“I can understand that,” he said. “So, what do you want to talk about?”
“Actually, I want to tell you about my nightmare. But not over the phone and not at night. Can I meet you somewhere tomorrow?”
“Of course. Name the time and place and I’ll be there,” he told me.
I felt a little tension release from my shoulders. “Thank you. So, what did you do tonight? Party? Night with the boys? Bang a hot chick?”
I heard him chuckle. “No, nothing that exciting. Tiffany needed to get out of her apartment, so I picked her up and we went to The Pizza Fix. We made some pizzas, ate them then drove around for a couple of hours.”
“There are several things wrong with what you just said. First of all, you made pizzas at our pizza place?”
“Yep.”
“How and why?”
“I’ve known the owner my whole life. He’s like part of the family,” he told me
“And why wasn’t this mentioned before?”
“I don’t know. I guess it just didn’t come up in conversation.”
“Why did you make pizzas?” I asked.
“It’s something I used to do as a kid and Tiffany needed a distraction, so I thought it was a good idea,” he said.
“That was really sweet of you,” I told him.
He laughed. “I don’t think anyone has ever called me sweet before. It’s usually, asshole.”
I laughed back. “You certainly can be an asshole but I’m seeing a completely different side of you lately. I like it.”
“Well don’t tell anyone else. I have a reputation to maintain.”
“Whatever,” I said. “But your secret is safe with me. Well mostly, I’ll probably tell Kayleigh.”
He chuckled again. “I know. Do you think you can sleep now?”
“I think so. Thanks, Bodie.”
“Anytime. Good night.”
“Good night.”
I pressed end and stared at my phone. I thought back to the Bodie we’d met on the beach a few months ago. He seemed like a totally different person lately. It made me wonder what was going on with him. I was going to ask Major the next time I saw him.
I didn’t know if I was going to be able to sleep or not and I didn’t want to disturb Anthony, so I turned on the TV and pulled the blanket over me. I smiled when I saw one of the Twilight movies was on. I secretly loved them but would never tell anyone, after all, I had a reputation to maintain as well. I snuggled under the blanket and focused on the movie.
****
Bodie
After hanging up with Karma, I laid there awake for a while thinking about what she said. I was equal parts curious and apprehensive about what she was going to tell me. I was actually amazed she wanted to tell me anything at all.
I was itching to go to my computer and see what I could find out for myself, but I resisted. If Karma was going to trust me with her truth, then I wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize that.
I closed my eyes and forced myself to go back to sleep.
When my alarm went off Sunday morning, I was tired, but I wanted muffins more than I wanted to sleep. I showered, got dressed and went to More Than Just Beans to see Tiffany.
She was busy when I got there, so I sat at my usual table. I laughed to myself when I thought that. This was only the third Sunday I’d come here, but it felt like I’d known Tiffany for years. As soon as the customer was done at the counter, she came over with a muffin and a coffee.
“Good morning,” she said, setting the items down in front of me.
“Morning. I hope there’s more of these hiding in this place somewhere,” I said, gesturing to my muffin.
“There’s a whole box for you, Bodie,” she said, with a smile.
“Cool. What kind are they today?” I asked.
“Take a bite and find out,” she teased.
I smiled but took a big bite. It took me a minute to figure out the flavor. “Strawberry coconut?”
“Yep,” she grinned. “What do you think?”
“This might be my favorite so far. I wouldn’t have thought to put those two together, but it’s really good. How many are in the box?”
“A dozen,” she said.
“I guess that’ll be enough,” I pouted.
“I don’t know where you put all the food you eat,” she said. “Do you work out?”
“Not as much as I should,” I admitted.
“Then how do you have such a great body?”
That made me laugh. “I guess it’s all the years of surfing.”
“Better be careful or those abs are going to turn into flab.”
I just about spit out the coffee I had in my mouth. I managed to swallow then started laughing.
“Holy hell, Tiffany, I never know what’s going to come out of your mouth.”
She smiled and shrugged. “Something tells me you need to be kept on your toes.”
“I know a few people who would agree with you,” I told her.
We talked for a few minutes, before she had to go help a customer. I finished my coffee and waited for her to be done. After the lady had her coffee, I got my box of muffins. I handed her a fifty and left before she could protest.
Back at the dorm, I ate two more muffins and hid the rest from Major. I knew he’d eat them all if he found them.
While I waited to hear from Karma, I thought I’d actually get some homework done. Sometimes it seemed like school was secondary to everything else going on. But I knew if I didn’t do well in my classes, my mom would throttle me, no matter how old I was.
I was doing some research for my history paper when my phone dinged. I looked at the time, it was after four. I’d been at it for way longer than I thought. Checking my phone, I saw it was Karma.
Karma: Can you meet me at our coffee place in an hour?
Me: Sure
Karma: Thanks. See you then.
Forty-five minutes later, I closed my book and walked to the coffee place. I was there before Karma, so I ordered for both of us. The barista had just handed me our coffees when she walked in.
“Hey,” I said, getting her attention.
“Hey,” she said back.
I motioned my head for her to follow me and I went to a table in the back where we could be alone. I handed Karma her coffee and we sat down. She looked nervous.
“Hey,” I said softly, “we don’t have to do this.”
“I know, but I want to. I think it’ll help you understand what happened the other night.”
She took a sip of coffee and a few deep breaths. I waited. I’d wait all day if that’s what it took. This was obviously hard for her to say.
“When I was three-years-old, I was kidnapped and held for three days.”
“Holy fuck, Karma, that’s some crazy shit.”
“I know, but let me tell you the whole story.”
I nodded for her to continue.
“I was born in Houston. Mom and dad both had full time jobs, so during the day I was at daycare. While I was at daycare, I guess I wandered off while we were on a field trip to a museum. When I realized I couldn’t find someone I knew, I guess got scared and started crying. I don’t remember most of this, but it’s what my parents told me. They had the whole thing on the security cameras at the museum. A man in his late fifties approached me. It shows him talking to me for a few minutes, then I took his hand, and we left the museum.