Boyd
“What the—”
“Stay here,” he growled, spilling the gifts onto the front desk, and ran after Queenie. He caught the doors right before they closed, trying like hell to tamper down the panic spiking in his chest. “I’m sorry and I know you want space right now. Please text me when you’re safe and sound at home.”
Once he’d found his composure—at least enough to get to his office—he turned and retrieved the things she’d left behind.
Luka was on his heels, and the second the door closed behind them he combusted. “Is that who you’ve been seeing? Do you know we went to school together? She’s my fucking age!”
Closing his eyes, Boyd took a moment to centre himself.
He placed the flowers and the lunch bag on his desk and slowly turned to face his son.
He tried to keep his mother’s words as present as he could.
“I know exactly who she is. And if I were you, I would use your next words wisely, because I also know what you have done to her.”
Luka froze, but relented and crossed his arms over his chest. “Since when?”
“A few weeks.”
“And you’re serious?”
“Yes, and I will not tolerate any disrespect towards her.”
For a moment it looked as if Luka was ready to fight him, but then he dropped onto the couch and sighed, defeated. “Fine. How did you meet?”
“At a bar where she politely let me know that my son was a bully.”
“I can’t deny that,” Luka grumbled. “And then you started dating?”
“That’s right.”
Luka took a long breath and slowly bobbed his head in understanding. “What now?”
Boyd turned back to the desk and picked up Queenie’s flowers, rolling them between his palms. “I’m not sure. I didn’t plan on you two meeting like this, and it clearly upset her.”
“You should’ve told me.”
“I was planning on telling you,” Boyd spat, livid at how things had played out. He set the flowers down and opened the lunch bag. The smile on his face was involuntary when he withdrew the food along with a folded note.
Boyd,
I know you’re busy, so I’m hoping this will help you fuel energy until you get time to eat a proper meal.
I couldn’t find any blueberry cake so I hope the cupcake will do.
Love,
Queenie
Fuck. He didn’t deserve her. Depending on how this whole thing played out, he may be very close to losing her.
“What do I do? Should I reach out and apologise?”
“No!” Boyd didn’t mean to shout, but he couldn’t stress how much he didn’t want that to happen.
“Then what, Dad? Cause you clearly like her and I just fucked it all up for you—again.” Luka slumped into the cushions.
He turned and cocked his brow. “Again?”
“Oh, please; who wants to be a dad at fifteen.”
That was rather surprising. They’d never been ones to have deep conversations, but Boyd had always prided himself that Luka was the best thing to ever happen to him. And up until this second, he thought Luka knew that. “Luka, you are not a fuck-up.”
“Like you planned me,” Luka grumbled, hiding his face in his lap.
“I didn’t but the second you came into this world I wanted you in my life.
I knew I would move mountains to give you a better life than what I had.
I’m standing here, because of you and the drive that you gave me.
You’ve never been anything less than a blessing and your grandmother thinks the same. ”
“I guess my mother doesn’t then.”
“Your mother landed herself in juvie. I made it out of that shitty part of town, she didn’t. We got out because of you. You are the best thing that could’ve happened to me and I love you.”
“And now the second-best thing just walked out on you because of me.”
Boyd let out a long exhale, and he looked back down at the letter in his hands. He truly hoped Luka was wrong, and that all Queenie needed was time.
“I’m sorry. For the whole freaking your girlfriend out thing and this whole depressing conversation.”
“We all have bad days.”
“I know. Just feels like I’ve been having way too many.”
He set the note aside and joined his son on the couch. “Want to talk about it?”
With that, Luka broke, looking more like a kid than the young man he’d grown into. “I want to come home. But I just got this job, and I’ve already had so many. My lease isn’t up for another nine months, so I’m stuck.”
“My door is always open, Luka. I know we haven’t talked much, but me and your grandma are just a phone call away.”
“I know, but I didn’t want to disappoint you again.”
“I would rather you talk to me than hide things like this.”
Luka shrugged and looked towards the door. “I think we may be the office gossip for the next few weeks.”
“Ah, yes: the boring boss finally brings in a beautiful woman only for her to bolt once she lays eyes on his son. I wonder what they think the reason is.”
Luka guffawed and relaxed even more into the leather. “I’m the best thing that happened to you, huh?”
“Yes, and I thought I always made sure you knew how much I love you. Apparently, I have to rethink my parenting styles.”
“A little late for that, don’t ya think?”
Luka rolled his eyes, and the two men fell silent. Boyd couldn’t shake the angst of not knowing if Queenie was alright, but he promised he’d let her initiate contact. After a while Boyd suggested that he and Luka get dinner, and he carefully stashed his lunch bag in the fridge for the next day.
Queenie didn’t contact him until later that night, when his phone rang as he was readying himself for bed.
“Queenie,” he hummed softly, relief easing his worried mind.
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
“Yes, there is, because I’m sure you’ve been stressing about me all afternoon. I’m sorry, I should‘ve told you I was safe.”
“I know that now.”
She let out a long breath. Boyd could hear shuffling, and could almost picture her getting herself comfortable with her favourite blanket. “I was caught off guard and just blanked.”
“He surprised me too. I didn’t know he was in town. I would’ve warned you if I had. ”
“I guess it was just a horrible coincidence, and now I’ve made you the latest office gossip.”
With a much lighter heart, he sat down too, pulling the fluffy blanket over his legs that he’d gotten specifically for her.
“Maybe I should add ‘workplace gossip’ to my benefits package.” Queenie’s responding giggle spread warmth through his veins and when she didn’t speak, Boyd continued, “Would you like to talk about it?”
“You first. What happened after I stormed off like a child?”
“You weren’t childish, Queenie. Your boundaries had been crossed and stepping back is a natural response.
After you left, Luka and I talked. He knew I was seeing someone, but didn’t know who.
I didn’t know how to tell him without punishing him for his past behaviour.
I made it clear that I knew what he’d done and I won’t tolerate it now. ”
“Thank you. Then what happened?”
“We actually had a deep conversation about my relationship with him.”
“You two okay?”
“He’s going through a rough patch and just needed to be reminded that he wasn’t a fuck-up, rather my greatest blessing.”
“Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded of that.”
“You are a wonderful blessing too, Queenie.”
“Don’t make me all giddy! But I feel the same about you.
” With another sigh she softly said, “I know he’s your son.
I mean, I knew that all along, but seeing the two of you together…
I won’t become best friends with him, but I won’t act like I did today.
Even though the past still hurts, I will be more civil. ”
“You were civil, just overwhelmed. ”
“I still feel bad.”
“I don’t want you to.” Letting his head fall back and enjoying the peace of mind that she’d reached out to him, he added, “Thank you for your care package, it made me feel special.”
“I had fun making it.”
“Will you let me come over after work tomorrow?”
“I’d love that. Would you mind bringing some of that food from before?”
“The Italian place?”
“That’s the one.”
“Of course.”
He let her chat about work for a little before sending her to get her rest, hearing her suppress more yawns by the minute. Although he hadn’t wanted it to play out like it had, Boyd slept soundly knowing that he wasn’t keeping anymore secrets.