“I think we both know the issue is systemic. And once you get in deep enough, there is no getting out.”
“I don’t want to get out.”
“Because of the money?”
“It’s a big part of it.”
“What’s the other part?”
“Having other people to rely on.”
I glanced a little pointedly around the room, brow raised.
“I called everyone I could. Before my phone died. Dunno who set this place up. But they remembered condoms and extra batteries for the remotes… but forgot a fucking charging cord.”
“Figures. You could run out and get one.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Not tonight. We both need some rest. I can go out in the morning.”
“Won’t your boss be angry he can’t get in touch with you?”
“Angry? Doubt it. Curious about what’s going down, since I called a bunch of people? Maybe.”
“Would they come here?”
“Maybe eventually. Probably not before I get in touch with them, though.”
I nodded at that as I clumsily held the spoon in my hand to avoid touching my cut palm. “This is better than I remember,” I declared when I finally got some in my mouth.
“Yeah,” Venezio said, already polishing off his, then setting it aside. He reached for my bowl, taking it and the spoon away from me.
“What are you doing?”
“Watching you try to do that is painful,” he said, scooping up some noodles and holding the spoon to my lips.
“You’re feeding me?”
“Not if you don’t open your mouth.”
To that, a little snort escaped me.
I opened my mouth, though, and let myself get fed for the first time since I was a baby. It was a surprisingly intimate act and I was a little sad when the soup was gone.
“What time is it?” I asked when he took the bowls and headed to the kitchen to wash them out.
“Just after two. We gotta get to bed.”
I was more than happy to oblige him on that.
“What are you doing?” I asked when he came back and scooped his arms under me.
“Keeping you off your feet. Grab that bottle of water. You gotta finish it.”
“You’re bossy,” I said, but I was smiling as I leaned my head against his chest, listening to the steady thud of his heart.
“‘Cause you don’t follow instructions,” he said, giving my body a jiggle.
“Well, you wanted me to eat. I couldn’t eat and drink at the same time.”
