The Reunion

Chapter 28 - Karlie

If murder wasn't illegal, and a complete moral sin, Karlie just might commit one. All because Adam Baker seemed to have made her entire life worse. Both personally and professionally.

Mark, one of the directors in the company called her yet again after getting a tip that one of his better-known employees might have gone and gotten a misdemeanor charge. Not only that, but that it would be in the local newspapers and would be sold to larger publications in the area, including blowing up on social media accounts.

Adam made the "anonymous" call before he even made it to the station before he learned that she had permission to create multiple pieces for the school.

So, all of this was just great. Everything was fine, splendid even.

Now though, she was on damage control with her bosses. She had to prove that there were in fact zero charges against her, she had full permission from the school for her pieces and would still make sure that she met all deadlines for the upcoming project.

The last part, she could prove immediately, as she just sent them her work an entire week ahead of schedule. All the time she spent sitting in that odd recliner chair in her dad's hospital room helped her get ahead. Her team, after a brief chat, understood everything. If there were any rumors, they were just that.

She sat back in the hotel chair and rubbed her forehead, before logging onto the airline website and purchasing her return flight.

After she paid for the ticket, she made sure to send a message to her aunt telling her that she would be leaving whether she was back or not. Dwayne was set to be at home by the end of the day anyway. She'd make sure he was settled, had all his medications and anything else he needed. Probably do a large grocery trip for him and stock up the fridge and pantries. It was the first time she looked at her phone in hours, her time consumed by her tablet and laptop. 

She stretched her arms above her head, relieved to have everything back on track, mostly. While her arms were in the air, she chanced a sniff of her armpit and made a face. She started the shower and got her toiletries prepared on the sink while the water warmed. She wished she had a coffee hours ago, but a hot shower would do just fine in place of caffeine.

After she felt clean enough, she tied her robe loosely around her middle, and sighed before unwrapping the towel from around her head. Her hair slid loose, and she scrunched it with the towel when there was a knock at the door.

She paused, not really wanting to have to see another police officer telling her that everything from last night didn't play in her favor.

But when she looked through the view on the door, she took a step back and froze.

No, not an officer.

Karlie couldn't remember ordering anything on Door Dash, but there was most definitely someone standing in the hall holding a large to-go coffee. They held it high enough that it covered their face.

Still drying her hair, she slowly unlatched the door and opened it.

The white takeaway cup slowly lowered to reveal Kaia's shy smile.

"Morning," she said tentatively. 

The towel Karlie had just been using to squeeze the water out of her hair almost fell to the floor. After last night, she thought Kaia would have kept a good distance. She had been a blubbering mess in the middle of the downtown main street. An entire adult painting class had watched her meltdown.

"Oh," Kaia breathed and bit her lower lip.

It was easy to follow Kaia's line of vision, especially when Karlie could feel the water droplet as it slid down her chest to her cleavage. Not that she really had any. On a good day, she called the space between her boobs a divot. Which was the best way to describe it. It's not like she had ever been generously blessed with a big chest, and the space between her breasts was oddly humorous.