He sits across from me. I can’t believe it. It’s the first time he’s stayed in the kitchen to eat. He usually takes his food to the private balcony outside of his bedroom that overlooks the beach. When he’s out there, I give him twenty minutes before going out to my private balcony, adjacent to his. As soon as I sit in my sun lounger, he goes back inside.
“You’re a strong swimmer.”
His chin stays tucked to his chest as he shovels in his eggs.
“It wouldn’t kill you to answer me.”
He looks up, fork paused a few inches from his mouth. “Was there a question in all your incessant talking?”
“I said you’re a strong swimmer.”
“That’s not a question.”
“Fine. It’s a compliment. You should say ‘thank you’ or ‘thank you, ma’am,’ isn’t that correct?”
The corner of his mouth twitches, not a smile, more like he’s ready to bare his fangs again. “Yes. Ma’am is used out of respect.”
“But you don’t respect me?”
“No.”
“Because I stole your fruit?”
“Yes.”
Unbelievable.
“Well, I wouldn’t have a problem calling you ‘sir’ even though you finger-raped my mouth.”
“I didn’t finger-rape your mouth. If you’d like me to show you what it feels like to have your mouthfinger-raped,then I’d be much obliged, but I’d rather stick a sock in it and cover it with duct tape.”
Wow! Why am I still here? Crazy is not a strong enough word—for either of us.
He glances over his shoulder when there’s a knock at the door.
“That’s for me.” I smile while standing from my chair, shuffling across the partially-tiled floor in my flip-flops.
“Ms. Stone?”
I nod with a huge grin.
“Where would you like them?”
“Uh…” I look back at Theo, but he’s resumed eating his breakfast again like I don’t exist. “If you wouldn’t mind takingthem to the front room for now, I’ll put them where I want them later. Thank you.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The deliveryman carries in the first plant—one of seventeen that I ordered.
Theo gives him a quick glance, but he doesn’t say a word until the fifth plant is ushered past him to the front room.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Oh, um…” The deliveryman looks back at me as I continue to hold open the door.
Theo follows his gaze.
“Did you order all of these?” Theo pins me with his usual scowl.
“Yes, sir.” I wink. “He has twelve more to bring inside.”
