The Den: Keeping Secrets

Episode 5: Kara

Uuuuuugggggghhhhhh I have never felt this horrible. My whole body is hurting. My sheets are so soft I don't even want to get out of bed today. I feel like I've been hit by a dump truck. Maybe I'm getting sick so staying in bed will be justified. I bury my face in my pillow. Breathing deep trying to muster the strength to get up I take note at how good my sheets are smelling. I didn't change my fabric softener. Huh, weird. Last night came rushing back and hit me like a sucker punch. At least the little bits of memories I could make out.

I remember leaving the office and going to Joe's with Liam. I remember feeling sick all of the sudden and Liam helping me outside. Oh no, oh sweet baby Jesus! I threw up ALL over myself. I bolt up and quickly realize that was the worst choice I could have made. The room spins a bit, the sun is so bright my eyes hurt and my head is f*****g pounding. I lay back down on the pillow reveling in the coolness the silk sheets. Wait.....I don't own silk sheets. Despite the blazing sun stinging my eyes I finally focus and realize...I'm not in my bed. Oh s**t oh s**t oh s**t oh s**t!!!!!!!!!

I instantly start to panic. I am not the kind of girl that sleeps in strangers beds. I am no prude by any means and have have my fair share of s*x but the fact that I can't remember s**t is really bothering me. I swing by legs out from under the sheet and land my feet next to the bed. There's a glass of water and a bottle if ibuprofen. Who ever took care of me is EXTREMELY thoughtful. I grab the bottle and shake out 3. Toss them in my mouth and chug the glass of water thankful the dryness in my throat that could rival the Mohave Desert is being drenched. I scan the room and take in my surroundings. The whole left side of the room is windows. Evil, sunshine allowing in, hateful windows. Why do I have such a raging headache???? The bed sits in the middle of the room facing the windows with a small half wall behind it. I stand up and walk around behind the bed to see a large ornate cabinet. It takes up the whole wall space and is pretty deep. It's wood and looks to be handmade. There are different sizes of drawers and a keyhole in the middle of the front and the top. Weird.

Opposite the cabinet is a dresser. Weirder. To the right and left are doors. The one to the right I find out is a closet. Hoping door number two is a winner because I am about to pee my pants. I'm happy to win at something this morning opening the door and race to use the toilet. Washing my hands I splash some water on my face and rinse my mouth out. I guess I got all the food that made me sick out last night but the dry heaves that are coming in waves really suck. Looking at the train wreck that is my reflection in the mirror above the sink I see my dress draped over the side of the tub. To my despair it is still damp. Far too damp to put back on. I swallow the lump in my throat and set toward the door out of the room. Turning the nob and pulling the door I am immediately greeted with the smell of bacon cooking. It made me hungry and sick all at the same time. Swallowing that lump in my throat for a second time I square my shoulders and set down the hall to investigate.

I can hear a TV with what sounds to be Scooby-Doo playing. Where the hell am I? The sweet smell of pancakes are now dancing through the air with the bacon. Mmmmmmm I step in to the room and as I get further in I can see around the wall in to the kitchen. There is a very sexy naked back belonging to a tall red headed guy. He turns from the stove to the island and smiles. Holy s**t, Liam?!?!?!?

"Good morning." he says setting a plate stacked with pancakes. "Uh, hi. What in the hell happened last night?" I asked with I'm sure was a dumbfounded expression plastered across my face. "You got drunk and threw up all over yourself outside of Joe's. Well, you technically threw up on the both of us," he said with a chuckle. I felt instant mortification. I threw up on my boss! "Wait, did you just say I got drunk? I don't drink. I only had tea," I said thoroughly confused. "Yeah, you had tea alright. Long Island Iced Tea. Each one has like 5 shots of alcohol in them. You had two," he said looking at me with a hint of pity. At least it seems like pity to me. I feel like a total ding-bat. I should have known. I remember them tasting odd but I thought it was because they were busy or something. "Come make yourself a plate and we'll catch some Saturday morning cartoons." He was grabbing some plates from an upper cabinet and some utensils from a drawer. "I can definitely eat," I said as I make my way to the kitchen island. He had made pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs. "There's syrup in a bowl of water in the sink. Will you grab it? Here's a towel," he said tossing a kitchen towel at me. I caught it and went to the sink. "You're telling me that not only can you cook but you even warm the syrup? Fancy Schmacy," I said mock drinking a cup of tea with an outstretched pinkie. He laughs and informs me that not only is it syrup, "it's maple syrup infused with a bit of red chili's. Just a little heat. I hope you can handle it." "Zip it," I said with a laugh and added, "I love spicy food so I think I got this."

