#boshdraws

“You’re late.”

Billy doesn’t reply because yes, he is aware. Instead, he takes off his leather jacket, swapping it for the black apron with Heather’s catering company’s logo on it. He reaches into the pocket to get his name tag and puts it on.

“Car wouldn’t start and the rideshare guy got a flat on his way to my place.” Billy pats his pockets then remembers he quit smoking over five years ago. “I’m sorry, okay, Hank?” he adds when he notices the thunderous look on Heather’s face.

“You keep saying that but I don’t know that I believe you.”

“Oh, come on. I’m here, aren’t I?” He glances at the timeline that the soul binding planner pinned to the noticeboard by the door. “Plenty of time.”

With another glare, she huffs then turns back to whatever she was setting up before Billy barged into the kitchen. He knows she’ll get over it. They’ve been friends since they were both lifeguards at the pool in Indiana, the summer after they graduated high school, over a decade ago.

“Ignore her,” Robin says as she walks in carrying a wooden crate full of lemons. “The happy couple demanded a last minute amendment to the menu and you know how my soulmate feels about those.”

Billy winces because, yeah, he sure fucking does. He checks the to-do list with his name on it, indicating his station, and starts taking the plates out of the boxes. Gold filigree on fine china. Fancy. “Who do we have today?” Billy asks, wiping the plates with a soft cloth and making neat piles of ten on the countertop.

“Harrington-Wheeler,” Heather replies, not turning around.

The dainty china plate Billy is cleaning crashes onto the tile floor. He vaguely registers the noise, his mind replaying the two words his best friend casually threw at him. At that moment, he feels rather murderous towards her. Robin’s hand on his arm pulls him out of his trance.

He snaps out of it and puts down the cloth. Takes a deep breath. Turns around and locks eyes with Heather. “I can’t be here.”

“Relax,” Heather throws his way, a smirk on her red lips.

“Hank…” Billy closes his eyes and tries that box breathing his counsellor taught him. 

“I wouldn’t do that to you, Blue. I promise.”

“Then who…?”

Robin bumps shoulders with him. “You might want to sit down for this…”