“He stays up pretty late.” There’s no judgement from him. It’s only an observation.
“Yeah, on the weekends.”
“Is that really why you left?” Damn, I was hoping he wouldn’t press the issue. It’s the only believable thing I could tell him that wasn’t the truth. “I’m just trying to understand what this is between us. I know it’s a show we’re putting on for others, but every time I turn around, you’re running out.”
I deserve that. Running is what I do when I freak out. “Sorry. I kind of freaked out.”
“Why?” He sets his fork down and waits for me to answer.
There’s no way of saying this without sounding stupid, so here it goes. “I was watching you work, and it kind of turned me on so I had to leave.”
Oh my God, I can’t believe I just told him that. From the way his mouth is hanging wide open, I don’t think he can either. I’m certain my cheeks are a bright shade of red.
16
Carlos
Well,um, that was unexpected. Now I know why she said she was talking to her son. I also feel bed for pressing the issue. It does boost my ego a bit, though.
“That’s good to know.”
“This is so mortifying.” She covers her face with her hands. “Can we go back to a few minutes ago when you believed my first story?”
Snorting to keep from laughing, I pick up my silverware to eat again. Anything to move on and make things seem normal again. “Consider it done.”
Both of us eat in companionable silence. There isn’t much to talk about after a confession like that. I take the time to check out the areas of the room I can see. Considering she has a young child; I’m shocked there aren’t more toys everywhere. I remember when I was little, I had toys thrown all over the house. Mom was always yelling for me to pick them up before she stepped on another one.
She doesn’t have a lot of unneeded things. I’m not sure of the reason, but it doesn’t matter to me. Honestly, it’s why I feel comfortable here. I don’t have a lot of things either. Being at the bar all the time, I’m never home to enjoy anything. And when I’m not at the bar I’m at my mom’s house doing whatever she needs me to do.
“So, what do you want to watch?”
“What?” Caroline finishes her salad and wipes her mouth.
“I thought we were going to watch a movie?”
“Oh, I figured you’d run like hell after what I said. Especially since the conversation died after that.” She places her silverware on her plate and stands from the table.
“I didn’t think you’d want me to say anything else. That had to have been hard for you. And I decided maybe I should shut up.” Hopefully showing my fault in harping on it will ease her mind some.
“It was.” She places her dishes in the sink. I grab mine and follow behind her. “But yeah, we can watch a movie.”
She starts washing the dishes, and I place a hand on top of hers. “That can wait until later. Let’s pick out a movie. What are you in the mood for?”
Eying the dishes in the sink, she relents. “Vampires?”
Not exactly what I would have pegged her to like, but I guess it makes sense after the book she was reading. “Sounds good. I haven’t watched a lot of vampire movies so pick one out. I’ll be in there in a few seconds.”
“Okay,” she drawls. She gives me one final look before heading to the living room. I turn toward the sink and make quick work of washing the few dishes we use. “I thought you said that could wait.”
“I just didn’t want you doing them. After everything you did yesterday and what you’ve dealt with today, you deserve the break.”
I glance over my shoulder to see what she's doing, and she’s smiling. An honest one that isn’t forced or self-deprecating. “Thanks.”
The music stops and I hear the clicks as she searches for a movie with the remote. I grab two beers out of the fridge and pop the tops off before joining her on the couch. I hand her one of the bottles. “What is this?”
She gasps, and I wonder if she’s choking on the beer, I just gave her. “You’ve never seen this? It’s not exactly new.”
“Um, no.” Clearly, or I wouldn’t have asked. “I’m going to assume it has vampires.”