We filled our plates and skipped the table. I follwed him to the living room and set my plate next to his on the coffee table. "Orange juice or coffee?" He was already on his way back to the kitchen. "I'll have some water actually. Thank you so much." My mouth was starting to water so I didn't wait for him to return. I grabbed a piece of bacon and took a bite followed by a big bite of eggs. "There's nothing like a big breakfast or something greasy to kill a hangover," he said setting a glass in next to my plate. "I wouldn't know. This is my first hangover." I said between bites. It was really good and I was already feeling better. "Really? You never got a good hangover after a night of hanging out with friends or going out. Not even in high school or college?" He was looking at me with a little furrow to brow. "Nope. My dad was killed in a car accident just before I was born. Mom never drank again after that night and I just never wanted to," I said after I took a long drink of water. "Kara, damn, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to bring anything up." He was digging in to his plate now. I really wanted to get back to mine as well but I didn't want him to feel bad. "It's ok. He picked up a friend that had been drinking and needed a ride. They were on their way to drop the guy off and was hit head on. Bullshit part of it, the jerk was drunk. There my dad and his friend were doing it right and that guy couldn't bother himself to do the same." I had set my fork down and was staring at my plate. "Kara, really, I didn't mean to bring anything up. I'm sorry." He reached over and pat me on the shoulder. "It's ok. Mom moved back in with my grandparents and they all raised me. They were amazing. With everything going on I just really really miss them."

I picked my fork up and dove back in to my breakfast. Thankfully he did the same. We ate in silence for a little while. "So. Saturday morning cartoons?" I ask without giggling. "Hey, there is nothing wrong with Shaggy and Scooby. We've been hanging out every Saturday for years." I couldn't help but burst out laughing. He returned my outburst with a hearty chuckle of his own. "Honestly, it's nice to have a couple hours a week to not have a care in the world. Like we did when we were kids. It helps me decompress the week." He was finished with his plate and lounging back against the cushions. I looked at him with a different appreciation. He's an awesome boss and a really decent guy. Super cute but my boss. Which I had to remind myself often when I first started working for him. He surprises me here and there by how normal he is for a bazillionaire. "That's really cool Liam. Not a bad idea at all either. I might just have to pick up this habit myself." He smiled at me. "Ten out of ten recommend it," he said with a huge grin. I laughed and stood up collecting our plates. "Thanks. You can just set them in the sink. I'll grab them later." "Right on," I replied turning on the faucet. I tried to quietly load the dishwasher and clean up the cook top when he scared the crap out of me. "What are you doing lady!?!?" He was leaning against the wall opposite the island. I swirled around and grabbed the island facing him. "s**t! You scared me. I'm loading the dishwasher, duh. Grandma would have had my hide if I didn't clean up when someone cooks for me." "Sounds like your grandma was a wise lady. You really don't have to though. Thank you." He sat at the island on a stool opposite me. "My dress is still damp. Do you have a dryer I can toss it in?" "I don't. I send all my laundry out. You can wear some of my shorts if they aren't too big." "Worth a try. I don't think a long t-shirt would be a great subway choice," I said remembering that's all I had on. "Don't fret. I can take you home. Let me change," he said retreating down the hall to his room. I finished loading the dishwasher. When I stepped back in the living room. I noticed a blanket and pillow on the couch that I hadn't seen while eating breakfast. I set to folding the blanket and Liam returned when I was finishing. "Thanks," he said. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt and he looked good. He had my shoes and a garment bag in one hand and a pair of running shorts in the other "Here's your shoes and I hope these fit. They are the smallest pair I could find. Your dress is in here," he said holding up the bag. "Your bag is still in my car downstairs," he said as I took my shoes and the shorts from him. "Thank you. For everything Liam. I really appreciate you taking care of me. You didn't have to," I said as he turned around so I could slip the shorts on. "Ok." I said and he started toward the elevator door. I'm a little embarrassed that he's seen me in any other way than professional. "I hope this doesn't effect our working relationship, " I said to his back as we walked down the hallway. He pressed the down button and turned to me. "Kara, don't even worry about it. I wouldn't leave anyone in a rough spot. Especially someone who knows all my passwords." He's smirking at me when I look up at him. "Thank you."

The elevator door opened and we stepped in. He pressed the basement button and down we went. The doors opened to a huge room filled with different cars and trucks. I was in awe as I looked around and then I saw it. "Is that a Judge?" He had started toward a box hanging from the wall to the right of the elevator when he stopped dead in his tracks and turned to look at me. "Yeah. You know cars?" "Just a little bit. Gramps was a mechanic for a number of years. He always wanted a Judge," I replied. "1970 GTO Judge. It was the first classic I ever bought. I wanted one after I saw Dazed and Confused when I was a kid. When I found out this one came up for auction I had to have it. Especially since it was the one they used when filming." He was reaching in to the box grabbing one of the sets of hanging keys. "Wait, you mean to tell me THIS is Pickford's car?!?!?!" I'm pretty sure I am drooling now. "Sure is. Here," he said tossing me some keys. "You can drive."