Ronald's diner

chapter 19

Tara nudged the refrigerator door shut with her hip, a can of soda in each hand, then stepped from the kitchen into the living room. Which in the small apartment of Ronald's meant she took about five steps from one side of the room towards the other.

"You sure you're ok with baby sitting me?" Bonnie ask, accepting one of the sodas as Tara took a seat on the couch beside her.

"Sure am." the cheerful blonde smiled.

Bonnie traced the top of the cold can with her thumbs, holding it with both hands in her lap. She wanted to be at the diner with Ronald, but he'd been insistent that she stay home and take it easy. She had also wanted to argue with him, but her incision still felt like she'd gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson.

Tara watched as her once best friend was lost in thought. She saw the little frown that pulled her lips down and was about to say something when her cell rang out. Sitting her soda on the table, she shot Bonnie a knowing grin.

"I wonder who that could be?"

Bonnie couldn't hide the little smile that replaced her frown.

Glancing at the caller ID just to be sure, Tara swiped a finger across the screen and put the phone to her ear. "Hello you've reached the Bonnie call center. Tara speaking."

"Am I that bad?" Ronald questioned with a wry smile neither of the ladies could see.

"Hmm, let's see." Tara checked the time. "It's a little before noon and you've called to check in on her about six times so far. What do you think Romeo?" she teased.

Bonnie covered her mouth to stifle a laugh that she knew would leave her in pain. She'd really pushed herself after the surgery, scratch that, two surgeries. She still couldn't believe she'd slapped her mother! The memory of that was still foggy due to the pain meds she'd been on at the time, but if what Ronald had told her was even half true, she'd really laid into her mother big time.

"Here Bonnie, please talk to him so he can get back to work." offering her phone, Tara reached for her soda.

Taking the phone, Bonnie cradled it to her ear. "Sir you should know I have a boyfriend. You can't keep calling me like this." she giggled just a little despite herself.

"Har Har." Ronald quipped. "How are you feeling?"

"The same I was about an hour ago you big goofball." rolling her eyes at Tara as she said it.

"Hey I can't help it if I'm worried about you." he offered in hopes of placating her.

"Then you should have let me go with you." not really upset, but still wanting him to get the point that she was a big girl who could take care of herself, even if she did enjoy him worrying about her.

"Not a chance. You need to relax. You've been through a lot in a short time. The diner isn't going anywhere. It will be right here waiting on you and your miracle accounting skills."

A pout tugging her bottom lip out, Bonnie huffed. "I know, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Tara piped in, "Hey you better not be talking about spending time with me."

Ronald chuckled. "Oh you're in trouble now."

Bonnie took a moment to stick her tongue out at Tara, then ignored the face the blonde shot back at her. "Get back to work goofball. The lunch rush is about hit you."

"Oh crap! You're right. Gotta go. See you when I get home."

"Later you."

Ending the call, Bonnie handed the phone back to Tara and leaned back into the couch, a little smile on her lips.