Kori sucked in a deep breath. "God, I wish you were here," she whispered.
"I'm right here, sunshine."
Kori tensed up immediately. 'Is that…' She mumbled.
"Yeah, sweetheart, it's me."
"Roy," Kori breathed.
[Begin Flashback To Earlier That Day]
"You ready for this?" Artemis inquired.
Kori was at a loss.
She didn't want to be a burden on her sister's shoulders but she truly wasn't ready to join the party just yet. She opened her mouth to speak when her phone rang out.
She pulled it out from where it was tucked in her bathing suit, glancing at it and then back at Artemis. "I gotta take this," she told her sister, "I'll be right back." She didn't wait for a response, quickly walking away and answering the phone when she was far enough. "Hello?" she answered, trying her hardest to keep her unease under control.
"Looks like I picked a great time to call. What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Kori dismissed, "I'm fine."
"Look at the caller id on your phone and consider trying that again. Who knows, maybe I'll believe you next time."
Kori sighed heavily, pacing back and forth as she silently cursed the man on the other end of the line. "I'm at a pool party, Roy, what do you think is wrong with me?" she huffed quietly.
The line was quiet for a moment.
Kori almost thought the connection dropped when Roy finally let out a hum of understanding.
"So, that's what this is about," he mumbled, "I thought we-"
"I know," Kori interjected, "We did. You did. It's just-... damn it, I don't know, Roy. You're not here and I need a drink and-"
"Alright, slow down," Roy instructed gently, "Breathe with me. Can you do that?" He waited for a beat. "Come on," he urged, "In..." A breath. "Out," he murmured, breathing out.
He continued chanting until Kori finally joined in, matching her breaths with his.
She leaned against the wall as the tension left her body, breath by breath.
Eventually, though, it picked back up once she realized she couldn't hear Roy breathing anymore. "Roy?" she inquired, barely covered urgency laced throughout her tone.
Silence.
"Roy?" she tried again, tone slightly panicked.
"I'm right here, sunshine," Roy assured, "You still breathing?"
"Hard to when you're giving me a heart attack," Kori muttered, "You're on a plane for Christ sakes, what if you crashed or something?"
Roy let out a quiet chuckle at that. "Sorry," he apologized, "It's not funny. I didn't mean to scare you, I just spilled some coffee. Could've sworn I said I was coming right back but I must've just thought it in my head."
"It's fine," Kori dismissed, with a smile he couldn't see.
Although Roy couldn't see it, he could hear it. But it didn't quite soothe his worries for her.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"I gotta go. I'm already late to the party because of this bathing suit meltdown fiasco," Kori mumbled, "Thanks for the lamaze class. It really helped." A pause. "I mean it."
Roy huffed quietly at that. "I'm gonna let you go," he conceded, "But, I need you to do something for me, alright?"
"Have the best time I possibly can?" Kori inquired mockingly.
Roy didn't even laugh.
There was no playful retort, no "really Kori," no sarcastic remark, nothing.
Just a deadly serious command.
"Don't drink."
Kori recognized the tone as his no nonsense one. She heard him use it in meetings for his company all the time but rarely with her.
But, when he did use it, she knew it was time to pay attention.
An unspoken agreement.
"Hard liquor, wine cooler, I don't care," Roy continued, "Don't drink. It'll become a vice and you know I know what that's like."
"I know," Kori agreed.
"And I don't want that for you," Roy told her.
"I know," Kori repeated.
"So, promise me," Roy urged.
"I promise you," Kori replied immediately, "We only drink when we're together."
"God, I told you you don't have to say that," Roy groaned, prompting a laugh from Kori, "It sounds like we're in a cult."
"I know," Kori grinned, "Makes it more fun."
"You goof," Roy chided fondly.
His laugh was the only sound on the line for a moment.
And Kori was content.
"I'm sorry I can't be there with you, sunshine," Roy sighed.
"Don't be," Kori dismissed, "You're making the world a better place. That has way more longevity than coming to a stupid pool party."
"Your brother's engagement party," Roy reminded. He was quiet before a thought occurred to him. "Are you sure you're not that miffed about me not going because you want to keep my exquisite physique all to yourself?" he teased.
"Fat chance of that," Kori snorted, "You post your workout routine every day."
"Digital always pales in comparison to the real thing," Roy bragged, "You know that, sweetheart."
"Oh, you-," Kori began,
"Kori, who are you talking to, the president?!," Artemis questioned from her spot further in the house, "Christ, come on! We're missing out on the pool bombs!"
Roy laughed from his end of the phone. "The warden has spoken," he warned teasingly, "You better get going."
Kori stuck her tongue out mockingly. And, although he couldn't see her, she knew he could sense it.
"I love you," Roy said firmly.
Kori smiled softly at that. "That sounds like an apology," she sang, "And, if it is one, I don't want it."
Roy sighed heavily at that. "If you don't love me anymore, just say that," he huffed playfully.
Kori opened her mouth to retort but, before she could, Artemis was calling out for her again.
"Kori, party started, like, an hour ago, now!," she complained, "Come on!"
"Alright, alright!," Kori called back, "I'm coming!"
"Letting you go, for real this time," Roy chuckled, "Goodbye, my sunshine."
"See you later, shooter," Kori replied fondly.
"I never even-," Roy started.
But, Kori hung up before he could get another word out. She laughed quietly, making a move to walk back to Artemis when her phone rang out with a text chime.
She opened it, immediately greeted with a message from Roy.
'Never shot anyone, smartass.'
Kori grinned and shook her head, sending a red heart emoji to him before putting her phone away and finally making her way back to her sister.
Artemis stared at her expectantly.
"Don't do that," Kori sighed, "I had a business call. It's alright, let's go."
"You're ready?" Artemis inquired suspiciously.
"Yes," Kori replied with a genuine smile, "I'm ready."