Chapter 29 #2
Again, this feels like a strategic move when my bag is here with my clothes in it.
I stare down at the T-shirt. I could fight it.
I could stomp out there and grab my case and wear what I want, even though I don’t have much, thanks to my stalker’s ministrations.
Or I can suck it up and learn to pick my battles.
If I turn everything into a fight, I’ll make my time here torturous for both of us.
With a soft sigh, I slip the T-shirt over my head and pull on the boxer shorts, rolling the waistband over so it sits just under my bump.
I use the towel to squeeze some of the excess water from my hair before pulling it up into a loose bun so it doesn’t soak my T-shirt.
I head out to the living area and pause when I don’t see Midas anywhere.
I look around and take in all the blankets and pillows scattered across the sofa.
The coffee table has plates, empty glasses, napkins, and cutlery ready for when the food arrives, and Netflix is already queued up on the TV.
I shuffle closer and find my bunny sitting on top of the blanket.
For some reason, it brings a lump to my throat.
I reach for him and hold him to my chest.
I glance up as the door opens and see Midas stroll in with two bags of food. He takes me in, his eyes falling on the bunny with a soft smile.
“I found him at the top of your case while looking for underwear. Which reminds me, we really gotta take you shopping.”
I flush, glad I didn’t start a fight now because I forgot I didn’t have any underwear left. “Yeah, underwear would be good if you’re busy. We can just order some stuff. I don’t need anything fancy.”
“We’ll get you sorted, don’t worry. You wanna grab some drinks while I plate this up?”
“Sure. Beer?”
“Yeah.”
I grab a bottle of beer and a bottle of water from the fridge and join him on the sofa. I place the drinks down as he hands me a bowl of pasta.
“Dig in.”
Feeling ravenous all of a sudden, I do just that.
“Anything you want to watch?”
“I haven’t watched much of anything lately. Surprise me.” I settle in and eat my food, barely swallowing my moan of delight.
Midas puts on some action movie and leans back next to me to eat. We don’t talk while we eat, and gradually, the awkwardness lifts as we focus on the film. Once I’m full, I place my bowl on the table and drink half my water before curling back up with my feet under me and my bunny in my lap.
“There a story behind him?” Midas asks, tugging on the rabbit’s ear.
“I’ve had him for as long as I can remember. I guess he’s my security blanket. Kinda dumb for a woman my age to admit.”
“I don’t think it’s dumb at all,” he tells me as he leans forward and puts his empty bowl on the table before turning to look at me, the movie momentarily forgotten. “Everyone needs a little security in their life. Who cares if it’s a gun or a bunny?”
I chuckle at that. “I think that all depends on perception. I’m not sure I could fight off an intruder with a bunny.” Both of us stop smiling, my comment hitting a little too close to home.
“He’s cute.” He lifts the bunny from my lap and looks him over, noticing the zipper at the back. He goes to open it, but I yank it away from him. “Shit, sorry.”
I blow out a shaky breath and shake my head. “My mom wrote me a letter before she died. I keep it in there. It used to hold a locket too, but when I told someone about it, it mysteriously went missing.” I try to shrug it off, but it still hurts.
“Someone stole it, you mean?” He grits his teeth.
I nod, lowering the zipper and reaching inside for the folded photograph. “My mom bought this for me to keep my PJs in. Just a novelty thing, you know. I bet she never realized at the time it would hold everything precious to me later down the line.”
I unfold the photo and show it to him. It’s the same one I took from her bedside table a lifetime ago. He leans closer, studying the locket she wears around her neck. It’s a simple silver heart with a vine-like pattern etched into it.
“It wasn’t worth much, but to me, it was priceless. Her initials TS were engraved on the back, a graduating gift from her parents before she got pregnant and they disowned her.”
He swallows hard, looking up at me. Yeah, life sometimes has a funny way of mirroring the past. I never dreamed I’d end up in a similar situation, pregnant and alone. Except I’m not truly alone. Or at least I won’t be if I stop pushing people away.
He hands me the photo back, and I put it back in its place, closing the zipper once more.
“I’m sorry you lost your mom, baby.”
“I’m sorry you lost yours, too.”
“What about your dad? You never mention him.”
“No dad. Obviously, someone helped create me, but they were never part of my life, and my mother refused to talk about him.”
I can see the next question on his lips is to ask me what happened to me after she died, but I don’t think either of us is ready for that conversation, so I shake my head.
“Let’s just settle in and watch the movie.”
He takes in the strained look on my face before he nods.
“Alright.” He leans back once more and tugs me until my head rests on his chest and his arm is around my shoulder.
I tense, knowing this is a slippery slope, but when he does nothing else, I eventually feel myself relax before I drift off to sleep, missing the rest of the movie completely.