Heartbreak Warfare :: Chapter Seven
Bo chewed mindlessly on a piece of bacon. He sat opposite Steve in a booth at the Brady Pub.
"You okay?" Steve asked quietly. He sipped coffee, his plate already clean. He watched Bo pick through his plate.
"Huh?" Bo asked, letting his eyes focus on Steve, "You say something?"
"I asked if you were okay?" Steve repeated, "You look….. like hell…."
"Thanks." Bo said flatly.
"Shouldn't you be on cloud nine?" Steve questioned, "You just had, what sounded like to me and the rest of the neighborhood, mind blowing sex. Even better? That fluffy boy toy was there to hear it. Your territory was marked… clearly. Why are you pouting?"
Bo shrugged, "I don't know. Give it a rest, will ya?"
"No. I can't." Steve snapped back, "You're my best friend. I hate seeing you like this. Something is clearly wrong and you're just blowing it off. Why are you blatantly lying to my face?"
"You try spending a year in a hole and see how you feel when you get home." Bo spat back. He pushed his plate away. He was angry. He was always angry. He could already feel his pulse throbbing in his forehead. Bo turned away from Steve. He felt nauseous.
"Bo, I'm sorry." Steve apologized softly, "I just want to help. I'm here for you… when you're ready."
Bo took a deep breath and nodded. He relaxed slightly until he saw his sister walk in the front door of the pub with Aiden Jennings.
"What the hell is she so chummy with him for?" Bo asked with disgust dripping from his voice.
Steve followed Bo's gaze. His jaw locked, "Beats me."
"Daddy!"
Bo and Steve's attention was diverted to Ciara running towards their booth. Hope and Jennifer followed closely behind her.
"Hey little one!" Bo smiled. His heart softened as his little girl's arms wrapped tightly around his neck, "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too," Bo squeezed her tight, "So very much."
Ciara pulled away to look at her father. She pressed her hands to his cheeks and forehead, "Are you okay daddy? You feel hot. And sweaty. Are you sick?"
Bo's gaze traveled to Hope. Her face was masked with concern.
"Daddy's fine." Bo replied
"I think your dad just has a little case of the brown bottle flu," Steve offered, "It'll go away soon."
"That doesn't sound too good," Ciara shook her head.
Bo kissed her forehead, "I'm so happy to see you."
"Can I come home with you? We can play dolls in my room and build a fort in the living room!" Ciara begged.
"You better ask your mommy." Bo sighed. It sounded like heaven.
Hope shrugged, "Of course she can Brady. As long as you're sure you're feeling okay."
"I'm feeling fine," Bo lied. His muscles were screaming. His legs were cramping. Ciara was not imagining things. He was sweating like a pig.
"Bo are you okay?" Kayla interrupted as she joined them, Aiden in tow, "You look awfully pale."
"I think I just need some fresh air." Bo replied, not making eye contact. He put Ciara on the floor and stood from the booth. A wave a dizziness blurred his vision. Hope ran to steady him as he swayed.
"Whoa…." Bo mumbled grabbing onto her, "Guess I stood up to fast."
"Or someone had too much to drink last night." Aiden chuckled, remembering their encounter in the Horton foyer, "Can't handle your liquor anymore?"
Bo's rage was immediate. Despite feeling weak and terribly sick, Bo lunged at Aiden.
Hope screamed, "Bo!"
Ciara cried out, "Daddy, no!"
Steve jumped up from the booth, going after Bo right as he delivered a solid right hook to Aiden's nose. Before Steve could pull him off, he managed a second to the jaw.
"Violence solves everything. I knew you were the type." Aiden smirked as he rubbed his nose. Blood gushed from his nose and streamed down his upper lip. He spat more blood into his hand.
"What the hell are you even doing here?" Bo spat back, "Get out of here. Get of town for all I care. Just stay away from me and my family."
Bo jerked his elbow away from Steve's hold and let himself be led outside.
"Are you okay?" Hope asked as she handed Aiden a cold rag that Caroline had brought out from the kitchen.
"I'm fine. It's just a little blood." Aiden tried to smile, but he couldn't hide the pain, "He's a good shot."
Hope looked down, "I'm sorry. He's going through a lot."
"Always been a hot head?" Aiden asked.
"You could say that." Hope nodded, "But he's not a bad guy. Give him a break."
"Mommy, please let me go home with Daddy." Ciara begged.
"Let's go out and see your daddy," Jennifer offered, "We'll wait for mommy out there okay?"
"Okay," Ciara nodded and raced Jennifer to the front door of the pub.
Outside Steve and Kayla fussed over Bo as he stared through the window at Hope and Aiden.
"I'm fine," Bo waved them both off.
"I think you need to go home and lie down, Bo." Kayla advised, "You feel feverish. Don't tell me you feel fine."
"It was hot in there," Bo huffed, "And that smug bastard Aiden didn't help my blood pressure any. What's she doing in there?"
Steve followed Bo's gaze into the Pub, "She's probably apologizing for your asinine behavior."
"He deserves it." Bo argued, "If he touches her, I'm going back in for more."
"Please calm down." Kayla begged.
"Daddy, let's go home!" Ciara cheered as she busted through the Pub door.
"Yeah, let's go home."
"Get some rest." Kayla ordered, and then softened, "Please. I don't need to see you in the hospital."
"I'll feel much better after I spend time with my little Princess." Bo smiled and picked up Ciara. She was getting tall, but he couldn't resist the temptation to hold her while he still could. He'd missed out on too much already.
"I'll take care of him Aunt Kayla," Ciara beamed, "We'll make soup, and have tea, and watch Princess movies."
"That sounds like a very special day," Jennifer laughed.
"And just what the doctor ordered," Kayla agreed.
"Have fun man…" Steve winked, "Don't get too pretty on me."
Hope came out of the Pub just as the group was dispersing, "Bo are you sure?"
"Did you smooth everything over with pretty boy in there?" Bo ignored her, "He's not going to sue us is he? Him being such a hot shot attorney and all."
"Bo, please… not in front of Ciara." Hope sighed, "Everything is fine."
"Okay, well… me and the little one are going back to the house." Bo complied, "We have a very busy afternoon of tea parties and princess movies."
Hope's heart warmed, "That sounds lovely. You two have a wonderful time. I have a few things to catch up on at work. Call me if you need anything okay?"
"Okay!" Ciara waved, "Bye mommy!"
Hope kissed her daughter's cheek, "Bye baby."
Bo and Hope locked eyes and then Bo watched his wife walk away. He was more than excited to have a day alone with his daughter, but he was a little worried about his condition. He pushed the worry to the back of his mind. He didn't have time for worry, today, he only had time for tea parties and princesses.