Ryder's Point-of-View
"I am telling you, it's Darryl! He comes in and starts messing with my little operation, and all this bad stuff starts happening! Why don't you see it?!" Freddie yells, slamming his fist on my desk.
He's upset at the fact that I keep defending Darryl. I am not going to tell him, but I do have my suspicions. Until there is concrete evidence, however, I won't make a move.
"Okay, and if it is? Don't you think we should keep him around? We will be able to monitor him closely and find out why this is happening," I say, walking out of my weaponry.
Freddie looks at my chest and rolls his eyes. "Please put a shirt on! That's gross! And who are you trying to impress? We are the only ones in the house."
I look down at my bare chest, smile, and wink at Freddie. He knew the drill. I liked to work out in sweats.
Nothing else.
I finished exercising twenty minutes ago and went straight to my office to look through some paperwork.
I decide against the paperwork and check to make sure everything is in my weaponry. I know every single item in there, where it is, and how many.
Someone got into my home and hacked our network. They could've easily waltzed into this room.
"All I'm saying is we have to be careful! He's dangerous. I hate him, and I want him no one near Joe or me." Fred throws himself onto a chair in front of my desk.
"You are entitled to feel that way. I won't disagree. However, you've never given the kid a chance. And what would be his motive to hurt us? He isn't tied to our world. I checked him out from every angle before hiring him. Same with Fallon. You're acting like the one thing you detest in all of God's creation. A bully, Freddie."
Freddie pales and stands immediately. His hands are at his hips, and he looks taken aback. His mouth opens but then suddenly closes.
"I..." Freddie turns, his head still facing me, crossing his arms. "I have no idea what you are talking about! He is annoying, and that's all I'm saying."
He mulls over his words and then puts his head. I'm guessing what I just said is slowly sinking in. We both know it's true.
He falls back into his seat again. "No. Am I acting like that towards him?"
I nod. Freddie is acting like a bully, and the entire house sees it.
We met in elementary school because he was being picked on for no reason. I protected him and have ever since. I'm a little disappointed in him. Freddie should know what Darryl is going through.
"You'd have to be deaf, dumb, and blind, Nuñez, to see how badly you mistreat that poor kid."
Freddie turns and sees Margie holding a tray. She glares right at him as she walks towards us, placing a tray on the desk. She hands both of us a cup of coffee.
"See! Stop calling me by my last name! Even Margie bullies me!" Freddie says, grabbing the cup and blowing into it.
He then takes a sip. I follow.
Margie looks from him to me and straightens up, unamused.
"The difference is, I like you, Nuñez. Always have and always will. You hate the kid and still find ways to hate him even more. So everyone can agree that my bullying is acceptable." Margie grabs the tray and begins to walk out of my office.
"No one asked you for your opinion," Freddie whispers mockingly into his cup.
Margie stops dead in her tracks. "I'm sorry, Nunez. Did you say for me not to make you anymore Japanese flan?"
Freddie's eyes grew big as he chokes on his coffee. "We are not done here, Ryder!" Freddie says as he jumps up from his seat and runs to Margie.
He puts an arm around her shoulder. "I didn't mean that! I swear! I love you! You know this!"
Margie swats his hand as they both walk out of my office.
"Get your pasty hand off of me before I tell H.R. you are groping me."
"Ew!" Freddie yells.
Sam's Point-of-View
After that delightful trip to Target with Margie, I decide on a nice, hot bath. I am taking my clothes off when there is a knock on my bathroom door.
"Just a minute!" I say, grabbing my robe from behind the door. Putting it on and tying it, I open the door.
It's Joe.
"Hey!" I say.
"I'm sorry! I wanted to talk to you. I'll come back later." He turns to walk away when I stop him.
"No," I laugh, opening the door wider. "Come in."
Joe hesitates and follows me in, holding a cup of coffee.
"What's on your mind?" I ask, sitting on the edge of the tub and running my hand through the bubbles.
"This is for you," he says, handing me the cup.
It's black coffee with sugar. My favorite! I smile at him as I begin to drink it. He grins as he sees I am enjoying my drink.
"Margie made it. I told her I'd bring it to you since I was on my way to look for you. And also, we haven't had time to talk."
His smile fades as he continues to speak. "I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay. All Freddie does is brag about you and Ryder. Especially you! Let's double date or something once this craziness is over this, of course! And again, I'm sorry about my stalker and now Fallon." His eyes glaze over as he speaks.
"No! Don't get emotional, hun." I stand and grab Joe's hands. "This isn't your fault! People do crazy things all the time, and it's not our responsibility to understand it. We just need to live. Fight! Not give up. I learned that the hard way."
I reach up and hug him. I know a little about how he feels. The stalker woman isn't his ex-girlfriend or anything. She is just crazy.
Like Max was.
Joe lets me go, sniffs, and gives me an empathetic smile. "Your ex-husband, huh? Fred told me about that. What a maniac!" His eyes grew wide as he shakes his head. I nod and take another sip.
"Oh!" He yells as he looks at the bathtub. "I don't want your bath to get cold. Come on. I'll help you in." Joe says, grabbing my cup and ushering me to the tub.
How sweet of him!
"Freddie might get mad that you've seen me naked before he does," I say, smiling at Joe.
"Well, you both have nothing to worry about. The last time I saw a woman naked, I wanted to gouge my eyes out. It was my mom! I walked in on her using the bathroom."
I laugh at him as I untie my robe. Joe grabs it, slowly removing it for me, turning around and placing it on my vanity.
He never turns back around as he waits for me to sit. I step into the hot water one leg at a time. I cringe as the water burns a little. It doesn't bother me that much because this is what I need.
"Is it too hot?" Joe asks, concerned. He puts his hand out, still not turning around. I grab it as I slowly sit down.
I shake my head no as I lay back and close my eyes. It feels so good to feel the water loosen all my aches and pains. This is the epitome of relaxation. I feel like I can sleep here.
I slowly open my eyes as I begin to yawn. My lids are becoming heavy. Joe is now leaving the bathroom.
Good, I tell myself. I'll rest here until the water gets cold.