I kept my spot on the bed, watching for any sign that he could be hurt.
Over the last month, I think that’s how long I’d been here, he hadn’t come home looking like that. Maybe a bit dirty, grease stains here and there on his pants. But never covered in blood.
“All clean,” he shot me a smile, slipping a shirt on over his head. “How was your day?”
“Okay.” Boring, but that was normal. No monsters. No one was here to yell at me or hurt me.
I was starting to get used to that. Not have to worry about when Sir was going to walk into the room and start throwing words or punches, and other things, at me for just breathing.
Here with Sabastian, it had been calm. I got food and comfort, which I never thought I’d be able to have.
I still wasn’t the most talkative, and most of my answers to Sabastian were pulled from my lips unwillingly.
My thoughts didn’t matter.
I obeyed every command, every hint, that Sabastian gave. I did what I knew best to staygood. And that got me his touches and smiles like I was good. Although, deep down, I knew I wasn’t.
“You weren’t pacing in here as much today,” he mused, cupping the side of my face when he was close enough.
I leaned into his touch, never tiring of the warmth he gave me. My eyes slipped closed, knowing his touch would disappear soon enough.
But no, I didn’t pace as much, which meant he was watching me still. Which, really wasn’t that surprising.
Was he waiting for me to return the books so he could catch me in the act?
“You can walk around the house, you know. Watch TV, too.”
I nodded the slightest bit. Just because he said I could didn’t mean I was going to.
“Alright, well, dinner, then.”
At the mention of food, my stomach growled. I wasn’t sure if I ate lunch, most of the time I forgot Icouldeat.
“Yeah, food, little one. I have a feeling you didn’t eat lunch. Or any snacks.”
I shook my head, instantly missing his touch when he pulled away.
“You need to eat more during the day,” he told me. “That’s a new rule. Youmusteat lunch.”
What if I didn’t?I thought, but instead of asking, he took ahold of my hand and led me to the kitchen.
Like lately, since he had been coming home a bit later, I sat on the island. Here, I could watch himmove around, trying and failing to remember how he made different dishes.
The only thing a bit different this time, was that he wasn’t as talkative about his day. Normally, or what I’d come to know as normal, Sabastian didn’t shy away from telling me tales of his brothers, who he saw daily. Or stories about people he worked with at the auto shop.
I found his stories fascinating, funny, even. Although, I didn’t ever laugh. I wasn’t sure I was capable of that. Least of all being happy.
I was, at least, content. There wasn’t anything I could ask for besides that.
“Sorry, Oakley,” he yawned, stirring the food in the pot. “It was a long day. So how about you tell me what you did instead? Did you read?”
“Some.”
“What do you think about that book??
“You read it better.” It was true. I preferred his voice over the one in my head.
Sabastian laughed, a low in his chest, kind of laugh. It made its eyes crinkle at the corners.
