GEORGIANA
True to his word,Silas walked me home. It worked in our favor that we’re living in his parents’ house. And he’s right; we have so much to talk about, but when I went to pull him towards the front door, he stopped. I understood it then. He wasn’t ready to be confined in the house for the night, so it was me who reached up, kissing him on his cheek, bidding Silas a good night.
Now I’m in bed, tossing and turning, listening to the sounds, waiting for him to come inside for the night. Why am I worried about a grown man? Well, that’s easy enough. The gravitational pull I feel towards the big oaf is hard to deny. That and I know he’s struggling. I could tell it in his demeanor tonight, but also because he isn’t sleeping inside. Instead, he’ll prop his feet up on the railing, slouch in the rocker Shila keeps out there, and dozes off an hour or so at a time. How do I know that? Well, a girl needs a bathroom in the middle of the night, or a glass of water, so what if I walked through the house, noticing his door was open and bed was still made?
“Do you think he’ll ever sleep inside?” Shila’s worried voice carries through the house.
“Give him time. It’s not even been a week,” Shadow replies. Sedona would be worried, too, if she were working normal hours, but the hospital has her on the graveyard shift, so she gets home as we’re all heading into work. I wait until they’ve gone to their own room before I grab my robe and put it on over my oversized Led Zeppelin shirt and silk style shorts. My obsession with retro second-hand clothes is next level and sometimes annoys Collins and Sedona. It’s just what you have to work with when you’re a foster kid. Now that I’m an adult, I still do it and love it just the same.
I’m silent as a mouse when I open my door, looking down one side of the hallway that leads to the rest of the rooms then towards the entryway, making sure the coast is clear before I head towards where I know Silas is as I tie the belt of my robe and stop to grab a blanket off the back of the couch in case he’s actually fallen asleep.
The light from the kitchen is the only thing on. Not even the front porch lights are on, probably Shadow’s doing since Silas has been making his bed out there and he wants him to get some sleep. I try to quietly open the front door, closing it after I walk through, hoping not to spook him.
“What are you doing up, Doe?” My feet hit the cold wood porch floor. A shiver slides up my spine. I’m not sure if it’s from Silas or the weather.
“I couldn’t sleep, figured you could use some company or at the very least a blanket, though I’m rethinking the blanket and using it for myself.” The cherry ember guides the path as I walk to Silas.
“Keep the blanket. It’s not that cold. Though you have to work tomorrow, so maybe you should go back inside.” It doesn’t deter me from walking towards him all the same.
“Too bad. You haven’t slept in your bed all week. It’s time for company. Maybe I’ll bore you to the point of tears, and you’ll climb into bed and pass out.” I get a slight chuckle from Silas. I attempt to sit in the rocking chair beside him, content to just hang out here for the time being, when he puts his cigarette down in the ashtray, blows out a puff of smoke, and takes my hand in his, pulling me down into his lap.
“Notice that, did ya?” I situate us so that the blanket is over our laps to ward off the chill that no doubt will travel up my legs now that my robe has a slit up the front.
“Silas, I think everyone has. I’m just annoying enough to come out here in hopes to pester you, you know, tire you out.” I feel the vibration of his chest against my back, his body shaking mine with his laughter.
“Only way you’re gonna tire me out, Doe, is a whole other situation you’re not prepared for yet.” Of course, leave it to him to make a dirty joke out of something so innocent.
“I meant by talking you to death, then maybe you’d pass out, but if you have any better ideas, I’m all ears.” I wiggle against his lap, feeling exactly what he would do if he had his way.
“Anyone tell you you’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, little minx?” That doesn’t stop him from pulling me in closer until my body reclines on top of his, head in the crook of his neck, legs on top of his that are propped on the railing.
“I can’t say that anyone has.” Silas’ hand reaches for the sash on my robe beneath the blanket. No one can see anything if they happen to come out of the house or walk up. I’m not saying they would; it’s going on well past midnight, so the likelihood of that happening is small. “Are you up for talking or just enjoying the night with owls hooting, the trees rustling in the breeze, and me messing up your alone time?”
Silas doesn’t respond. Instead, he’s eerily quiet as the tips of his fingertips edge across my stomach, somehow managing to pull up my gray shirt. It’s riddled with holes, yet it’s still my favorite sleep shirt.
“You want to talk, I’m all for it. You want to sit here and say nothing, I’m good with that, too.” I decide to shut up because of the way his skin is searing mine, or the fact that a yawn sneaks out of me. Even though I’m trying to be sly about it, I know it won’t go unnoticed. “Get some sleep, Doe. I’ll put you to bed when I go inside,” he whispers. The smooth yet deep tone of his voice skitters across the lower half of my ear.
“Fine. I’ll just rest here on your nice comfortable self.” I snuggle in closer, almost like a cat preening against its owner until it finds just the right spot.
“Alright.” Silas’ lips slide along my neck right as my eyes start to droop, unable to hold out any longer. My whole plan was for him to sleep, yet he’s the one who’s making sure I’m getting the rest he so desperately needs.