Bianca Chapter 2 #3
He chuckled. “Well, it’s not your best look, but I’ve seen worse. And we’re family, so I’m not expecting you to look amazing. I brought you some breakfast. Stitch said you should eat. Even if it sounds unappetizing, you’ll feel better with food in your stomach.”
He was at the bed by the time he finished speaking. I scooted up to the headboard. Mishap set the tray over my legs.
“Thanks, but you didn’t need to do this. I could’ve fixed our breakfast. Did you eat?”
“I did, as I cooked it. However, I did bring an extra cup of coffee on that tray. Don’t you drink it,” he cautioned me.
“I might need all the caffeine,” I warned.
“Then I’ll get you another cup, but don’t mess with me and my joe.”
Before I could touch the cup, he snatched it away, then sat on the edge of the bed. I scanned my tray. He made pancakes, sausage, and bacon along with the coffee and orange juice.
“It looks good. Glad to see you learned to cook.”
“B, you know I’ve known how to cook since I was ten. Quit trying to instigate me. Eat.”
I ate, and in between bites, we caught up on what had been happening in our lives since we spoke a week ago.
We didn’t talk about last night, which I found surprised me.
The food was good, and I ate it all, to my shock.
When I was finished, I leaned back, sipping my juice. I’d drained the coffee first.
“Any news on the bloodwork?” I asked him.
He sighed, then nodded. “Yes, there is. Stitch came over while I was cooking. He said the test came back positive for ketamine and scopolamine, which can be used as date-rape drugs. The fact that both were in your body and you didn’t lose consciousness suggests you didn’t get a very big dose.
Stitch said there's been talk for a while that those can be administered transdermally. Whoever touched you didn’t have contact long enough.
If he had, you would’ve lost consciousness at the bar and been taken.
The fact that you could get to safety, call me, and then stay awake is a miracle. ”
“That explains how it’s been happening,” I mused, not realizing until his swift inhalation that I said it aloud.
“Been happening? What the hell does that mean?”
I fought not to flinch. Damn, I must still be addled from the drugs or something. I wouldn’t ordinarily slip up like that. I tried to play it off.
“I just meant that it makes sense that if I got two drugs, the transfer of them was fleeting. It had to be done transdermally, as Stitch said.”
“No, that’s not what you meant. I know you, Bianca.
You’re lying. What don’t you want me to know?
Why were you at the Tipsy Taproom last night?
It’s not your kind of place. You don’t typically go to bars, but if you do, it’s never alone.
What are you hiding?” His tone had gotten harder, and he was eyeing me suspiciously.
I kept silent. Mishap let that last about fifteen seconds, then set his empty cup on the tray and took his cell phone from his jeans pocket. He tapped on it.
“Who are you texting?”
“You’ll see. I suggest you take a minute to clean up if you’re worried about how you look. We’ll be having guests soon.”
“Rawley, who did you text? Why would I need to prepare for anything?” I asked, a slight sense of panic settling in my gut.
“The clock is ticking. See you in the living room.”
Then, without another word, he stood, picked up the tray, and walked out.
I stared at the door, hoping he’d pop back in and tell me he was kidding, but I knew he wouldn’t.
And if the other Pagans were on their way, no way did I want them to see me as a total wreck.
The thought of it made me hop out of bed and rush to the bathroom my cousin had pointed out to me last night.
In the bathroom, I used the toilet, then went to the sink to clean up.
When I saw myself in the mirror, I almost screamed.
I was beyond wrecked. Black mascara and the remnants of my eyeshadow surrounded both eyes, making it look like I had smeared black makeup all around them or had terrible black eyes.
My hair was smashed on one side and, on the other, stood up like a bird’s nest. Smears of foundation and blush remained on my face.
My mouth tasted awful, and my clothes were a wrinkled mess.
A knock on the adjoining bedroom door made me jump.
“In case you want something to change into, here are a few things. They’ll be too big, but you can make them work. And I brought you a new toothbrush, paste, and other necessities,” Mishap called.
“Thank you,” I called back.
I got no response. Popping out of the bathroom, I found him gone and the items at the foot of the bed.
I snatched them up and then ducked back into the bathroom, where I locked the door.
The only way to make myself tolerable was to shower.
It would take care of the makeup, hair, and the bar’s smell I still faintly detected.
I turned on the water and let it heat as I stripped.
There was shampoo and conditioner in the bundle. Thank God. He had thought of it all.