Bone Diggers - Chapter Thirteen

Loading... Chapter Thirteen

"That is the second biggest stack of pizza boxes I've ever seen," Michael said definitively.

Owen had been trying to not bite at the various statements Michael threw out. Each had been getting more outrageous than the last, but this one successfully spiked his interest. He narrowed his eyes at the stack of nine boxes the delivery man just dropped off. They were uncomfortably tall. Owen took one from the top and spread them out over the table. The last thing they needed was an overzealous kid running in and knocking them all over. "How many was the biggest stack?" he asked.

Michael had been dropping bottles of water into a bucket of ice, but stopped altogether at the question. "So listen, I was friends with this guy, well he was really a friend of a friend...anyways, there was this guy who was throwing a party," he started, and Owen crossed his eyes, regretting the question.

"I don't want to say he was a hoarder, but the man was a fucking hoarder. We went into the kitchen and pizza boxes were ev-e-ry-where. We must have counted at least twenty hanging out. I swore we'd find more instead of dishes."

"That's funny," Owen said dryly. He started dropping water bottles into the bucket deliberately to clear them off the table. From this distance they created a splash, but Michael didn't notice as he seemed to be daydreaming about that party.

He snapped out of it a second later. "Yeah, we started drunkenly using them as shields."

"What did you use as a sword?" Owen asked as he bought back into the story again.

"You know, I don't remember! Salad tongs? No, that's not right." He waved the whole thing off, and got back to setting up for a very different type of party they were going to throw for the little league team.

"Hello?" Andreah called as she cautiously entered the room. She stood by a receptionist desk that had never been used, eyeing the empty spot before pushing further into the room. Normally she never had to go to this floor, but Owen was here. "What in the hell is that?"

Owen walked over, eyeing a column of mostly golden balloons, except for the black bottom that was meant to be the handle of a baseball bat. "It's my boss trying to appeal to kids and their influential parents." He stole another look at the pillar again before shaking his head and smiling over to Andreah. Her outfit was partially covered by the reflective work vest she had to wear. "What do you have for me, babe?"

She reached for her bag.

"Wait, wait," Owen said, and guided her by the arm over to his desk. "Alright, hit me."

Andreah gave him a funny little expression as she pulled a padded envelope out, and handed it over. The expression deepened with confusion when Owen gave it right back.

"It's for you." With a grin, he leaned back to sit on the front of his desk.

"You had me bike all the way here for something I already technically had? I might actually boop you now." She hit the bubble envelope against his arm. "This was the only package I had on this side of town."

"I know, I'm the worst. You got paid to come see your boyfriend who had a surprise present for you." Andreah rolled her eyes.

"Open it," Owen insisted.

She started to pull at the glue that held the opening's flap down, carefully eyeing him more than the package. "This isn't like a weird one-month anniversary gift is it?"

"Wow, you are impossible to buy things for. Noted." Owen reached out, pulling on her jersey to have her step closer to him. She stepped into the space between his knees as he sat. "No, you dork. I just wanted to see your face, and possibly make out with it in the break room. That part is totally optional though."

Andreah smirked. There had likely been a comeback, but it was lost when she dumped the packages contents into her hand. "The world's tiniest gas can?" Not including packaging, it was a little bigger than a quarter, complete with a black cap. The label read Fuel Charger.

"You said your phone kept dying, so this can hang out on your keys until you need it," Owen said.

"This is the cutest, and tiniest, thing anyone has ever gotten me." Andreah pulled on the collar of his pea coat, pulling his face a bit closer. "Thank you."

He nodded, eyes locked on her until he leaned the rest of the way and kissed her. She moved her hands off his collar to rest around his neck, while his hands slid around her waist.

"Nu-uh," Frank scolded, sweeping into the room like an on-the-ball teacher's aide. "Take that somewhere else. There are going to be children here soon. And they can't see...that."

Andreah pulled away first, mostly because she hadn't expected anyone besides Michael, who was still by the food like the smell alone was a siren.

Owen pushed himself off the desk and tapped Andreah on the behind to get her moving. "Come on, we can hang out in the break room until you have to get back to work."

She shot him a look that said that's not what he meant, but followed without comment. The room was small, with a microwave that was overused and a coffee pot that was virtually ignored. The table would have been big enough for four if one of the sides wasn't pressed to the wall. In the back, there were shelves with old editions of various newspapers. "You know this is my last delivery again today."

"Saved the best for last?" Owen asked. "People in this building need to use your fine services more often."

"Really though, I could come make out with you mid-day more often."

"I'm liking this plan more and more."

Andreah glanced back towards the other rooms. The small window in the door showed her only a square of the empty hallway. "You know, your boss is super cool."

"Yeah." He leaned over as if he could see the others. "Makes up for how little he pays me."

"You goof," Andreah said, ready to swat him on the arm again. "You shouldn't have bought me something if you're tight on money."

"Don't worry about it. I just got paid on Friday." What Owen left out was Frank wasn't paying him until the end of the month. He had gotten his payday from a bone digger gig. A woman had wanted to know if her husband was visiting the brothels. He was. Kind of boring, actually, but the gigs involving sex, or some other illicit betrayal, always paid the best.

"I could make it up to you," she said. Owen raised an eyebrow, but the expression was washed away as Andreah stepped up, and kissed him roughly. She kissed him until he felt dizzy, then moved on to his neck.

His eyes fluttered, catching the yellow of her work vest. The first time he met her, it had been hidden under her sweater, but now it just was a neon reminder of work. "Andreah," he breathed, ignoring what was taboo or not for a few seconds longer. "You should stop, or take off that god awful vest."

"Huh?" Andreah glanced down at herself and chuckled. "Oh."

Owen smiled before movement behind her caught his eye. "Or maybe just the first thing," he grumbled. Andreah looked over her shoulder as Michael walked in.

"Hey, guys," he said, mostly to Owen. "So, this is the girlfriend?" Only then did he turn to look at Andreah. A small nod in greeting looked like he was sizing a prize he wanted at a carnival.

"My name is Andreah. It's nice to meet you...?"

"You mean good ol' Owen hasn't mentioned me? It's Michael. To be fair, he didn't really bring you up either." He smacked Owen's shoulder, who uncomfortably jerked an inch forward. "Maybe it's because I wouldn't have believed that he could snag such a babe."

Owen looked like his eyes might fatally roll of out of his head. "What do you want?"

"Boss said he needs you so I can man the camera for the event."

"Thanks for the message. Could you give us a minute?" Andreah said, suddenly cheerful. Owen crossed his arms over his chest.

Michael glanced from her to his co-worker like he knew what was going to happen when he left, despite Owen's discomfort apparent to anyone with a hint of sense. "Alright."

Andreah waited silently until he closed the door. Her demure swapped back with the shake of her head. "I've known that dude for like two seconds, and I hate him already."

"God! I know, right?" Owen looked brightly at her, like he wanted to gush about how much he liked her from that statement alone. "I've been here for like a year and a half, and I want to tape his mouth shut every time he opens it."

"Maybe next time I should deliver you some duct tape." She paused as if imagining how that would play out for a second. "Anyways, I could stop by your place at like eight if you wanted."

"Sounds good. I'll miss you until then."

Her face scrunched up. "Don't get all sappy on me," she said, but it was hard to take her too seriously. "I'm going to let you get back to work."

"Don't let the pre-teens get any cooties on you on your way out." Andreah stuck her tongue out, which only played into his point.