Honor: a novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

quickly. I was in the tub that evening and heard my phone beep. Once I was out of the tub, and in my pajamas, I grabbed my phone to check it.  
    I AM SO SORRY ABOUT LAST NIGHT! PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR MAKING A FOOL OF MYSELF. GLAD YOU CAME. SEE YOU AT WORK TOMORROW.
    Poor Brenda, I thought to myself. I was sure she had probably felt sick most of the day after last night.  
    I went to charge my phone in the kitchen, and as I passed by the flowers on the counter that Osric had given me, I saw something sticking up through the middle of the bouquet. I reached for it and realized it was a card. I pulled it out of its holder and opened the tiny envelope. In the same perfect handwriting I had seen on the piece of paper he handed me at the library, the card read:
    Nice Try! I hope you enjoy the flowers.
    — Osric
    Inside, along with the card, was the cash I had left in his car for the battery. I laughed at the card and placed it down on the counter. I was glad he couldn’t see me at the moment as I stood there smiling from ear to ear like a little schoolgirl.  
    I arrived to work early the next day and started coffee for everyone. As I put my stuff away, I heard Lilly come through the employee entrance humming to herself. “Hey, I called you back yesterday but you didn’t answer,” I told her.
    She smiled like she was hiding something. “Ryan and I got into a huge fight Saturday night after Brenda’s party.” She acted like this was no big thing as she made herself a cup of coffee.  
    “What happened? You guys seemed fine Saturday.”  
    She set her coffee down and put her stuff in her locker. “Well, when we got to the movies we ran into his ex-girlfriend.”  
    I stared at her waiting for more of an explanation but she just blew on her hot coffee. “You see his ex-girlfriend and then you guys fight about it?” I asked her.
    “We didn’t just see her, she came up to us and hugged him. She was all over him,” Lilly said nearly spilling her coffee. “She was rubbing his shoulder and he was smiling at her. It was awful!” Her face had turned red as she recalled the ex-girlfriend encounter. “Once she pranced away, I just looked at Ryan like you have got to be kidding me .”  
    I sat down next to Lilly. “What did he say about it?”
    She swept hair from her face with her hand. “He acted like everything was fine. Then I told him to take me home.” She sipped her coffee, then added, “So we yelled at each other all the way back to my place. He told me it was no different than me checking out Osric earlier that night.”
    I laughed, thinking about how most of the women that night had checked him out, but quickly looked over to Lilly hoping I hadn’t upset her. Finally, she laughed too and I admitted, “He is gorgeous, isn’t he?”  
    Lilly smiled, “He is! I told Ryan I wasn’t pawing all over Osric though. Anyway, one thing led to another and he apologized and told me it was disrespectful of him to allow that to happen. Then…” she trailed off and her face grew pink.  
    I stood looking down at her waiting for her to finish what she was saying. “Then what?” I asked her.
    “Well, let’s just say we were busy all day yesterday, if you know what I mean!” She laughed as she told me.  
    “Gross Lilly!” I shot her my disgusted face.  
    “I know he is no Osric or anything, but I think I love him Honor.”  
    I smiled at her. “You should tell him. I am sure he would like to know that.”  
    The employee entrance opened and Brenda came in. “Good morning you two! Mm…coffee, just what I need!”
    “How are you this morning?” I asked her.
    “Well, I have just about recovered from Saturday, if that’s what you mean,” she laughed.  
    “I totally see what you mean about your hubby’s brother and his wife,” Lilly said. We all laughed at Lilly’s comment.  
    “I don’t have to worry about them coming back for a while now,” Brenda said. “Did you ladies get my messages? I am