face. I came and sat on the edge of the bed and gently pulled the covers down. She wouldn’t look at me. Her eyes roamed over the comforter, looking for anything to distract herself.
“I’m not going to make you stay with me, but I think you should strongly consider it.”
“Oh well, thanks for the choice.” She rolled her eyes. Finally looking at me, she quickly changed the subject. “Did you get the good ginger ale?”
25
ADDISON
Mike droveme home for the day, and we chatted. I was slowly growing to enjoy his company more and more. The more time we spent coming to and from, we were slowly getting to know each other. Initially, I had been pissed when Damian had insisted that I be driven everywhere by Mike, but now it was kind of nice. As the car was rounding the corner, I was more than ready to get home, peel off my work clothes, and get into bed. Ever since the food poisoning, I’d been feeling a little off. I’d thrown up again this morning. I wondered if it wasn’t food poisoning and if I’d come down with some sort of stomach flu.
As we rounded the corner and pulled to a stop, I gathered my things. I went to open the car door, and I quickly glanced up at my front door and it caused me to suck a sharp breath in.
“Stay in the car.” Mike instructed.
My heart thundered in my ears. From here, I could see my front door was wide open.
Potato!
I instantly felt sick to my stomach. He was an indoor cat, and he always had a curiosity about the front door. He was always trying to escape and see what was outside. A few times, he’d even made it all the way down the stairs.
Mike quickly made his way up the stairs, and I pushed the car door open, and immediately scrambled after him. I didn’t care. I needed to see that Potato was safe and sound inside. But my stomach turned, knowing that was unlikely. Who knows how long my door had been wide open?
Mike had also served, and it was one of the many reasons that Damian had hired him. He was more than just his driver; he was a bodyguard, additional muscle of sorts.
Mike pulled out a gun, and tactically began sweeping each room, looking for an intruder. I looked at him, shocked. Never once had I seen him with a gun. I didn’t know where it had come from, but he was clearly carrying it, ready at all times.
I stood in the living room with my heart pounding while he checked the living room.
“No one’s here.” He went to check the front door. He ran his thumb along the door frame where the wood was splintered and I saw my door lock was busted up.
I frantically ran through the apartment. “Potato? Come here boy, it’s ok. Where are you? Potato. Tater tot. Oh, my sweet baby boy, where are you?” I crawled around, looking under all the furniture, checking all his favorite hiding spots.
I chewed my cheek and felt a hot tear streak down my face. Potato was my steadfast pillar, I’d had him since I was twenty-two, and he had seen me through all my ups and downs, I’d gotten him right after graduation and he’d seen me through breakups, and sham weddings, and losing my business. I felt like I was going to vomit again from the distress.
“You have a note.” Mike picked up a single sheet of paper with a note almost illegibly scrawled across it. I quickly approached the counter, and with trembling hands, took the note from Mike.
If you wantyour cat back, you're going to have to talk to me. I’m done with your childish bullshit. We need to work this out.
“I’m goingto fucking kill him.” I cried, feeling my emotions overcome with anger. I stomped back out of the apartment. “I know where he is, Mike. Let’s go.”
As we drove, Mike called Damian and filled him in. I gritted my teeth at Mike tattle tailing on me.
