32. Cin
Cin
He drops his hands from my face and turns to walk toward Rambow, picking up the brush and not saying a single word.
Talon’s behavior is confusing at best, and alarming at worst. That kiss though, it was just a light press of our lips, and fuck me, it had never felt that way with Cody.
Sparks flew through my brain, and most likely short circuited the shit out of my decision making skills. Because I said the stupidest thing I could have.
I didn’t want to give Talon false hope, but the way he tried telling me what was going on in his brain left me feeling like maybe he could be something other than just an asshole.
Maybe I just needed to get through that exterior shell and find who he could be underneath. I can tell Fern loves him, and she seems like a rational person, someone who’s a good judge of character.
Toby loves pissing him off when he does bad things, but the bond between all four of the boys feels a lot like love to me. So maybe it’s possible for Talon to be loved and to love someone else.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to get you out of someone else’s clothes.”
I look up to where Talon is brushing out Rambow and laugh, “I didn’t think you were.”
“Those clothes don’t fit you,” he keeps going and I know my face has to look ten shades of pissed, because excuse me? “I mean, your vibe.”
“Good save, Fish Boy,” I narrow my eyes and he shrugs.
“I’ll take you into town and we’ll get stuff that you’ll actually wear. Or I can drive you back to Ravard and you can pick up some stuff there.”
“That’s a three hour drive isn’t it?” I question, because that’s what I thought Toby said.
“Yeah,” he turns back to Rambow who nudges him in the back. I guess he wasn’t done being brushed.
That’s a long drive just for clothes, and I don’t know if I’m ready to trust Talon in a car for six hours, not to backslide in behavior.
“I’d love to see the town, Toby’s mentioned it a few times.”
He finishes brushing Rambow and walks to where I am with Daisy. She’s huge, but I’ve never ridden a horse, so I’m not sure how big they’re supposed to be.
Patting Daisy’s neck, he nods to the barn and starts walking through the field. I follow and watch as he locks the gate and leaves them to graze for a while.
We don’t speak as we walk up the hill after he puts the things away that he used. It’s nice not having to speak.
Sometimes it’s in the silence that we can learn the most about someone.
He opens the door for me, and the house is quiet. I presume the others are all out doing things, or maybe sleeping since it’s still early. I walk into the kitchen and pour a glass of water.
“I’m gonna go change; I’ll be right back,” he tells me.
I nod and watch him as he disappears down the hall, sipping on my water and admiring the kitchen. It’s huge with stainless steel appliances and an island big enough for a whole family.
“Can I get you something?”
I startle at the voice and screech, not prepared to see someone in a small window beside the fridge. Footsteps pound down the hall and Talon appears, shirt half on and alert.
“Are you okay?”
I turn to look at the man in the window, “please tell me you see the man here too?”
They both laugh and I let out a deep breath of air.
“That’s Chef, he cooks if the need arises,” Talon smiles, turning his shirt so he can loop his arm through the hole it actually belongs in.
“We’re heading out for a bit, but if Fern asks, yes we’ll be home for dinner.”
I look at him, really look, he wasn’t terrible to this man, but he also didn’t use his name. Progress? I’m not sure how he acted toward him before, so I really can’t be sure.
“Ready?” Talon asks and I nod, pouring the rest of my water down the drain and looking for a way to wash it. I wasn’t going to set it down for someone else to clean.
A hidden door opens, and the man from behind the window steps out. He’s tall, lean, and wears all white. “I’ll take that miss.”
“No no, I can wash it,” I tell him, but he steps forward as if to take it and I tense, flinching as he reaches for the glass.
Talon is behind me in an instant, his presence is one I got well acquainted with these past few months.
“It’s okay,” he whispers, “you’re safe.”
Tears clog my throat and threaten to spill down my cheeks. I’ve never been afraid in my life. Not like I am now. Jumpy at any noises I can’t recognize, freezing when people come near.
Talon wraps his hand around mine that holds the glass and slips it from my hand, handing it over to Chef. I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying tears of frustration, I don’t want to live like this, scared of everything.
“Maybe we shouldn’t go,” I whisper.
Talon moves so he’s in front of me, ducking his head so we’re eye to eye, “nothing will happen to you today, I promise.”
The look in his eyes is flinty and I can tell he means it. So, I nod and follow him.